A Challenge

 John 15: 18-21

The World Hates the Disciples

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.

Assured by Jesus's profession of intimate love for us, as we have read over the past few days, we are now challenged with the painful reality that life as a disciple of Jesus is not all sugar and roses. We stand in contrast to the world's standards and values and incur the jealously, if not hatred of the world, even as Jesus did.  That is part of our calling to be his followers. When tempted to resist the resistance, and even abdicate our position as disciples, we need to remember that this is part of the plan. Rejection and suffering are not easy to swallow, but looking to the Master, we find the strength to bear all that comes are way.

Bro. Rene