18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ (Jn. 15:18-25 ESV)
What do you do when the world “hates” you? That is, what do you do when the culture around you disagrees with or is hostile toward your faith? That’s what Jesus takes up in this text. Remember, this is part of Jesus’ sermon on the Holy Spirit–the largest teaching on the Holy Spirit in the Bible. It’s found in John 14-16. And here Jesus takes up a difficult topic–what do you do when the culture could care less about what you care most about? What do you do when the world hates you?Read More »Ticket for Two: Witness (Jn 15:26-27) Chris Altrock – April 17, 2016