Christ Was Hated
John 15:18-16:4a
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our text for this morning comes from the Gospel lesson. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” Today, we remember that the world hated our Lord Jesus Christ. The world took him to the cross and killed him. The world still hates and despises Jesus Christ.
Some despise him because he reminds us that we are not perfect and do not love one another. Others hate Jesus because he didn't provide enough rules and authority as they believe a god should. Some hate Jesus because he stands for a god, who commanded his people to remain distinct and separate from the unclean and so-called unworthy.
These people forget Jesus himself calls his people to remain separate, not on account of our worthiness but on account of our confession of faith. Even here we can hear Jesus words, “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.”
There are many Christians today that assume that if the world loves us, we must not be following Jesus. The world hated Jesus, and so the world must hate us. But this is not what Jesus says. He is saying, When the world hates you and you are feeling down and cast out or rejected, remember the world hated me as well. We know the world hated Jesus. We know the world put Jesus to death. But we also know that God raised his son to new life. If the world hates you, remember it hated Jesus, and remember that God still rescued Jesus from Death. Remember that Jesus has defeated death and claimed you. He chose you not to be a part of the world, but to be separate and holy to God.
Remember: “A servant is not greater than his master.” So we should not expect the world to love us or treat us fairly. We should not think that by following Jesus, or proclaiming the good news of Jesus death for the forgiveness of sins, is going to bring us fame and fortune. Sure some people will get fame like St Paul, who ended up getting beheaded in Rome. Some might even rise to the fame of St Peter, who was crucified upside down.
Or maybe you will be protected from death by the government like Martin Luther. But Martin Luther still suffered exile and persecution. So we who confess Jesus Christ should not expect to be treated any differently.
This is why we ask such difficult questions in the rite of Confirmation. We ask, “Do you intend to hear the Word of God and receive the Lord’s Supper faithfully?” We ask this simple question to see whether you will follow the ways of the world, or Christ who Chose you and called you to follow him.
We also ask, “Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and in faith, word, and deed to remain true to the God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death?” We ask this so that we remember that God has called us not to live like the world, but to be a separate, distinct, or holy people. He has called you to lead a holy life, and not follow into the trappings of a world.
Finally, we ask, “Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?” Here we ask if you are willing to follow in the footsteps of Christians around the world who are being murdered and brutalized. Yes, we are even asking if you will follow in the footsteps of St Paul, who said “Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned.”
But above all these we follow in the footsteps of Christ, who was flogged, stricken, smitten, afflicted, and crucified on the cross. He made that great sacrifice for you and for your sins. He made this sacrifice out of love for you. He suffered for all your sins, so that you may have life, and even eternal life.
So we boldly promise that by the grace of God, we ourselves would suffer all things even death, rather than fall away or turn away from our confession of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Sadly, for most of us this means telling a friend or family member that they are sinning. This means telling someone we love they need to live better. This means speaking out against Homosexual Marriage. This means speaking out against Abortion. This means speaking out against Racism, murder, and Gossip.
There are many people who believe they are serving the LORD, while persecuting Jesus. St Paul on his way to Damascus thought he was doing the will of God, but Jesus confronts him asking, “Why are you persecuting me?” Therefore, we speak what Christ has spoken to us. Adultery is wrong, sexual relations outside of marriage is a sin. Homosexual activity and lustful desires are a sin. Murder is a sin, even destroying life in the womb or hatred of our neighbor is a sin. And the wages of sin is death.
We must speak and confess these truths. If the world hates us, if our neighbor hates us, remember the world hated Jesus before it hated you. Remember those who are bound in the devils kingdom are blinded by sin and boldly hate God, and Jesus Christ.
Yet, Jesus Christ died for all the sins of world. He died for your sins. He died for my sins. He even died for those who continue to hate him or hated him at one time. Christ died for all the sins of world.
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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