Jesus knew some would hate him, and we see them in many places today

By Dean Collins

I think there are probably those who hate Christmas but don’t hate Jesus. The stress of family, the expense of Christmas presents, and the hectic schedules can turn lovers into haters. We all know someone we might nickname “Scrooge” or “Grinch”! Many who will attend church on Christmas Eve are fine with Jesus, but they are not fine with the stress and possibly the secular trappings of Christmas.

And I suspect there are some who hate (or at least ignore) Jesus but don’t hate Christmas. These are the folks who love the lights, the trees, the music, the food, and the gatherings. They even love to participate in community programs that buy toys and food for others. They like a good holiday and doing a good deed, but they don’t see Jesus as essential to the celebration.  

Some in this group have been offended and even wounded by followers of Jesus who treated them unkindly. They have watched the hypocrisy of many and somehow blame God for the behaviors of his followers. They hate the cheap imitations of Jesus they see in the lives and character of Christians and therefore don’t think much of Jesus either.

Jesus knew the haters

Even before his death, Jesus knew some would hate him. On the way to the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus continued his last supper conversation. He explained that he was the way forward, that the Holy Spirit would guide them and us, and that he always answers our prayers. He reinforced these messages several times in John 14—16 and followed his teaching with a long prayer for his followers.

Jesus explained to the 12 that if the world hates us (and they will) that we must remember it is because of our connection to him. The world hated him first. As his servants, we will experience the same responses that he got from the world.

To be clear, Jesus isn’t talking about the planet earth hating him, and he certainly does not hate the planet he created. He died to redeem and restore all of his creation that was damaged at the fall of man, including the earth itself. Jesus loves the earth. He also loves all of the people in the world. He died for them all. What Jesus explained is that not all in the world would believe in him and accept him as Savior. Some then, some now, and some always will think there is a path forward, a restoration possible, and a good life to be lived because of human ingenuity. They do not believe the world needs a Savior; to give oneself to the teachings of a Jewish rabbi who claimed to be God is simply foolish.

But we who have heard the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow him have experienced transformation. Our testimony is “I once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.” Even though we did not see what the apostles saw, we believe their testimony. Our faith gives us the assurance of things hoped for and not yet seen. The Holy Spirit daily confirms our confession of Jesus as Lord. Some in the world may think it silly to cling to the promises of scripture, yet we find these promises confirm Jesus as Savior and Lord and as the sure foundation of our lives now and our hope for the future.

Jesus loves the persecuted

Recently I was reminded again that there are places in the world where followers of Jesus experience the kind of persecution Jesus spoke of in John 16. Hatred for those who dare follow Jesus is very real in many places in the world. Here in the West, we whine about some not liking our beliefs. While that seems to be a growing group, what we experience does not begin to compare to what many Christians experience in some parts of the world.

This Christmas season we can and should thank God for his gift of a Savior born in Bethlehem. The birth of a Savior changes everything. Filled with Christ’s love, we will do many generous things for those around us, both in gratitude for God’s gift to us, but also because as the hands and feet of Jesus, we are compelled to do so. Maybe one offering we make this Christmas is to pray for those around the globe who love Jesus yet are hated and are even persecuted because some now, just like some in the first century, truly hate Jesus. May our prayers strengthen our brothers and sisters in persecution today.

Your time with God’s Word
John‬ ‭15‬:‭18‬-‭27‬ ‭ESV

Photo by Jose P. Ortiz on Unsplash

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