John the apostle wrote how Jesus told His disciples, “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that you love one another”, and in chapter fifteen and verse eighteen of his book John shared how Jesus told His disciples, “if the world hate you, you know that it hated me before”, where we read:
If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you.
The verse reads, “If the world hate you, ...” John began with the words, “if the world” which means “whether and in case the circle of the earth and it's inhabitants” “hate you” or “detest and persecute you, disciples of Jesus” know the following is true. John shared how Jesus presented the condition of people “hating” His disciples, and when it happens, they should know the following happened to Him.
The verse continues, “... you know that it hated me before it hated you.” John added the words, “you know it hated me” which means “you, disciples of Jesus, understand, perceive, notice and discern that the world detested and persecuted me, Jesus” “before it hated you” or “in advance and prior to the world detesting and persecuting you, disciples of Jesus”. John shared how Jesus assured His disciples that the “world and it's inhabitant” “hated” Him in advance of them “hating” them.
When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus cared for His disciples by letting them know the “world” and the people within it would “hate” them in the same manner they “hated” Him. Jesus Christ was sent into the world by His Heavenly Father God to be the “Savior and Lord” of every person who believes and trusts in Him. When they submit their lives to Jesus, those who are opposed to Him will manifest themselves with great “displeasure” and “hatred” against them. God has the final word, and although believers in His Son Jesus may be “hated” by non-believers, there is no greater place than to be aligned with Him.
Next time John shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “if you were of the world, the world would love his own”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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