The apostle John 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. If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you”, and in chapter fifteen and verse nineteen of his book John shared how Jesus told His disciples, “if you were of the world, the world would love his own”, where we read:
If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
The verse reads, “If you were of the world, the world would love his own:” John began with the words, “if you” which means “whether and in case you, disciples of Jesus” “were of the world” or “belonged to the earth and it's inhabitants”, “the world would love his own” which means “the earth and it's inhabitants would be fond of, well pleased with and contented with you, disciples of Jesus”. John shared how Jesus told His disciples “if” they belonged to the “earth an it's inhabitants” then they would “be fond of and dearly love” them.
The verse goes on to say, “... but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John continued with the words, “but because” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover since and on account that” “you are not of the world” or “the disciples of Jesus did not belong to the earth and it's inhabitants”, “but I have chosen you” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover I, Jesus, have picked out and selected you, disciples of Jesus” “out of the world” or “from the earth and it's inhabitants”, “therefore the world hates you” which means “wherefore, consequently and on this account the earth and it's inhabitants detests and persecutes you, disciples of Jesus”. John shared how Jesus told His disciples since He selected them and they did not belong to the earth and it's inhabitants, the “earth and it's inhabitants” “hates” them.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus told His disciples the reason they were “hated” rather than “loved” by the world. Because He “picked out and selected” them, the “world hated” them. Jesus “chooses” those who will be His followers, and this is based upon His fore-knowledge of whether they “believe” in Him or not. God knows everything, and He is aware of every person who yields their life to His Son Jesus. When they submit to Him, they become as an enemy and opposition to those who are in the “world”. This causes the world to “hate” them, and regardless of their “despite and persecution”, those who follow Jesus will be rewarded for all eternity.
Next time John shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not greater than his lord”, 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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