Pam Padgett ... teacher
Jesus knew He was hated because He testified that the works of this world are evil ...
John 7:1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would
not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him. 2 Now the Jews'
feast of tabernacles was at hand. 3 His brethren therefore said unto
him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see
the works that thou doest. 4 For there is no man that doeth any thing in
secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these
things, shew thyself to the world. 5 For neither did his brethren
believe in him. 6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come:
but your time is alway ready. 7 The world cannot hate you; but me it
hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.
While considering this, I was reminded that God is light ....
This
then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you,
that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5)
Jesus is the Word of God, shining the light of God in the darkness of this world. But those who do evil hate the light because it shows what they do is evil ....
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the
world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that
believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come
into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light,
neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But
he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made
manifest, that they are wrought in God.
When we speak the word of God led by the Holy Spirit, light shines on the situation, showing truth about it. Those who continue in evil, loving the darkness and trying to hide from the truth,
turn against us as Jesus warned ...
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,
and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that
your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in
my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that ye love
one another. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before
it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own:
but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the
world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said
unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have
persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my
saying, they will keep yours also.
Even when we are hated for doing the will of God, however, we are not alone but are loved and helped by God ...
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray
the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide
with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot
receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him;
for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you
comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world
seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in
you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that
loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will
love him, and will manifest myself to him.