The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 7:7,
"The world cannot hate you [Jesus' brothers], but it hates me because I [Jesus] testify that its works are evil."
The NIV Study Bible points out that "the world" in this verse is, "Either (1) people opposed to God or (2) the human system opposed to God's purposes". It goes on to point out that since Jesus rebuked the world (and identified his brothers with it), he was hated for it. While that is certainly what Jesus had to say in this passage, there is a larger context of the animosity "the world" holds Jesus in.
John points out that the world hates God's people, "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." 1 John 3:12-13. As Jesus talked about things ahead, he said, "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22. In John 15:18-19 Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
My thought is that the world hates Jesus and his followers for the essence of what he is: God incarnate. There is a war that is fought within the spiritual realm where Satan and his minions attempt to array themselves against anything God and his people do. Rebellious people of the world march to that drummer and identify and align themselves with the dark side in the spiritual realm.
I love how Psalm 2 pictures this state of affairs:
"Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
'Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.'
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
'I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.'"
"The world cannot hate you [Jesus' brothers], but it hates me because I [Jesus] testify that its works are evil."
The NIV Study Bible points out that "the world" in this verse is, "Either (1) people opposed to God or (2) the human system opposed to God's purposes". It goes on to point out that since Jesus rebuked the world (and identified his brothers with it), he was hated for it. While that is certainly what Jesus had to say in this passage, there is a larger context of the animosity "the world" holds Jesus in.
John points out that the world hates God's people, "Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you." 1 John 3:12-13. As Jesus talked about things ahead, he said, "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22. In John 15:18-19 Jesus said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
My thought is that the world hates Jesus and his followers for the essence of what he is: God incarnate. There is a war that is fought within the spiritual realm where Satan and his minions attempt to array themselves against anything God and his people do. Rebellious people of the world march to that drummer and identify and align themselves with the dark side in the spiritual realm.
I love how Psalm 2 pictures this state of affairs:
"Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
'Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.'
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
'I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.'"
It simply is not going to turn out well for those who hold Jesus Christ and his followers in hateful contempt.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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