Hated without a Reason Part 2: 5 things I have learnt about being hated

Hated without a Reason

Part 2: 5 things I have learnt about being hated

John 15 v18-25

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ¹⁹ 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. ²⁰ Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. ²³ Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. ²⁴ If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this is to fulfil what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’

The caveat is that this is not giving reason to antagonise and by your own stupidity become disliked or not accepted.

But if we are hated then realise:

1. You’re not the first person this has happened to (and you won’t be the last) v18.

You may be a martyr but don’t develop a martyr complex. You’ll get through this.

2. It gives you the confidence to be yourself, v19. (You don’t belong to those who are against you. He has chosen you out of that world)

People-pleasing will drain you from the person you really are.

3. It can be expected, v20. The encouragement that Jesus gives to us is that we are not immune on our journey from the things that he had to go through on his. Jesus knew suffering and he knew success and so will we.

The successful always have a thread of hate replies to their social media posts. It’s the path of greatness as you become like your master Jesus. Those who become great on God’s path also suffer.

4. It gives you the opportunity to align yourself with Jesus, v21.

Keep him in mind, organise and direct your thinking on him.

Jesus is saying as we copy him then what happened to him will be copied to us.

5. You can rest knowing there are times where there are no reasons for the hate and you don’t have to work it all out, v25.

Stop trying to justify someone’s hate.