The Down Side of Following Jesus

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you" (John 15:18)

It has been quite some time since I sat down to put together a devotional blog, beloved, and I am glad to be doing it now at long last.  We are working our way on Sunday mornings through what is known as "The Upper Room Discourse" of Jesus, His final night with His disciples before going to the cross.  In actuality, these words were spoken after they had left the upper room and were on their way to Gethsemane.  But we consider them as part of that discourse as well.

These may seem to us on the surface to be words that are dark and somber, but Jesus was seeking to reveal to His disciples just what it would cost them to walk as He had walked and to serve as He had served.  He wanted them to know, as He does each of us today, that there is a definite "down side" to following Him in obedience.  Here in verses 17-25 we find that He disclosed to them first of all that they would be hated by those who had hated Him if they were faithful in proclaiming the gospel message and in turning the hearts of men to repentance and forgiveness.  If they chose to come out from the world has He had done, then hatred for them and their message would be the world's response to their ministry.  That reality has not changed at all today!

Next Jesus revealed to them in the 20th verse that they would not only be hated but persecuted as well.  You see, beloved, "hatred" does not like to stand alone but prefers to express itself in harassment and torture.  It wants the object of its hatred not only to be silenced but to suffer for having spoken and stood in the first place.

Finally, Jesus let them know that because of being hated and persecuted, they would be totally rejected by the world (verses 21-25).  Because the gospel message is rejected today, then those who proclaim it are rejected as well.  Have you noticed that, while "religion" is tolerated and even protected, any who desire a "relationship" with Jesus Christ by faith are not?  Have you noticed how fundamental Christianity is being blamed for society's woes?  It is not that they reject our political views, beloved, as much as it is that they reject the truth of God that Jesus Christ is the only Way and the only Truth and the only Life!

Yes, there is a "down side" to following Jesus Christ for any person today who would choose to be faithful.  But the most important truth is that, though we experience a "down" side in living for Christ, we are never "defeated."  Do you recall what the Apostle Paul wrote to encourage the hearts of the saints in Corinth?

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed" (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)

Though a "down side" to following Christ, then, know that we remain more than conquerors through Him who loved us, beloved!  Know that faithfulness to Christ, even bearing the down side of living as His servants in this world, is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed one day to us and through us.  Hallelujah!

Ron