My daughter, Beri, sent this picture and said, “This is Nate at International Basketball camp (the shorty). He kept getting moved up to more advanced groups. My friend’s seventh grader said to her, “it’s weird guarding Nate because he’s so tiny but if I don’t guard him, he scores.” Nate is in 3rd grade. I’m kinda proud.

That’s Not Nice 

John 15:18-26 

If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you…But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘They hate Me without a cause.’ 

These things I have spoken to you so that you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. John 16:33 

In my apartment complex in Houston there is a coffee room with a couple of machines that can create all manners of coffee. As I was leaving the room with both an espresso and a regular cup of coffee, I noticed that some careless person had spilled their coffee on the floor. Down the hall a worker was mopping the floor. I mentioned to him that someone had spilled coffee just outside the coffee room. As I said it, I gave a smirk as if to say with my facial expression, boy, some people are just careless and sloppy. He smiled and walked toward the spill.  

As he walked away, I opened a different door and because I was holding two cups, the door slipped, bumped my arm and caused my espresso to spill on the floor. I stood there in complete unbelief. I was tempted to make a quick get-away and hopefully never see the worker again. Fortunately, civility prevailed and I walked over to let him know, with an embarrassingly sheepish look, shrugging my shoulders, that I had spilled my coffee as well. How embarrassing!!! He smiled again and said, no problem.  Never again, should I criticize others lest God quickly reminds me, I am one of those mere failing mortals myself. It’s good to be reminded of important things in life. 

Be Reminded 

We are laboring through John 13-17 which is referred to as the Upper Room discourse of Jesus. It is four chapters of narrative and dialogue that takes place over a couple of hours the evening Jesus is betrayed. Jesus is summarizing His three years of discipling and mentoring and reminding them of everything that He has taught them. It’s good to be reminded. 

We are flies on the wall as we observe the interactions of Jesus with his disciples. Jesus is preparing them with some final words for a mission impossible far beyond what they comprehend. As observers, there’s much we can learn for our own lives. 

1. Jesus teaches them to love and Serve each other. Jesus provides an object lesson and a new commandment in the first section. Put aside self-promotion and serve each other as I, Jesus, have served you. Jesus washed their feet. In that context, Jesus gives a new commandment that they should love each other as Jesus has loved them. Jesus is leaving and he knows they are going to need each other more than ever. Their relationship should be characterized by love and service for each other. It should be the same of us. Iron sharpens iron. 

1. Jesus teaches them that He will actually be closer than ever, even though He is leaving. Jesus promises that He will be in them and they will be in Him. It doesn’t get any closer than that. He will send the Holy Spirit who will comfort them, remind them of Jesus’ words, provide courage and empower them and keep them in the truth. Draw near to Jesus and He will draw near to you. 

1. Jesus teaches them that they will face hatred, ridicule and scorn. We teach our children to never use the word ‘hate’. It’s a horrible word that we should never use. In today’s section, Jesus uses the word ‘hate’ seven times. It is an extreme word representing an extreme state of mind. To be hated, backed up with inciteful words and violent actions, is a horrifying situation to be in. Jesus warned them, ‘you will be hated’ and the hatred is not mere words, it carries with it the intent to kill. 

The world hated Jesus. The world hated the disciples. The world hates the followers of Jesus. Don’t try to make sense of it. Don’t feel like you can convince people of this world that we Christians are actually good, moral, loving people who simply want the best for everyone. It’s true, of course, but you can’t convince the world of such truth because logic and reason doesn’t drive them to hate. Therefore, logic and reason isn’t going to convince them to love and appreciate us. 

What is the world? It’s not the planet earth. It’s the system of this world, led by Satan that is fueled by lust, hate and pride, I John 2:16. The worldly system is everywhere. It tries to play nice with us on the outside, but inside, it hates us. There’s no nice way to say it. We are hated without cause, just like our Savior, Jesus. 

Jesus, this reality of being hated hurts. It hurts deep. You have given us an extraordinary amount of love that You have poured into our hearts. We love, we care, we feel deeply for others to know You. But in return, we face hatred, ridicule and criticism. Strengthen us to love in the face of hatred; extend patience toward those who are short-fused toward us and kind to those who are mean. We can’t control how they feel and act but, by your grace, we can respond like Jesus. Help us Lord. Amen