I’ve found that it is almost always the case, when I’m reading the Bible, that it teaches me about God. Obvious, right? But it also reveals things about me. Things that I need to carefully evaluate when I look at my own life. I’m guessing you’ve found that to be true as well. Funny how the Holy Spirit works that way, isn’t it? Changing us, when we are open to it, to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2).

With that reminder, I’ll share something I hadn’t noticed, or at least hadn’t remembered, when I was studying the 15^th chapter of John recently. Something that makes me look hard at myself. Maybe you’ll look too.

In this particular chapter Jesus teaches His disciples about abiding in Him like the branches of a vine. If they do, they will “bear much fruit” and that this fruit bearing is to “My Father’s glory.” (see John 15:1-8). Each time I read these verses I have to ask myself: Am I abiding as I should? Am I bearing fruit as I should? These are questions that aren’t to be asked just once, rather, over and over as we walk with Christ. But what I took notice of in this particular reading was something else.

As we move on in the chapter, Jesus continues to teach the disciples to “remain in my love” and commands them to “Love each other as I have loved you.” And to emphasize His point, one of my favorite verses, John 15:13, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Amazing, isn’t it? That Jesus would say this to them on the night that He, Himself, was going to lay down His life. It always strikes me. But, again, while I’m profoundly moved by Jesus’ words here, it’s not even this that I want to share right now. It’s not what struck me anew in this reading.

Jesus continues in the chapter by telling His Disciples that they will be hated by the world. Maybe this was a head scratcher for them. “Really Jesus,” they may have thought, “we are giving everything up for you and that’s what we’re going to get for it: People hating us?” It must have been a comfort to them when Jesus explained, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (Jon 15:18). Not easy to accept, but it was the truth and Jesus wanted them to be prepared for it.

After all, following Jesus isn’t a popularity contest. It wasn’t for them and it isn’t for us. Maybe that’s obvious, but the challenging thing is that Jesus doesn’t give them a free pass. They don’t get to turn tail and run when things get tough. When the world hates them, Jesus prepares them and prays for them, but He expects that they will remain faithful.

To sum it up in a more modern vernacular: Haters gonna hate! In our Christian walk, when we live as we are called, the world is going to hate us. Period. We should expect it. We can’t shirk from it. Having said all this, while we will be hated for what we believe, because of Jesus, our actions and attitudes should not give others a REASON to hate us.

This is the thing that jumped out to me in a new and fresh way: Jesus said, “But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason’” (Jon 15:25, Psa 35:19, Psa 69:4). Wow! Yes, the world hated Jesus. It still hates Him. But, He says, “without reason.” Yes, if we live the lives that Jesus calls us to, they will hate us. Haters gonna hate. But I have to ask myself, is it without reason? And, how do I know?

As always, Jesus is the model. All of the things that Jesus did, and said, were done in love. On our behalf. For our good. Yes, the world hated Him. He exposed their sin. He upset their lives with truths that they simply did not want to hear. But always in love. Ultimately, “being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Phi 2:8). For us. For our benefit.

Can we say that of ourselves? Of the church in some cases? Is everything we do and say motivated in love? Do we love the stranger? Do we draw others to Jesus by our words and actions? Do we love despite another’s sin or our differences? Of course, this is not to say that we avoid the truth and call it “love.” Instead, when we bring truth, do we bring it with love? Or, which I confess without God’s help is my tendency, do we do it to be right? Or perhaps, to be superior or, maybe unknowingly, even self-righteous. Not really caring much about the receivers of the truth.

There is no question that the world will hate us because “haters gonna hate.” But we should be different. We should bring love because “lovers otta love.”

Dave Foucar has a passion for teaching God’s word. His first book, “What Do I Say When Asked About Jesus?” is a conversational approach to helping people answer questions about Jesus. The book provides a layman’s perspective on personal evangelism and the basics of the Christian faith. Dave has been married for thirty-six years to the love of his life, Debbie. They have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and two granddaughters. To read more of David’s writing visit his Substack page.

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