Are you being hated without a cause because of righteousness?

Jesus Christ Himself said, “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.” John 15:18

So If you are then chosen out of the world by Jesus Christ to follow Him, the world would naturally hate you. The world will hate you because it hated Christ first; and therefore because you are not of the world, but of Christ the world will hate you. But if you belong to the world, the world would love you as its own. For the world can only love its own, and not of Christ.

Question: What kind of hatred did He experience?

Jesus experienced hatred without a cause. A hatred for living righteously according to the word of God, being the living word incarnate. He lived a perfect, holy life acceptable to God. In Him there was no sin nor the propensity to evil. He healed the sick and broken hearted. He mourned with people. He had compassion for them. And He fed those who were hungry, and quench the thirst of those who were thirsty. And in spite of all of that they spat upon Him, mocked, beat, scourged and crucified Him. They called Him a mad man, gluttonous and winebibber. They said He was a friend of publicans and sinners. Consequently, those who truly follow Him will have the same experience. The Bible even says his enemies will be of his own family and household.

“34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.” Matthew 10:34-36

The devil plays the numbers game to incite doubt. He has a majority to surround you, in order to question your certainties concerning the truth. He did it with Jesus. When His disciples left Him in a time of trouble. Judas betrayed Him, and Peter denied the fact that he knew Him. Leaving Jesus faced with a great number of people against Him. But we must count it all joy to suffer for the sake of Christ, and not no strange thing. Suffering is a witness which proves our faith in Him. It builds character as we are perfected by it.

Jesus prayed for those that naild Him to the cross. Saying Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. He instructs us to have the same kind of love. To pray for those who use you, and despitefully persecute you due to righteousness. It is written, “43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” And, “10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” Matthew 5:43-45 and Matthew 5:10-11