“Discipleship is allegiance to the suffering Christ.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Last Sunday, we gave three reasons why the world hates believers. One of those reasons is that the believer submits to Jesus by obeying his word and seeks to be identified with Christ. Here is the pertinent passage:
“Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.” (John 15:20-21)
Christ’s word is kept by believers and proclaimed by believers, “if they kept my word, they will also keep yours.” The “yours” is not our individual messages or life goals or pithy sayings or our culture’s collected, universal sayings parroted by the church. No, the “yours” is the faithful delivering of the “my words” or the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is the Great Commission assumed in this text and obeyed by the church “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20, emphasis mine) This is the church submitting through faithful teaching and attempting to pass it on. Christ’s character is captured in the phrase “on account of my name.” (see also Matthew 5:11) His name equals his character. It is the life of John 13:16—humility, stooping, loving service, captured by the foot washing that is then demonstrated among each other and the world. This is the church being identified with Christ through faithful, humble service.
Regarding persecution, one pastor issues a word of encouragement to inexperienced believers:
The inexperienced Christian supposes that the hatred of the world against him is a reproach. He thinks that he is to blame for it. He imagines that if only he were kinder, more gentle, more humble, more Christlike, the enmity of unbelievers would be overcome. This is a great mistake. The truth is, the more Christlike we are the more shall we be antagonized and shunned. The most conclusive proof of this is found in the treatment which our blessed Savior received when He was in the world. He was “despised and rejected of men.” If then the purest love which was ever manifested on earth, if goodness incarnate was hated by men in general, if the brighter His love shone, the fiercer was the enmity which it met with in response, then how can we expect to be admired and esteemed by the world? [A. W. Pink]
Have a blessed week and we will see many of you on Sunday.
Love in Christ,
Pastor Dale
