Hated for the Right Reasons

John 15:18-23 (NLT) “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates me also hates my Father.”

Let’s be honest - it’s natural to want to be liked. Who doesn’t want that? Even the most secure people don’t wish for people to hate them. Deep down, we all long for acceptance, for community, for connection. But here in John 15, Jesus makes something very clear: if you follow Him, you should expect to be hated. Not because of who you are personally, but because of who you represent.

That might sound harsh, but it’s not a surprise. Jesus said these words 2,000 years ago. This isn’t new. It’s just that, for a long time, especially in the West, Christians have lived in relative comfort. For generations, it was normal, even expected, to respect Christianity. But that season is shifting. More and more, those who take Jesus at His word and believe the Bible as the true Word of God are being pushed to the margins. We’re increasingly seen as out-of-touch, intolerant, or irrelevant.

But here’s the truth: our faith is not outdated - it's eternal. The God who spoke these words sees the full picture. What we’re experiencing today is part of a larger cycle that has repeated throughout history. God's people have always faced pressure to compromise, to conform, or to stay quiet.

That’s why we must shift our focus. Our goal is not to be liked, but to be faithful. Our driving force should be to live for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and not to win the approval of people.

Let’s take Jesus’ words seriously: “Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you.” It’s not comfortable, but He never promised comfort. What He did promise is peace in Him, even in the face of trials.

Look at what He says just one chapter later: John 16:33 (NLT) “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

So today, may we stand firm. May we find our peace in Jesus. And may we take heart, not because it’s easy, but because He has already overcome, and through Him, we will too.