Theological Commentary: Click Here
In this
chapter, John talks about the world and its opinion of us. John has some difficult things to say – even more
difficult to hear. After all, we all long
for acceptance and approval. Yet, John
tells us that we won’t get what we need from the world. The world will not understand us. The world will not approve of us.
This is a
difficult teaching! Who wants to get up
every day knowing that if we are following Jesus then we will catch the rebuke
of the world? Who wants to wake up and
realize that the world with disapprove of us and perhaps even mock us? Who wants to go through life being
misunderstood and rejected? John even
warns us that the world might just hate us.
What is it
about us that the world rejects? When we
live like Christ, we sacrifice ourselves.
We lay down our life for one another.
We stop looking out for ourselves and begin to consider what is best for
those around us. We make decisions that
are self-less, not selfish.
At first, it
sounds like the world should love us.
After all, isn’t the selfless person the easiest target if you want to
take advantage of someone? Of course it
is! This is why John says that we will
feel the hatred of the world. They will
take advantage of us. They will persecute
us.
They will hate
us, though, because of what we will do in their midst. The selfless person bring condemnation to the
selfish. The example of the selfless
casts a shadow upon the life of the selfish.
The world hates us because even as they selfishly take from the selfless
their lives are judged and exposed to the light.
If we desire
to follow Christ, we desire to live a selfless life that trusts God and His
ability to meet our needs. We also live a
selfless life that sheds light upon the ways of the world. We are set apart as we follow our Lord. We are hated by the world because even as
they take advantage of us they expose their condemnation.
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