If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin; but as it is they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done works among them that no one else ever did, they would not have sin; but as it is, they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But in order that the word written in their law might be fulfilled, ‘They hated me without cause.’ 26 “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. 27 And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Jesus tells his disciples that the Jewish world’s response to his presence is hatred and since they are his disciples the world will hate them also. Jesus chose the disciples out of the world and set them apart to follow him (Jn. 17:16). Their hope in Jesus is the reason for the world’s hatred because Jesus is a sign of contradiction (Lk. 2:34). No servant is treated better than his master so those who love Jesus will love them, and those who hate Jesus will hate them. They will be persecuted by the world just as Jesus is persecuted (Mk. 13:9-13). The world did not truly know God, so it did not accept Jesus who was sent by God (Jn. 14:24). As a result, the world will hate the disciples because of their association with Jesus. The rejection of the disciples originated from their rejection of God.
If Jesus had not come and preached the word to the Jews with signs and wonders they would have an excuse for their sin. They rejected both the message and miraculous works of Jesus which testified to his divinity; that he was sent from God. Thus, they have no excuse for their sin because of their willful disobedience or culpable ignorance. Hatred of Jesus is hatred of the Father who sent him. It is a serious matter to reject Jesus and his teachings. The Jewish world incurred sin by persecuting Jesus and will incur sin by persecuting his disciples. Jesus said that the OT scripture must be fulfilled; “More numerous than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause. (Ps. 69:5).” Jesus promised that when he sends the Holy Spirit (Advocate) from the Father, the Holy Spirit will reveal the truth about his identity to the disciples and the world. The disciples will also bear witness to Jesus and his teachings because of their firsthand knowledge of his teachings and ministry.
Almighty God, the journey to Christ is difficult with many who proclaim your name facing adversity and rejection. Grant them the strength to remain steadfast in their faith, knowing that if the world hates them, it first hated You. May the Spirit of Truth guide and empower them to bear witness to Your love and truth. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
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