Life of Christ Lesson 156: The Hatred of the World

John 15:18-25 Continuing with the Lord's "Farewell Discourse," addressed to His disciples, first in the Upper Room and then on their way to Gethsemane, we find that after speaking about "The Love of the Lord" (Lesson #155), He then talked about the world's hostility toward Him and His people. The transition from this lesson to the previous one is a natural one. Jesus had just finished telling His men that He would no longer call them "servants," but "friends". He then furnished them with three proofs of His love for them. Now (in this section of His sermon), He forewarned them of the enemies' hatred; since they were His friends, they could expect to encounter the same hatred He encountered (and was about to encounter, beginning that very night)! The Lord does not want His followers to be naïve about our opposition. He does not want our spirits quenched by the evil we encounter as we proclaim Him to the world. So, He told us ahead of time (through His words to the disciples), of the hatred we can expect from the world because of our identity with Him.