This is a study of Jesus as a rebel. Some say he was not a rebel, but there is evidence that Jesus was strongly apposed to much of what was acceptable by the leaders of Israel in His day, and he expressed it in some strong ways.
Responding to Revolution with Relevant Reformation ResourcesPeter Hammond
This document calls Christians to stand up against revolutionary forces seeking to undermine Christian civilization. It summarizes recent race riots in the US and warns that many rioters came from Christian homes without proper biblical teaching. It urges Christians to engage culture rather than ignore issues and to provide discipleship teaching youth how to defend their faith. The document lists resources for understanding cultural Marxism and exposing its agenda, and encourages training young people to survive and thrive through biblical worldview teaching.
The document provides a summary of how the Protestant Reformation changed the Catholic Church in the 16th and 17th centuries. It discusses how the Reformation delivered the Church from ignorance, superstition, immorality, and idolatry. Specifically, it freed the Church from a lack of biblical knowledge, reliance on meaningless rituals, corruption of clergy, and false doctrines not supported by scripture. The Reformation also gave the Church access to the Bible by translating it into local languages and encouraging its reading and study.
Henry james-the-old-and-new-theology... london-1861Francis Batt
The Swedenborg moment and movement in America. Henry James 1811-1882. Religion and Philosophy united. ... ... Contents :
1- The Old and New Theology, Part 1
2- The Old and New Theology, Part 2
3- The Church of Christ not an ecclesiasticism : a letter of remonstrance to a member of the SOI-DISANT New-Church.
(source : google + OCR + optim0.4 )
What About all the Hypocrites in the ChurchPeter Hammond
The document discusses how some use hypocrisy in the church as an excuse to reject Christianity. It notes that while hypocrites exist, Christianity and the Bible strongly condemn hypocrisy. It argues that one should not let the sins of others prevent accepting Jesus, who was perfectly righteous and condemned hypocrisy most of all. The existence of sickness does not prevent visiting doctors, and hypocrites may potentially hear the gospel and repent.
*' I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot
hear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of
truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth.'*
—John 16 : 12-13.
Without haste and without rest the great
Teacher is urging us on. Learn we must, for
some day we are to see God. But for anyone
to whom spiritual education is no longer the
unwilling task of a slave, but to whom truth
is the glad sunlight of the soul, this saying of
Jesus opens an endless vista of truth, an ever-
expanding horizon, mystery after mystery
coming out of the grayness of the dawn and
breaking into glory.
. Let us recall
the mighty passage: "For the love of Christ
constraineth us; because we thus judge, that
one died for all, therefore all died; and he
died for all, that they that live should no
longer live unto themselves, but unto him who
for their sakes died and rose again. Where-
fore we henceforth know no man after the
flesh; even tho we have known Christ after
the flesh, yet now we know him so no more."
The meaning of the text may be roughly
given in this paraphrase : ' ' My old standpoint
of valuation was that of the flesh, and I re-
garded even Christ Himself from that stand-
point; but now I estimate all things from the
standpoint of redemption. From my new
standpoint, Christ is our Savior, and men get
their worth from the fact that He, for their
sakes, died and rose again."
Black Lives Matter - a new Religious CultPeter Hammond
Black Lives Matter is described as a new religious cult that promotes a false gospel through Marxist ideology. It teaches victimization and revolution rather than personal responsibility. While claiming to support black lives, it also supports practices like abortion that disproportionately harm African Americans. The document argues that BLM should be resisted as it seeks to replace biblical authority with political correctness and undermines families, gender norms, and Christianity.
This is a study of Jesus being thought to be crazy by His own family. Jesus was so zealous that He was exhausted, but He would not stop and His family thought He was out of His mind.
Responding to Revolution with Relevant Reformation ResourcesPeter Hammond
This document calls Christians to stand up against revolutionary forces seeking to undermine Christian civilization. It summarizes recent race riots in the US and warns that many rioters came from Christian homes without proper biblical teaching. It urges Christians to engage culture rather than ignore issues and to provide discipleship teaching youth how to defend their faith. The document lists resources for understanding cultural Marxism and exposing its agenda, and encourages training young people to survive and thrive through biblical worldview teaching.
The document provides a summary of how the Protestant Reformation changed the Catholic Church in the 16th and 17th centuries. It discusses how the Reformation delivered the Church from ignorance, superstition, immorality, and idolatry. Specifically, it freed the Church from a lack of biblical knowledge, reliance on meaningless rituals, corruption of clergy, and false doctrines not supported by scripture. The Reformation also gave the Church access to the Bible by translating it into local languages and encouraging its reading and study.
Henry james-the-old-and-new-theology... london-1861Francis Batt
The Swedenborg moment and movement in America. Henry James 1811-1882. Religion and Philosophy united. ... ... Contents :
1- The Old and New Theology, Part 1
2- The Old and New Theology, Part 2
3- The Church of Christ not an ecclesiasticism : a letter of remonstrance to a member of the SOI-DISANT New-Church.
(source : google + OCR + optim0.4 )
What About all the Hypocrites in the ChurchPeter Hammond
The document discusses how some use hypocrisy in the church as an excuse to reject Christianity. It notes that while hypocrites exist, Christianity and the Bible strongly condemn hypocrisy. It argues that one should not let the sins of others prevent accepting Jesus, who was perfectly righteous and condemned hypocrisy most of all. The existence of sickness does not prevent visiting doctors, and hypocrites may potentially hear the gospel and repent.
*' I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot
hear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of
truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth.'*
—John 16 : 12-13.
Without haste and without rest the great
Teacher is urging us on. Learn we must, for
some day we are to see God. But for anyone
to whom spiritual education is no longer the
unwilling task of a slave, but to whom truth
is the glad sunlight of the soul, this saying of
Jesus opens an endless vista of truth, an ever-
expanding horizon, mystery after mystery
coming out of the grayness of the dawn and
breaking into glory.
. Let us recall
the mighty passage: "For the love of Christ
constraineth us; because we thus judge, that
one died for all, therefore all died; and he
died for all, that they that live should no
longer live unto themselves, but unto him who
for their sakes died and rose again. Where-
fore we henceforth know no man after the
flesh; even tho we have known Christ after
the flesh, yet now we know him so no more."
The meaning of the text may be roughly
given in this paraphrase : ' ' My old standpoint
of valuation was that of the flesh, and I re-
garded even Christ Himself from that stand-
point; but now I estimate all things from the
standpoint of redemption. From my new
standpoint, Christ is our Savior, and men get
their worth from the fact that He, for their
sakes, died and rose again."
Black Lives Matter - a new Religious CultPeter Hammond
Black Lives Matter is described as a new religious cult that promotes a false gospel through Marxist ideology. It teaches victimization and revolution rather than personal responsibility. While claiming to support black lives, it also supports practices like abortion that disproportionately harm African Americans. The document argues that BLM should be resisted as it seeks to replace biblical authority with political correctness and undermines families, gender norms, and Christianity.
This is a study of Jesus being thought to be crazy by His own family. Jesus was so zealous that He was exhausted, but He would not stop and His family thought He was out of His mind.
Jesus was thought to be out of his mindGLENN PEASE
1. When Jesus' family heard about his teachings and miracles, they went to take charge of him because they said "He is out of his mind."
2. Jesus' lifestyle and teachings were unlike those of ordinary people, leading his friends and family to think he was insane or possessed.
3. However, Jesus' focus on spiritual matters, devotion to God's will, and sense of mission showed elements of true wisdom, even if misunderstood by others around him at the time.
The document summarizes a conference for pastors that addressed issues facing the modern church, including postmodernism, homosexuality, immodest dress, lies, love of money, and liberal theology. It also discusses a significant visitation by the Cloud of God's Glory in 2012, seen as a sign of Jesus' imminent return. The conference aimed to encourage repentance, holiness, and preparing the church for the Messiah's coming.
This document discusses the importance and purpose of monuments and history. It provides examples of famous monuments from around the world and throughout history, and explains how monuments communicate ideas, inspire people, establish national and civic identity, and help societies remember their past. Monuments are said to be like books that educate and remind future generations of significant people, events, values, and ideas from the past. The document stresses the importance of learning from history in order to avoid past mistakes and benefit from the experiences of previous generations.
1) Oscar Wilde claimed that suffering disproves an all-powerful, good God. However, the document argues that suffering results from humanity's fall and sin, as well as false religions.
2) Christians must be prepared to answer questions about why they believe in God and address the problem of evil and suffering. They should do so patiently and with knowledge of God's word.
3) While innocent people suffer, God can use any situation for good, as seen in the story of Joseph. Ultimately, no one is truly good except God, and we all deserve worse than we receive from His grace and mercy.
This is a study of Jesus refusing to answer the Jewish leaders who were trying to trap him. He asked them a question they refused to answer and so He refused to answer their question.
Understanding Animism and Evangelising AnimistsPeter Hammond
The document discusses animism, which is the religion of spirit worship practiced by over 100 million tribal people. It involves worshipping departed ancestors, spirits, nature, and using witchdoctors to placate spirits. The document uses examples of the Mayan civilization and tribes in Papua New Guinea to show how some praise pagan cultures despite practices like human sacrifice and lack of progress. It argues animism is a "progress-resistant force" that keeps people in fear and superstition. Haiti is discussed as an example of a nation dedicated to spirits/voodoo that remains extremely poor and unstable despite foreign aid. The document aims to provide understanding of animism in order to evangelize its followers.
This document discusses the signs of the times and nearness of Christ's second coming. It notes that Sunday sacredness is being exalted in place of the Bible Sabbath, which it identifies as the last act in the drama before Jesus returns. It also summarizes recent events showing the collapse of Protestantism and growing unity with Catholicism, fulfilling prophecies about the three-fold union of church, state, and spiritualism opposing God prior to the close of probation. The document urges readers to wake up to these signs and prepare their lives for Christ's imminent return.
Jesus found three major institutions firmly established in society - the state, the church, and the family. He taught his disciples to respect these institutions through loyalty to the state, piety toward religious practices, and upholding moral values in the family. However, Jesus also believed his message would transform these institutions by establishing a spiritual kingdom within each person. While respecting laws, he called his followers to stand up for truth even at risk of persecution. Jesus hoped to improve society through moral teachings like forgiveness and charity. He criticized hypocrisy in religious leaders but sought to include all people, not just Jews. The church Jesus envisioned was based on individuals upholding truth, not hierarchical control. He greatly elevated the status of women and
Jesus' teaching was unlike anything his contemporaries had heard. Though he had no formal religious training, his words conveyed profound truths about God, humanity, and salvation. When questioned about the source of his knowledge, Jesus responded that his doctrine came not from himself but from God who sent him. His teachings were characterized by simplicity yet profundity, originality yet authority, and a self-verifying power that testified to their divine origin and purpose of glorifying God, not human wisdom.
This document provides an overview of the commonplace aspects of Jesus' life in order to portray him as a fully human figure, beginning with his physical traits and mental faculties that conformed to those of average Jews of his time. It notes that while Jesus had an intense compassion, he also displayed very human emotions and limitations in his teachings, knowledge, and references to contemporary beliefs. The goal is to start the portrayal of Jesus from his human side in order to provide a balanced, historically accurate account.
No issue before the human mind to-day is
fraught with greater importance than a correct
apprehension of the significance of Jesus. He
has always compelled the reverent attention of
reflective and serious people. Their response
to His supreme religious genius demonstrates
how deeply it has absorbed the variant multi-
tudes who have expressed their consciousness
of Him in speech, in literature, in art, in archi-
tecture, and chiefly in their efforts to emulate
His example and to do His will.
Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, wanted to see Jesus but was too short to see over the crowd. He climbed a sycamore tree to get a view. When Jesus passed by, he looked up and called Zacchaeus by name, telling him to come down as he planned to stay at his house. Zacchaeus joyfully received Jesus. He promised to give half his possessions to the poor and repay anyone he had cheated four times over, showing the salvation that had come to his house through his encounter with Jesus. The story illustrates Jesus' mission to seek and save the lost.
Christian you're unique
#Uniqueness #Christianity #Uniqueness-Christianity
https://bittube.tv/post/043c2d95-5f74-4314-926d-4b0524a63bee
https://odysee.com/@periodic-reset-of-civilizations:c/Christian-you're-unique:7
https://tube.midov.pl/w/aac7ac42-f6d3-4f44-8787-9457ae649a13
https://www.bitchute.com/video/cE0i9NvcdOZ1/
All the platforms I Am on:
https://steemit.com/links/@resetciviliz/link-s
▶ BITCOIN
34c3XCeSyoi9DPRks867KL7GVD7tGVcxnH
▶ ETHEREUM
0xAc1FBaEBaCc83D332494B55123F5493a113cE457
▶ TEESPRING
https://periodic-reset.creator-spring.com
" What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called
Christ? ''—Matt. 27 : 22.
A PERSISTENT question — as pertinent to-
day as when Pilate asked it — and as
fateful : the one question, in fact, which
more than any other has made history and is
making history.
This is a study of Jesus being one of a kind in His speech. He made people listen for He was powerful in His presentation with such great parables and stories.
This document contains a question and answer section about how China became great without Christianity, followed by a short summary of how God judges people based on the revelation they have received. It then provides a summary of the political and religious context in Judea during the time of Daniel, including the various empires that dominated the region and how Daniel and his friends were taken to Babylon. The final section discusses whether Hitler could truly be considered a Christian given his actions and the influence of Nietzsche's philosophy on Nazi ideology. It argues that Hitler suppressed Christianity and banned the Bible and cross, so he did not genuinely follow Christianity.
The love of money is the root of all evilGLENN PEASE
The document discusses how Christianity dealt with slavery in the early days and provides arguments against claims that Christianity is deficient in making its followers holy based on imperfections of some Christians. It argues that Christianity (1) taught masters their responsibilities and slaves how to conduct themselves to potentially gain freedom, (2) gave dignity to slaves, and (3) laid down principles that necessitated the ultimate destruction of slavery. It also argues that imperfections of some Christians are exaggerated and do not diminish the truth or authority of Christianity's teachings.
Jesus was thought to be out of his mindGLENN PEASE
1. When Jesus' family heard about his teachings and miracles, they went to take charge of him because they said "He is out of his mind."
2. Jesus' lifestyle and teachings were unlike those of ordinary people, leading his friends and family to think he was insane or possessed.
3. However, Jesus' focus on spiritual matters, devotion to God's will, and sense of mission showed elements of true wisdom, even if misunderstood by others around him at the time.
The document summarizes a conference for pastors that addressed issues facing the modern church, including postmodernism, homosexuality, immodest dress, lies, love of money, and liberal theology. It also discusses a significant visitation by the Cloud of God's Glory in 2012, seen as a sign of Jesus' imminent return. The conference aimed to encourage repentance, holiness, and preparing the church for the Messiah's coming.
This document discusses the importance and purpose of monuments and history. It provides examples of famous monuments from around the world and throughout history, and explains how monuments communicate ideas, inspire people, establish national and civic identity, and help societies remember their past. Monuments are said to be like books that educate and remind future generations of significant people, events, values, and ideas from the past. The document stresses the importance of learning from history in order to avoid past mistakes and benefit from the experiences of previous generations.
1) Oscar Wilde claimed that suffering disproves an all-powerful, good God. However, the document argues that suffering results from humanity's fall and sin, as well as false religions.
2) Christians must be prepared to answer questions about why they believe in God and address the problem of evil and suffering. They should do so patiently and with knowledge of God's word.
3) While innocent people suffer, God can use any situation for good, as seen in the story of Joseph. Ultimately, no one is truly good except God, and we all deserve worse than we receive from His grace and mercy.
This is a study of Jesus refusing to answer the Jewish leaders who were trying to trap him. He asked them a question they refused to answer and so He refused to answer their question.
Understanding Animism and Evangelising AnimistsPeter Hammond
The document discusses animism, which is the religion of spirit worship practiced by over 100 million tribal people. It involves worshipping departed ancestors, spirits, nature, and using witchdoctors to placate spirits. The document uses examples of the Mayan civilization and tribes in Papua New Guinea to show how some praise pagan cultures despite practices like human sacrifice and lack of progress. It argues animism is a "progress-resistant force" that keeps people in fear and superstition. Haiti is discussed as an example of a nation dedicated to spirits/voodoo that remains extremely poor and unstable despite foreign aid. The document aims to provide understanding of animism in order to evangelize its followers.
This document discusses the signs of the times and nearness of Christ's second coming. It notes that Sunday sacredness is being exalted in place of the Bible Sabbath, which it identifies as the last act in the drama before Jesus returns. It also summarizes recent events showing the collapse of Protestantism and growing unity with Catholicism, fulfilling prophecies about the three-fold union of church, state, and spiritualism opposing God prior to the close of probation. The document urges readers to wake up to these signs and prepare their lives for Christ's imminent return.
Jesus found three major institutions firmly established in society - the state, the church, and the family. He taught his disciples to respect these institutions through loyalty to the state, piety toward religious practices, and upholding moral values in the family. However, Jesus also believed his message would transform these institutions by establishing a spiritual kingdom within each person. While respecting laws, he called his followers to stand up for truth even at risk of persecution. Jesus hoped to improve society through moral teachings like forgiveness and charity. He criticized hypocrisy in religious leaders but sought to include all people, not just Jews. The church Jesus envisioned was based on individuals upholding truth, not hierarchical control. He greatly elevated the status of women and
Jesus' teaching was unlike anything his contemporaries had heard. Though he had no formal religious training, his words conveyed profound truths about God, humanity, and salvation. When questioned about the source of his knowledge, Jesus responded that his doctrine came not from himself but from God who sent him. His teachings were characterized by simplicity yet profundity, originality yet authority, and a self-verifying power that testified to their divine origin and purpose of glorifying God, not human wisdom.
This document provides an overview of the commonplace aspects of Jesus' life in order to portray him as a fully human figure, beginning with his physical traits and mental faculties that conformed to those of average Jews of his time. It notes that while Jesus had an intense compassion, he also displayed very human emotions and limitations in his teachings, knowledge, and references to contemporary beliefs. The goal is to start the portrayal of Jesus from his human side in order to provide a balanced, historically accurate account.
No issue before the human mind to-day is
fraught with greater importance than a correct
apprehension of the significance of Jesus. He
has always compelled the reverent attention of
reflective and serious people. Their response
to His supreme religious genius demonstrates
how deeply it has absorbed the variant multi-
tudes who have expressed their consciousness
of Him in speech, in literature, in art, in archi-
tecture, and chiefly in their efforts to emulate
His example and to do His will.
Zacchaeus, a wealthy tax collector, wanted to see Jesus but was too short to see over the crowd. He climbed a sycamore tree to get a view. When Jesus passed by, he looked up and called Zacchaeus by name, telling him to come down as he planned to stay at his house. Zacchaeus joyfully received Jesus. He promised to give half his possessions to the poor and repay anyone he had cheated four times over, showing the salvation that had come to his house through his encounter with Jesus. The story illustrates Jesus' mission to seek and save the lost.
Christian you're unique
#Uniqueness #Christianity #Uniqueness-Christianity
https://bittube.tv/post/043c2d95-5f74-4314-926d-4b0524a63bee
https://odysee.com/@periodic-reset-of-civilizations:c/Christian-you're-unique:7
https://tube.midov.pl/w/aac7ac42-f6d3-4f44-8787-9457ae649a13
https://www.bitchute.com/video/cE0i9NvcdOZ1/
All the platforms I Am on:
https://steemit.com/links/@resetciviliz/link-s
▶ BITCOIN
34c3XCeSyoi9DPRks867KL7GVD7tGVcxnH
▶ ETHEREUM
0xAc1FBaEBaCc83D332494B55123F5493a113cE457
▶ TEESPRING
https://periodic-reset.creator-spring.com
" What shall I do then with Jesus, which is called
Christ? ''—Matt. 27 : 22.
A PERSISTENT question — as pertinent to-
day as when Pilate asked it — and as
fateful : the one question, in fact, which
more than any other has made history and is
making history.
This is a study of Jesus being one of a kind in His speech. He made people listen for He was powerful in His presentation with such great parables and stories.
This document contains a question and answer section about how China became great without Christianity, followed by a short summary of how God judges people based on the revelation they have received. It then provides a summary of the political and religious context in Judea during the time of Daniel, including the various empires that dominated the region and how Daniel and his friends were taken to Babylon. The final section discusses whether Hitler could truly be considered a Christian given his actions and the influence of Nietzsche's philosophy on Nazi ideology. It argues that Hitler suppressed Christianity and banned the Bible and cross, so he did not genuinely follow Christianity.
The love of money is the root of all evilGLENN PEASE
The document discusses how Christianity dealt with slavery in the early days and provides arguments against claims that Christianity is deficient in making its followers holy based on imperfections of some Christians. It argues that Christianity (1) taught masters their responsibilities and slaves how to conduct themselves to potentially gain freedom, (2) gave dignity to slaves, and (3) laid down principles that necessitated the ultimate destruction of slavery. It also argues that imperfections of some Christians are exaggerated and do not diminish the truth or authority of Christianity's teachings.
Paul expresses great sorrow and continual concern for his fellow Israelites who have rejected Christ despite their great spiritual privileges. He would even wish to be cursed himself if it meant the salvation of his Jewish brethren. Paul's concern is sincere, divinely inspired, and intense. It is grounded in the high privileges the Israelites received as God's chosen people, such as adoption, the covenants, and the coming of Christ himself in the flesh as their Messiah. Paul also feels sorrow due to his personal kinship and relationship to the Israelites as his own people. His self-sacrificing spirit leads him to actively preach Christ to them despite the persecution he faces.
Jesus was a friend of tax collectors and sinnersGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus as a friend of sinners of all sorts. It sounds scandalous, but it was the very purpose of Jesus coming, which was to save the lost. You have to love them to win them.
Jesus was sinned against by bad examplesGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus being sinned against by bad examples. The abuse of Christian liberty can hurt one of weak conscience and cause them to stumble. This is a sin against Jesus. Forget your liberty if it hurts others, for this is not love.
This is a study of Jesus demanding that we carry the cross, and if not we cannot be His disciple. Take up the cross and follow Him, but it you do not take it up, you cannot follow HIm.
1) The document discusses how some who knew Christ can turn away and become worse than before. Their latter end is worse than their beginning.
2) It says it would have been better for them not to have known righteousness than to turn away from it after knowing it.
3) Two proverbs are mentioned - that of a dog returning to its vomit, and a sow washing only to return to the mire - to illustrate how some fully turn back to sinful ways after seeming to reform.
Jesus was numbered with transgressors and bore the sins of many. He poured out his soul unto death and was accused falsely though he was righteous. By his death, he conquered sin, death, and the devil and secured salvation for many. He was treated as a transgressor and criminal though he was sinless. His death brings great benefits by teaching about God's love for sinners and his hatred of sin, and by defeating the powers that cause human suffering like pain and death.
This document discusses secularism and its dangers. It defines secularism as marginalizing God and focusing on earthly things. Secularism rejects God as the source of truth and shifts the locus of truth to humanity. When God is rejected, pride and self-sufficiency grow. The document warns that without moral reference points, only personal wishes are considered. It advocates embracing traditional religious beliefs to combat secular values that are attacking Christianity.
This is a study of the cross and the crucifixion of Jesus. There is difficult language in this study of His painful death, and we need to be constantly thankful that He was willing to endure it for our salvation.
1. Athanasius argues that Christ, as the Word made flesh, is the true man for all seasons who stood against the world in defending orthodox Christianity.
2. The document discusses five snapshots from Athanasius' work "On the Incarnation" that are relevant to the postmodern situation, including that Christ is the agent of both creation and salvation, human history has meaning because of the incarnation, Christians die a different death due to the resurrection, and that the Gospel leads to peace rather than militarism.
3. It asserts that Athanasius provides a clear understanding of the connection between creation and redemption through Christ that contrasts with vague and confused perspectives today.
Jesus was illustrating why he eats with sinnersGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus illustrating why He eats with sinners. He made His critics see that they would rejoice in finding their lost sheep, and so He and all heaven will rejoice in finding and recovering each lost sinner.
This document summarizes a forum on the changing face of religion in America and interreligious challenges and opportunities. It discusses a Jewish statement acknowledging Christian efforts to honor Judaism and reflects on what Judaism may say about Christianity. It also provides background on the speaker, a Catholic biblical scholar who studies Jews and Judaism, and discusses the historical relationship and separation between Jews and Christians, acknowledging past sins and failures while seeking reconciliation and understanding between groups.
The document discusses how trials and afflictions should not be considered strange by Christians. It provides several reasons for this:
1) Trials are permitted by God for the purpose of moral discipline and testing one's faith.
2) Christians should endure trials with the spirit of sharing in Christ's sufferings, as He endured trials before them.
3) Trials are intended to lead Christians to future exaltation, just as Christ's sufferings led to His glory.
Christ was not_a_jew-jacob_elon_conner-1936-178pgs-relRareBooksnRecords
This document is the introduction and first chapter of a book arguing that Christ was not a Jew. It claims that Galileans, where Christ was from, were a distinct race from Jews in Judea. The author believes Christianity should not be tied to Judaism and aims to show through history, anthropology and archaeology that Galileans and Judeans were different races. The introduction criticizes those who say Christ's race doesn't matter and argues the truth of his background demands recognition to prevent harm.
Jesus was urging us to pray and never give upGLENN PEASE
This document discusses the importance of perseverance in prayer based on a parable from Luke 18:1-8. It provides three key points:
1. The parable illustrates that believers should always pray and not lose heart, using the example of a widow who persistently asks an unjust judge for justice until he relents. If an unjust judge will grant a request, how much more will a righteous God answer the prayers of his people.
2. Though God may delay in answering prayers, this is not due to his absence or indifference, but for reasons that will become clear later and that are for the benefit of the believers.
3. Believers should continue praying without ceasing and not lose
This is a study of Jesus being questioned about fasting. His disciples were not doing it like John's disciples and the Pharisees. Jesus gives His answer that gets Him into the time of celebration with new wineskins that do away with the old ones. Jesus says we do not fast at a party and a celebration.
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, scoffed at Jesus when he taught about financial matters. While the Pharisees were outwardly devout and knowledgeable about scripture, their true motivation was greed. Their love of wealth distorted their judgment and led them to actively oppose Christ, culminating in conspiring for his death. True righteousness requires having a humble, trusting heart oriented toward love of God rather than worldly pursuits.
Jesus was clear you cannot serve two mastersGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus being clear on the issue, you cannot serve two masters. You cannot serve God and money at the same time because you will love one and hate the other. You have to make a choice and a commitment.
Jesus was saying what the kingdom is likeGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus saying what the kingdom is like. He does so by telling the Parable of the growing seed. It just grows by itself by nature and man just harvests it when ripe. There is mystery here.
Jesus was telling a story of good fish and badGLENN PEASE
The parable of the dragnet, as told by Jesus in Matthew 13:47-50, describes how the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that gathers fish of every kind. When the net is full, it is pulled to shore where the fishermen sort the fish, keeping the good in baskets but throwing away the bad. Jesus explains that this is analogous to how he will separate the wicked from the righteous at the end of the age, throwing the wicked into eternal punishment. The parable illustrates that within the church both true believers and unbelievers will be gathered initially, but they will be separated at the final judgment.
Jesus was comparing the kingdom of god to yeastGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus comparing the kingdom of God to yeast. A little can go a long way, and the yeast fills the whole of the large dough, and so the kingdom of God will fill all nations of the earth.
This is a study of Jesus telling a shocking parable. It has some terrible words at the end, but it is all about being faithful with what our Lord has given us. We need to make whatever has been given us to count for our Lord.
Jesus was telling the parable of the talentsGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus telling the parable of the talents, There are a variety of talents given and whatever the talent we get we are to do our best for the Master, for He requires fruit or judgment.
Jesus was explaining the parable of the sowerGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus explaining the parable of the sower. It is all about the seed and the soil and the fruitfulness of the combination. The Word is the seed and we need it in our lives to bear fruit for God.
This is a study of Jesus warning against covetousness. Greed actually will lead to spiritual poverty, so Jesus says do not live to get, but develop a spirit of giving instead,
Jesus was explaining the parable of the weedsGLENN PEASE
This is a study of Jesus explaining the parable of the weeds. The disciples did not understand the parable and so Jesus gave them a clear commentary to help them grasp what it was saying.
This is a study of Jesus being radical. He was radical in His claims, and in His teaching, and in the language He used, and in His actions. He was clearly radical.
This is a study of Jesus laughing in time and in eternity. He promised we would laugh with Him in heaven, and most agree that Jesus often laughed with His followers in His earthly ministry. Jesus was a laugher by nature being He was God, and God did laugh, and being man, who by nature does laugh. Look at the masses of little babies that laugh on the internet. It is natural to being human.
This is a study of Jesus as our protector. He will strengthen and protect from the evil one. We need His protection for we are not always aware of the snares of the evil one.
This is a study of Jesus not being a self pleaser. He looked to helping and pleasing others and was an example for all believers to look to others need and not focus on self.
This is a study of Jesus being the clothing we are to wear. To be clothed in Jesus is to be like Jesus in the way we look and how our life is to appear before the world.
This is a study of Jesus being our liberator. By His death He set us free from the law of sin and death. We are under no condemnation when we trust Him as our Savior and Liberator.
Powerful Magic Rings+27604255576 for Money Fame Job Promotions Gambling in So...MalikAliMohamad1
›:› Powerful Magic Rings+27604255576 for Money Fame Job Promotions Gambling in South Africa Botswana, Zimbabwe, Jordan,Kuwait,Turkey,Belgium,Saudi Arabia, Australia, Malaysia Limpopo polokwane nambia Johannesburg,Lebanon, zambia,USA,kenya,california, dallas, England,German,spain, Jamaica,St,Lucia, Brasil,Germany ,Austria, Vancouver, Denmark,Hongkong,China,,pretoria, Durban, Australia, Zimbabwe,Wales,France,Harare,Cairo, philippines,china, Norway,Sweden,Cameroon,Botswana ,Namibia, Tanzania,Northerncape,Newyork,limpopo,london, venezuela,Chile,Sweden, Kenya, Denmark, Rwanda, Oman, Qatar,Dubai,Poland,Lesotho,Canada, United Kingdom…
nambia Botswana
Powerful Magic Rings++27604255576 Money ~Fame~ Job Promotions~ Gambling in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Jordan,Kuwait,Turkey,Belgium,Saudi Arabia, Australia, Malaysia , Johannesburg,Lebanon, zambia,USA,kenya,california, dallas, England,German,spain, Jamaica,St,Lucia, Brasil,Germany ,Austria, Vancouver, Denmark,Hongkong,China,,pretoria, Durban, Australia,+27604255576 Zimbabwe,Wales,France,Harare,Cairo, philippines,china, Norway,Sweden,Cameroon,Botswana ,Namibia, Tanzania,Northerncape,Newyork,limpopo,london, venezuela,Chile,Sweden, Kenya, Denmark, Rwanda, Oman, Qatar,Dubai,Poland,Lesotho,Canada, United Kingdom…+27604255576
This Mystic Ring is very strong and powerful and can change the life of the wearer. This Ring is spiritually prepared and there are lots of rituals and ceremonies done on the ring and then it is prepared, Again this ring is very safe and will always give lots of success and happiness to the wearer. It has lots of positive energies in it so that it can destroy any type of Black Magic, Evil Eye, Negative Energy, Hex or Curse that is on you. If can destroy all your enemies and also punish them. Also on wearing the ring it will make your subconscious mind power very strong and powerful so that you will also have financial gains, your money problems will be over and also you will be successful in the fields of Lottery and Gambling. It will protect you from any type of unknown accidents and evil. Also this ring will make your love stars very strong and powerful so that you will attract opposite sex, and also will get any person you desire.
+27604255576
+27604255576 This powerful ring will warn you in your dreams if any thing good or bad is going to happen so that you will always be safe and protected from unknown dangers coming to you. So in all you will have money, fame, love and every thing that you may desire. Again it is difficult to explain the wonders of this ring unless you will try your self.
+27604255576
Call/whatsapp: +27604255576
Tales of This and Another Life - Chapters.pdfMashaL38
This book is one of the best of the translated ones, for it has a warning character for all those who find themselves in the experience of material life. Irmão X provides a shrewd way of describing the subtleties and weaknesses that can jeopardize our intentions, making us more attentive and vigilant by providing us with his wise pages, reminding us between the lines of the Master's words: "Pray and watch."
Astronism, Cosmism and Cosmodeism: the space religions espousing the doctrine...Cometan
This lecture created by Brandon Taylorian (aka Cometan) specially for the CESNUR Conference held Bordeaux in June 2024 provides a brief introduction to the legacy of religious and philosophical thought that Astronism emerges from, namely the discourse on transcension started assuredly by the Cosmists in Russia in the mid-to-late nineteenth century and then carried on and developed by Mordecai Nessyahu in Cosmodeism in the twentieth century. Cometan also then provides some detail on his story in founding Astronism in the early twenty-first century from 2013 along with details on the central Astronist doctrine of transcension. Finally, the lecture concludes with some contributions made by space religions and space philosophy and their influences on various cultural facets in art, literature and film.
Lição 12: João 15 a 17 – O Espírito Santo e a Oração Sacerdotal | 2° Trimestr...OmarBarrezueta1
Esta lição é uma oportunidade para discutirmos um assunto multo mal interpretado no contexto cristão, que é o fato de algumas pessoas pensarem que o conhecer Jesus é ter a nossa vida mudada em todas as áreas, como se Deus tivesse o dever de transportar-nos deste mundo para um outro mundo onde muitas coisas maravilhosas que desejamos seriam reais. No entanto, a nossa fé não nos tira do mundo após nos convertermos; ao invés disso, permanecemos vivendo sob as mesmas circunstâncias. O propósito de Deus não é nos tirar do mundo, mas nos livrar das ações do maligno (Jo 17.15), Sendo assim, a vida eterna não significa estar fora da realidade deste mundo, mas conhecer o único Deus verdadeiro (Jo 17.3).
Unleash your spiritual growth journey as a truth-seeker!
Learn More:
👉https://tkg.tf/4D
Tracking "The Blessing" - Christianity · Spiritual Growth · Success
Do you ever feel like your Bible highlighting isn't quite enough to ignite lasting spiritual growth? Have you struggled to retain key takeaways from your Bible study sessions?
Discover how living in 4D can transform your highlighting into a strategic tool for spiritual development.
Learn More:
👉https://tkg.tf/4D
In this video, you'll gain insights on:
How highlighting key verses and themes can enhance memory and retention of Scripture (we see a few key ones, here!)
Studies have shown that highlighting can significantly improve information recall. Highlighting key points visually reinforces them in your mind, leading to better long-term memory.
How to personalize your Bible study through strategic highlighting. Don't just highlight everything!
This video will teach you how to strategically highlight based on what resonates with you, focusing on central themes, recurring ideas, or connections between different passages.
Watch More:
👉https://tkg.tf/4D
How connecting highlighted passages can reveal deeper biblical truths. By highlighting these connections, you can see the bigger picture and uncover the underlying messages within Scripture.
By the end of this video, you'll be equipped to unlock the hidden potential within your highlighted Bible and embark on a transformative spiritual growth journey! Don't forget to like and subscribe for more inspiring content on deepening your faith.
Note: For Christians seeking to enrich their Bible study and deepen their faith, as well as any other spiritual seeker of truth and growth.
Learn More:
👉https://tkg.tf/4D
New York City love spells in Dallas, TX.spellshealer8
Get ex back TX (+256) 789- 682- 081 Love spells in Houston, TX Astrologer Psychic near me to remove negative energy. Protection spells by Spell Caster | Love Spells | Black Magic | the witchcraft. Black magic expert and voodoo love spells that work overnight to retrieve that love | Best Psychic in Houston with powerful voodoo to renew your relationship & make your relationship stronger. love spells to bring back the feelings of love for ex-lovers.
https://spellshealer8.wixsite.com/binding-powerful-los
Increase the intimacy, affection & love between you and your lover using voodoo relationship love spells in USA. money spells, easy love spells with just words, think of me spell, powerful love spell, spells of love, spells that work, love potion to attract a man, easy love spells with just words, pink candle prayer, white magic spells, call me spell, manifestation spell, gay love spells, Commitment spells, business spells and, how to bring back lost love in a relationship, Witchcraft love spells that work immediately to increase love & intimacy in your relationship. Attraction love spells to attract someone, stop a divorce, prevent a breakup & get your ex back.
REUNITE WITH AN EX LOVER IN 72 HOURS
If your lover is gone, don't be desperate anymore! You are a few clicks away from a prompt resolution of your problem: We will our spiritual powers to bring him/her back. This service has been the reason of so many happy endings that you should consider it as a serious solution. Let us show you our method with zero chances of rejection. Don't waste your precious time; get your lover back NOW!
MAKE HIM/HER LOVE ME
You love someone but this isn't mutual? Don't wait for the deluge and make him or her love you now. This service will create a great alchemy between this person and you. In just a few weeks, you can make the person you dream of falling in love with you. We recommend you to combine this service with a Marriage ritual if you want this person to commit you.
BREAK UP A RELATIONSHIP
The perfect service to break up a relationship you don't think legitimate. Your lover has gone with someone else? You love someone but this person is already involved in a relationship? Don't hesitate to break them up as this ritual and prayer is very powerful and will give very good results in a few weeks only.
STOP A DIVORCE NOW
Your husband or you wife is thinking about divorce but you don't want this to happen? Order this service now to reinforce the bonds of your relationship and save your marriage. This service will make him/her realize that a divorce would be a mistake and will strengthen love and passion. With permanent results, this service will guarantee a long lasting marriage and will make you happy.
FAITHFULNESS
Your partner cheats on you? This love ritual is definitely the one you need! Your lover will dream about you every night and will realize the pain you have been suffering since he/she
LOVE CHARMS
I DO ALL THE FOLLOWING SPELLS
*Binding Your
Heartfulness Magazine - June 2024 (Volume 9, Issue 6)heartfulness
Dear readers,
This month we continue with more inspiring talks from the Global Spirituality Mahotsav that was held from March 14 to 17, 2024, at Kanha Shanti Vanam.
We hear from Daaji on lifestyle and yoga in honor of International Day of Yoga, June 21, 2024. We also hear from Professor Bhavani Rao, Dean at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University, on spirituality in action, the Venerable BhikkuSanghasena on how to be an ambassador for compassion, Dr. Tony Nader on the Maharishi Effect, Swami Mukundananda on the crossroads of modernization, Tejinder Kaur Basra on the purpose of work, the Venerable GesheDorjiDamdul on the psychology of peace, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, on how we are all related, and world-renowned violinist KumareshRajagopalan on the uplifting mysteries of music.
Dr. Prasad Veluthanar shares an Ayurvedic perspective on treating autism, Dr. IchakAdizes helps us navigate disagreements at work, Sravan Banda celebrates World Environment Day by sharing some tips on land restoration, and Sara Bubber tells our children another inspiring story and challenges them with some fun facts and riddles.
Happy reading,
The editors
The Book of Revelation, filled with symbolic and apocalyptic imagery, presents one of its most striking visions in Revelation 9:3-12—the locust army. Understanding the significance of this locust army provides insight into the broader themes of divine judgment, protection, and the ultimate triumph of God’s will as depicted in Revelation.
Lucid Dreaming: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
The ability to control one's dreams or for the dreamer to be aware that he or she is dreaming. This process, called lucid dreaming, has some potential risks as well as many fascinating benefits. However, many people are hesitant to try it initially for fear of the potential dangers. This article aims to clarify these concerns by exploring both the risks and benefits of lucid dreaming.
The Benefits of Lucid Dreaming
Lucid dreaming allows a person to take control of their dream world, helping them overcome their fears and eliminate nightmares. This technique is particularly useful for mental health. By taking control of their dreams, individuals can face challenging scenarios in a controlled environment, which can help reduce anxiety and increase self-confidence.
Addressing Common Concerns
Physical Harm in Dreams Lucid dreaming is fundamentally safe. In a lucid dream, everything is a creation of your mind. Therefore, nothing in the dream can physically harm you. Despite the vividness and realness of the dream experience, it remains entirely within your mental landscape, posing no physical danger.
Mental Health Risks Concerns about developing PTSD or other mental illnesses from lucid dreaming are unfounded. As soon as you wake up, it's clear that the events experienced in the dream were not real. On the contrary, lucid dreaming is often seen as a therapeutic tool for conditions like PTSD, as it allows individuals to reframe and manage their thoughts.
Potential Risks of Lucid Dreaming
While generally safe, lucid dreaming does come with a few risks as well:
Mixing Dream Memories with Reality Long-term lucid dreamers might occasionally confuse dream memories with real ones, creating false memories. This issue is rare and preventable by maintaining a dream journal and avoiding lucid dreaming about real-life people or places too frequently.
Escapism Using lucid dreaming to escape reality can be problematic if it interferes with your daily life. While it is sometimes beneficial to escape and relieve the stress of reality, relying on lucid dreaming for happiness can hinder personal growth and productivity.
Feeling Tired After Lucid Dreaming Some people report feeling tired after lucid dreaming. This tiredness is not due to the dreams themselves but often results from not getting enough sleep or using techniques that disrupt sleep patterns. Taking breaks and ensuring adequate sleep can prevent this.
Mental Exhaustion Lucid dreaming can be mentally taxing if practiced excessively without breaks. It’s important to balance lucid dreaming with regular sleep to avoid mental fatigue.
Lucid dreaming is safe and beneficial if done with caution. It has many benefits, such as overcoming fear and improving mental health, and minimal risks. There are many resources and tutorials available for those interested in trying it.
The pervasiveness of Lying in today's World.pptxniwres
In our interconnected world, lies weave through the fabric of society like hidden threads. We encounter them in politics, media, personal relationships, and even within ourselves. The prevalence of deception raises profound questions about truth, trust, and the human condition.
Lesson 12 - The Blessed Hope: The Mark of the Christian.pptxCelso Napoleon
Lesson 12 - The Blessed Hope: The Mark of the Christian
SBS – Sunday Bible School
Adult Bible Lessons 2nd quarter 2024 CPAD
MAGAZINE: THE CAREER THAT IS PROPOSED TO US: The Path of Salvation, Holiness and Perseverance to Reach Heaven
Commentator: Pastor Osiel Gomes
Presentation: Missionary Celso Napoleon
Renewed in Grace
2nd issue of Volume 15. A magazine in urdu language mainly based on spiritual treatment and learning. Many topics on ISLAM, SUFISM, SOCIAL PROBLEMS, SELF HELP, PSYCHOLOGY, HEALTH, SPIRITUAL TREATMENT, Ruqya etc.A very useful magazine for everyone.
Introduction
Mantra Yoga is an exact science. "Mananat trayate iti mantrah- by the Manana (constant thinking or recollection) of which one is protected or is released from the round of births and deaths, is Mantra." That is called Mantra by the meditation (Manana) on which the Jiva or the individual soul attains freedom from sin, enjoyment in heaven and final liberation, and by the aid of which it attains in full the fourfold fruit (Chaturvarga), i.e., Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha. A Mantra is so called because it is achieved by the mental process.
1. JESUS WAS A REBEL
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
John 15:18 18"If the world hates you, keep in mind
that it hated me first.
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
The World's Hatred
John 15:18-21
J.R. Thomson
Our Lord enjoined that within the Church there should prevail love
and brotherhood. But at the same time he foretold that from
without Christians should meet with hatred and opposition, enmity
and persecution.
I. EVIDENCES OF THE WORLD'S HATRED OF CHRISTIANS.
1. We are constrained by facts to rank with the world, in this
respect, the adherents of the Jewish system. As his own countrymen
were our Lord's opponents and in truth his real murderers, so were
the Jews the earliest opponents of the Church of Christ. The Book of
the Acts of the Apostles exhibits the hostility of the leaders of Israel
to the society which was called by his Name whose crucifixion they
2. had brought about. The Jews attempted to silence the first
preachers of Christianity. And this they did under the influence of
hate towards Christ himself. They regarded the new religion - for
such it seemed to them - as subversive of their own, not discerning
that it was the fulfillment of what was Divine in Judaism. And they
hated a doctrine which, by laying stress upon the personal and
spiritual elements in religion, imperiled their own rulers' authority,
and the whole system of form and ceremony with which they were
associated.
2. Our Lord doubtless looked forward to the time when the vessel of
the Church should quit the narrow straits of Judaism, and should
sail out into the open seas of the world, there to encounter fiercer
storms. Then he foresaw the hatred of the world should take a more
formidable, though not a more virulent, shape. In the Roman
empire, Christianity, we know as matter of history, encountered
fierce hostility mainly because of its exacting, exclusive claims,
because of its open hostility to all that savored of idolatry, and
because of its rapid, and (to the heathen) unaccountable progress.
Hence the several persecutions which arose under successive
emperors, verifying the predictions uttered by the Divine Founder
of our faith. Hence the long roll of confessors and martyrs who
sealed their testimony with their blood.
3. But it must not be overlooked that, where persecution is
impossible, hatred often prevails, and manifests its presence and
power in many distressing forms. There are at the present time,
even in the midst of professedly Christian communities, not a few
who are suffering from that hate which our Lord here foretold.
II. EXPLANATIONS OF THE WORLD'S HATRED OF
CHRISTIANS.
3. 1. The world knows not God, and hence hates the Church which is
in possession of this knowledge. Had the world known God, it would
have recognized among Christians the tokens of the Divine presence
and operation.
2. Christians are not of the world. The world loves its own, but hates
that which is out of harmony with it. If Christians do not adopt the
world's spirit and language and habits, this singularity and
nonconformity naturally excites dislike and provokes to ill
treatment.
3. It cannot but be that the world must be rebuked by the presence
of the Church, confronting and reproving it. Whether by a public
protest against the world's sins, or by the silent protest of a pure and
upright life, Christians are bound to a course of action which will
bring down upon them, now and again, the enmity and the anger of
the world.
III. CONSOLATION FOR CHRISTIANS UNDER THE WORLD'S
HATRED. All true comfort comes from that personal relation to the
Lord Jesus upon which such stress is laid in these discourses
recorded by St. John, and which is exhibited as the inspiration not
only of consecrated activity but also of patient endurance.
1. The hatred which besets Christians was first directed against
Christ himself.
2. The servant must expect to follow in his Master's steps, and to
meet with the same treatment.
3. When Jesus says, "For my Name's sake," he presents to us a
motive to patience which is divinely fortifying and persuasive. - T.
4. Biblical Illustrator
If the world hate you.
John 15:18-25
Kosmos: unregenerate humanity
D. Thomas, D. D.
is here presented.
I. AS GLOWING WITH HATE.
1. It was a hatred of goodness. To hate the mean, the selfish, the
false, the dishonest, and morally dishonourable would be right. But
evil was not the object of their hatred.(1) It was good as embodied in
the life of Christ. "It hated Me before it hated you." How deep,
burning, persistent, and cruelly operative was this enmity from
5. Bethlehem to Calvary.(2) It was good as reflected in His disciples.
Just so far as they imbibed and reflected the Spirit of Christ were
they hated. "For My name's sake."
2. It was a hatred developed in persecution. It was not a hatred that
slumbered in a passion or that went off even in abusive language, it
prompted the infliction of the greatest cruelties. The history of true
Christians in all ages has been a history of persecution.
3. It was a hatred without a just reason. "Without a cause." Of
course they had a "cause." The doctrines of goodness clashed with
their deep rooted prejudices, its policy with their daily procedure,
its eternal principles flashed on their consciences and exposed their
wickedness. But their "cause" was the very reason why they ought
to have loved Christ. Christ knew and stated the cause of the hatred
(ver. 19).
4. It was a hatred forming a strong reason for brotherly love
amongst the disciples. Christ begins His forewarning them of it by
urging them to love one another (ver. 17). As your enemies outside
of you are strong in their passionate hostility towards you, be you
compactly welded together in mutual love. Unity is strength.
II. AS LOADED WITH RESPONSIBILITY (ver. 22). These words
must, of course, be taken in their comparative sense. Before He
came amongst them the guilt of their nation had been augmenting
for centuries, and they had been, filling up the measure of their
iniquities. But great as was their sin before He came it was trifling
compared to it now since His advent amongst them.
1. Had He not come they would not have known the sin of hating
Him. Hatred towards the best of beings, the incarnation of goodness,
is sin in its most malignant form, it was the culmination of human
6. depravity. But had they not known Him they could not have hated
Him, the heart is dead to all objects outside the region of knowledge.
2. Had He not come they would not have rejected Him. "He came to
His own and His own received Him not." The rejection of Him
involved the most wicked folly, the most heartless ingratitude, the
most daring impiety. "If they which despised Moses' law died
without mercy under two witnesses," etc.
3. If He had not come they would not have crucified Him. What
crime on the long black catalogue of human wickedness is to be
compared to this?Conclusion:
1. Good men accept the moral hostility of the unregenerate world.
Your great Master taught you to accept it. It is in truth a test of
your character and an evidence of your Christliness.
2. Nominal Christians read your doom.
(D. Thomas, D. D.)
The world
W. H. Van Doren, D. D.
The children of this world as distinguished from the children of
God. Called the world as indicating number, confederacy, and
spirit. Three characteristics.
I. GOVERNED BY SENSE.
II. LIVING FOR THE PRESENT.
III. RULED BY THE OPINIONS AND CUSTOMS OF MEN.
7. (W. H. Van Doren, D. D.)
The world
J. Culross, D. D.
The world of John's day we know, as to its actual condition, from
other sources. Let anyone turn over the pages of Tacitus, Martial, or
Persius, and what he learns will put "colour" into John's outlines:
nay, one dare not say, "turn over their pages," for some of them can
scarcely be read without hurt by the saintliest living. The same
"world" — at heart — we still find in the present century, under
modern conditions. It has grown in wealth. It has become civilized
and refined. Law has become a mightier thing. The glory of science
was never half so radiant. But, looking close in, we still find the old
facts — a dislike of God and love of sin, pride and self-sufficiency, a
godless and selfish use of things men "hating one another,"
selfishness fighting selfishness — an infinite mass of misery. Look
beyond the borders of comfort and respectability, and think of what
exists today round about us. Think of the unblest poverty that is
growing side by side with enormous wealth and luxury, associated in
many cases with vice and crime, crushing the spirit in ways that
comfortable people cannot understand, and frequently aggravated
by the temper in which it is borne, and by added evils which do not
properly belong to it. Think of the ignorance that has grown to such
proportions under the very shadow of our schools and churches.
(J. Culross, D. D.)
Sheep among wolves
8. A. Maclaren, D. D.
1. These words strike a discord in the midst of sweet music. The
keynote of all that has preceded has been love, and just because it
binds the disciples to Christ in a sacred community, it separates
them from those who do not share in His life, and hence there result
two communities — the Church and the World; and the antagonism
between these is perpetual.
2. Our Lord is here speaking with special reference to the apostles,
who were "sent forth as sheep in the midst of wolves." If we may
trust tradition, every one of that little company died a martyr's
death, with the exception of John. But there is no more reason for
restricting the force of these words to the hearer,, than there is for
restricting any of the rest of this discourse.
I. WHAT MAKES THIS HOSTILITY INEVITABLE? Our Lord
here prepares His hearers for what is coming by putting it in the
gentle form of an hypothesis. The frequency with which "if" occurs
in this section is rely remarkable, but the tense of the original shows
us that, whilst the form is hypothetical, the substance of it is
prophetic. Jesus points to two things which make this hostility
inevitable.
1. If we share Christ's life, we must necessarily, in some measure,
share His fate (ver. 18). He is the typical example of what the world
thinks of, and does to, goodness. And all who have the spirit of life
which was in Jesus Christ will come under the same influences
which carried Him to the cross. In a world like this it is impossible
for a man to "love righteousness and hate iniquity," and to order his
life accordingly, without treading on somebody's corns.
9. 2. And then (ver. 19), there are two bands, and the fundamental
principles that underlie each are in deadly antagonism. We stand in
diametrical opposition in thought about God, self, duty, life, death,
the future; and that opposition goes right down to the bottom of
things, and, however it may be covered over, there is a gulf, as in
some of those American cations: the towering banks may be very
near — but a yard or two seems to separate them; but they go down
for thousands and thousands of feet, and never get any nearer each
other, and between them at the bottom a black, sullen river flows. If
the world loves you it is because ye are of it.
II. HOW THIS HOSTILITY IS MASKED AND MODIFIED.
1. There are a great many bonds that unite men together besides
religion or its absence. There are the domestic ties, the associations
of commerce and neighbourhood, surface identities of opinion. We
have all the same affections and needs, do the same sort of things. So
there is a film of roofing thrown over the gulf. You can make up a
crack in a wall with plaster after a fashion, and it will hide the
solution of continuity that lies beneath. But, let bad weather come,
and the bricks gape apart as before. And so, as soon as we get down
below the surface of things and come to grapple with real, deep-
lying, and formative principles of a life, we come to antagonism.
2. Then the world has got a dash of Christianity into it. Thus
Christian men and others have, to a large extent, a common code of
morality, as long as you keep on the surface; and do a great many
things from substantially the same motives. And thus the gulf is
partly bridged over; and so the hostility takes another form. We do
not wrap Christians up in pitch and stick them up for candles in the
emperor's garden nowadays, but the same thing can be done in
different ways. Newspaper articles, the light laugh of scorn, the
10. whoop of exultation over the failures or faults of any prominent man
that has stood out boldly on Christ's side; all these indicate what lies
below the surface, and sometimes not so very far below. Many a
young man in a warehouse, trying to live a godly life, many a
workman, commercial traveller, student, has to find out that there is
a great gulf between him and the man that sits close to him; and that
he cannot be faithful to his Lord and at the same time down to the
depths of his being a friend of one who has no friendship to his
Master.
3. And again the world has a conscience that responds to goodness,
though grumblingly. After all, men do know that it is better and
wiser to be like Christ, and that cannot but modify to some extent
the manifestations of the hostility. But it is there all the same. Let a
man for Christ's sake avow unpopular beliefs, let him boldly seek to
apply Christian principles to the fashionable and popular sins of his
class or of his country, and what a chorus will be yelping at his
heels! The law remains still, if any man will be a friend of the world
he is at enmity wish God.
III. HOW YOU MAY ESCAPE THE HOSTILITY. A half-
Christianized world and a more than half-secularised Church get on
well together. And it is a miserable thing to reflect that about the
average Christianity of this generation there is so very little that
does deserve the antagonism of the world. Why should the world
care to hate a professing Church, large tracts of which are only a bit
of the world under another name? If you want to escape the hostility
drop your flag, button your coat over the badge that shows that you
belong to Christ, and do the thing that the people round about you
do, and you will have a perfectly easy and undisturbed life. Of
course, a Christianity that winks at commercial immoralities is very
11. welcome on the exchange, a Christianity that lets beer barrels alone
may reckon upon having publicans for its adherents, a Christianity
that blesses flags and sings Te Deums over victories will get its share
of the spoil. If the world can put a hook in the nostrils of leviathan,
and make him play with its maidens, it will substitute good nature,
half contemptuous, for the hostility which our Master here predicts.
Christian men and woman I be you sure that you deserve the
hostility which my text predicts.
IV. HOW TO MEET THIS ANTAGONISM.
1. Reckon it as a sign and test of our true union with Jesus Christ.
Let us count the reproach of Christ as a treasure to be proud of, and
to be guarded.
2. Be sure that it is your goodness, and not your evils or your
weakness, that men dislike. The world has a very keen eye, and it is
a good thing that it has, for the faults of professing Christians. Many
bring down a great deal of deserved hostility upon themselves and of
discredit upon Christianity; and then they comfort themselves and
say they are bearing the reproach of the Cross. Not a bit of it. Be
you careful for this, that it is Christ in you that men turn from, and
not you yourself and your weakness and sin.
3. Meet this antagonism by not dropping your standard one inch. If
you begin to haul it down where are you going to stop? Nowhere,
until you have got it draggling in the mud at your foot. It is no use
trying to conciliate by compromise. All that we shall gain by that
will be indifference and contempt.
4. Meet hostility with unmoved, patient, Christ-like, and Christ-
derived love and sympathy. The patient sunshine pours upon the
glaciers and melts the thick-ribbed ice at last into sweet water. The
12. patient sunshine beats upon the mist clouds and breaks up its edges
and scatters it at the last. And our Lord here tells us that our
experience, if we are faithful to Him, will be like His experience, in
that some will hearken to our word though others will persecute,
and to some our testimony will come as a message from God that
draws them to the Lord Him. self. The only conqueror of the world
is the love that was in Christ breathed through us. The only way to
overcome the world's hostility is by turning the world into a church.
(A. Maclaren, D. D.)
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(18) If the world hate you.—He has spoken of their close union with
Himself, and of their love to each other. He proceeds in the
remainder of the chapter to speak of their relation to the world.
There is a striking contrast between the “love” in the last verse, and
the “hatred” in this. There was the more need for them to be close
bound to each other, and to their Lord, on account of the hatred
which awaited them in the world.
Ye know that it hated me before it hated you.—It is better to take
the first word as an imperative, “Know that it hated . . .” The very
hatred, then, is a bond of union with their Master, and this thought
should supply strength to meet it, and joy even when suffering from
it (John 15:11). (Comp. 1Peter 4:12-13.)
13. MacLaren's Expositions
John
SHEEP AMONG WOLVES
John 15:18 - John 15:20.
These words strike a discord in the midst of the sweet music to
which we have been listening. The key-note of all that has preceded
has been love-the love of Christ’s friends to one another, and of all
to Him, as an answer to His love to all. That love, which is one,
whether it rise to Him or is diffused on the level of earth, is the
result of that unity of life between the Vine and the branches, of
which our Lord has been speaking such great and wonderful things.
But that unity of life between Christians and Christ has another
consequence than the spread of love. Just because it binds them to
Him in a sacred community, it separates them from those who do
not share in His life, and hence the ‘hate’ of our context is the
shadow of ‘love’; and there result two communities-to use the much-
abused words that designate them-the Church and ‘the World’; and
the antagonism between these is deep, fundamental, and perpetual.
Unquestionably, our Lord is here speaking with special reference to
the Apostles, who, in a very tragic sense, were ‘sent forth as sheep in
the midst of wolves.’ If we may trust tradition, every one of that
14. little company, Speaker as well as hearers, died a martyr’s death,
with the exception of John himself, who was preserved from it by a
miracle. But, be that as it may, our Lord is here laying down a
universal statement of the permanent condition of things; and there
is no more reason for restricting the force of these words to the
original hearers of them than there is for restricting the force of any
of the rest of this wonderful discourse. ‘The world’ will be in
antagonism to the Church until the world ceases to be a world,
because it obeys the King; and then, and not till then, will it cease to
be hostile to His subjects.
I. What makes this hostility inevitable?
Our Lord here prepares His hearers for what is coming by putting it
in the gentle form of an hypothesis. The frequency with which ‘If’
occurs in this section is very remarkable. He will not startle them by
the bare, naked statement which they, in that hour of depression
and agitation, were so little able to endure, but He puts it in the
shape of a ‘suppose that,’ not because there is any doubt, but in
order to alleviate the pain of the impression which He desires to
make. He says, ‘If the world hates,’ not ‘if the world hate’; and the
tense of the original shows that, whilst the form of the statement is
hypothetical, the substance of it is prophetic.
Jesus points to two things, as you will observe, which make this
hostility inevitable. ‘If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me
before it hated you.’ And again, ‘If ye were of the world, the world
15. would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have
chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.’ The
very language carries with it the implication of necessary and
continual antagonism. For what is ‘the world,’ in this context, but
the aggregate of men, who have no share in the love and life that
flow from Jesus Christ? Necessarily they constitute a unity,
whatever diversities there may be amongst them, and necessarily,
that unity in its banded phalanx is in antagonism, in some measure,
to those who constitute the other unity, which holds by Christ, and
has been drawn by Him from ‘out of the world.’
If we share Christ’s life, we must, necessarily, in some measure,
share His fate. It is the typical example of what the world thinks of,
and does to, goodness. And all who have ‘the Spirit of life which was
in Jesus Christ’ for the animating principle of their lives, will, just in
the measure in which they possess it, come under the same
influences which carried Him to the Cross. In a world like this, it is
impossible for a man to ‘love righteousness and hate iniquity,’ and
to order his life accordingly, without treading on somebody’s corns;
being a rebuke to the opposite course of conduct, either interfering
with men’s self-complacency or with their interests. From the
beginning the blind world has repaid goodness by antagonism and
contempt.
And then our Lord touches another, and yet closely-connected,
cause when He speaks of His selecting the Apostles, and drawing
them out of the world, as a reason for the world’s hostility. There
are two groups, and the fundamental principles that underlie each
16. are in deadly antagonism. In the measure in which you and I are
Christians we are in direct opposition to all the maxims which rule
the world and make it a world. What we believe to be precious it
regards as of no account. What we believe to be fundamental truth it
passes by as of little importance. Much which we feel to be wrong it
regards as good. Our jewels are its tinsel, and its jewels are our
tinsel. We and it stand in diametrical opposition of thought about
God, about self, about duty, about life, about death, about the
future; and that opposition goes right down to the bottom of things.
However it may be covered over, there is a gulf, as in some of those
American canons: the towering cliffs may be very near-only a yard
or two seems to separate them; but they go down for thousands and
thousands of feet, and never are any nearer each other, and between
them at the bottom a black, sullen river flows. ‘If ye were of the
world, the world would love its own.’ If it loves you, it is because ye
are of it.
II. And so note, secondly, how this hostility is masked and modified.
There are a great many other bonds that unite men together besides
the bonds of religious life or their absence. There are the domestic
ties, there are the associations of commerce and neighbourhood,
there are surface identities of opinion about many important things.
The greater portion of our lives moves on this surface, whore all
men are alike. ‘If you tickle us, do we not laugh; if you wound us, do
we not bleed?’ We have all the same affections and needs, pursue
the same avocations, do the same sort of things, and a large portion
of every one’s life is under the dominion of habit and custom, and
17. determined by external circumstances. So there is a film of roofing
thrown over the gulf. You can make up a crack in a wall with
plaster after a fashion, and it will hide the solution of continuity that
lies beneath. But let bad weather come, and soon the bricks gape
apart as before. And so, as soon as we get down below the surface of
things and grapple with the real, deep-lying, and formative
principles of a life, we come to antagonism, just as they used to come
to it long ago, though the form of it has become quite different.
Then there are other causes modifying this hostility. The world has
got a dash of Christianity into it since Jesus Christ spoke. We
cannot say that it is half Christianised, but some of the issues and
remoter consequences of Christianity have permeated the general
conscience, and the ethics of the Gospel are largely diffused in such
a land as this. Thus Christian men and others have, to a large
extent, a common code of morality, as long as they keep on the
surface; and they not only do a good many things exactly alike, but
do a great many things from substantially the same motives, and
have the same way of looking at much. Thus the gulf is partly
bridged over; and the hostility takes another form. We do not wrap
Christians in pitch and stick them up for candles in the Emperor’s
garden nowadays, but the same thing can be done in different ways.
Newspaper articles, the light laugh of scorn, the whoop of exultation
over the failures or faults of any prominent man that has stood out
boldly on Christ’s side; all these indicate what lies below the surface,
and sometimes not so very far below. Many a young man in a
Manchester warehouse, trying to live a godly life, many a workman
at his bench, many a commercial traveller in the inn or on the road,
many a student on the college benches, has to find out that there is a
18. great gulf between him and the man who sits next to him, and that
he cannot be faithful to his Lord, and at the same time, down to the
depths of his being, a friend of one who has no friendship to his
Master.
Still another fact masks the antagonism, and that is, that after all,
the world, meaning thereby the aggregate of godless men, has a
conscience that responds to goodness, though grumblingly and
reluctantly. After all, men do know that it is better to be good, that it
is better and wiser to be like Christ, that it is nobler to live for Him
than for self, and that consciousness cannot but modify to some
extent the manifestations of the hostility, but it is there all the same,
and whosoever will be a Christian after Christ’s pattern will find
out that it is there.
Let a man for Christ’s sake avow unpopular beliefs, let him try
honestly to act out the New Testament, let him boldly seek to apply
Christian principles to the fashionable and popular sins of his class
or of his country, let him in any way be ahead of the conscience of
the majority, and what a chorus will be yelping at his heels! Dear
brethren, the law still remains, ‘If any man will be a friend of the
world he is at enmity with God.’
III. Thirdly, note how you may escape the hostility.
19. A half-Christianised world and a more than half-secularised Church
get on well together. ‘When they do agree, their agreement is
wonderful.’ And it is a miserable thing to reflect that about the
average Christianity of this generation there is so very little that
does deserve the antagonism of the world. Why should the world
care to hate or trouble itself about a professing Church, large parts
of which are only a bit of the world under another name? There is
no need whatever that there should be any antagonism at all
between a godless world and hosts of professing Christians. If you
want to escape the hostility drop your flag, button your coat over the
badge that shows that you belong to Christ, and do the things that
the people round about you do, and you will have a perfectly easy
and undisturbed life.
Of course, in the bad old slavery days, a Christianity that had not a
word to say about the sin of slave-holding ran no risk of being
tarred and feathered. Of course a Christianity in Manchester that
winks hard at commercial immoralities is very welcome on the
Exchange. Of course a Christianity that lets beer barrels alone may
reckon upon having publicans for its adherents. Of course a
Christianity that blesses flags and sings Te Deums over victories will
get its share of the spoil. Why should the world hate, or persecute,
or do anything but despise a Christianity like that, any more than a
man need to care for a tame tiger that has had its claws pared? If
the world can put a hook in the nostrils of leviathan, and make him
play with its maidens, it will substitute good-nature, half
contemptuous, for the hostility which our Master here predicts. It
was out-and-out Christians that He said the world would hate; the
20. world likes Christians that are like itself. Christian men and women!
be you sure that you deserve the hostility which my text predicts.
IV. And now, lastly, note how to meet this antagonism.
Reckon it as a sign and test of true union with Jesus Christ. And so,
if ever, by reason of our passing at the call of duty or benevolence
outside the circle of those who sympathise with our faith and
fundamental ideas, we encounter it more manifestly than when we
‘dwell among our own people,’ let us count the ‘reproach of Christ’
as a treasure to be proud of, and to be guarded.
Be sure that it is your goodness and not your evils or your weakness,
that men dislike. The world has a very keen eye for the
inconsistencies and the faults of professing Christians, and it is a
good thing that it has. The loftier your profession the sharper the
judgment that is applied to you. Many well-meaning Christian
people, by an injudicious use of Christian phraseology in the wrong
place, and by the glaring contradiction between their prayers and
their talks and their daily life, bring down a great deal of deserved
hostility upon themselves and of discredit upon Christianity; and
then they comfort themselves and say they are bearing the
‘reproach of the Cross.’ Not a bit of it! They are bearing the natural
results of their own failings and faults. And it is for us to see to it
that what provokes, if it does provoke, hostile judgments and
uncharitable criticisms, insulting speeches and sarcasms, and the
sense of our belonging to another regiment and having other objects,
21. is our cleaving to Jesus Christ, and not the imperfections and the
sins with which we so often spoil that cleaving. Be you careful for
this, that it is Christ in you that men turn from, and not you yourself
and your weakness and sin.
Meet this antagonism by not dropping your standard one inch. Keep
the flag right at the masthead. If you begin to haul it down, where
are you going to stop? Nowhere, until you have got it draggling in
the mud at the foot. It is of no use to try to conciliate by
compromise. All that we shall gain by that will be, as I have said,
indifference and contempt; all that we shall gain will be a loss to the
cause. A great deal is said in this day, and many efforts are being
made-I cannot but think mistaken efforts-by Christian people to
bridge over this gulf in the wrong way-that is, by trying to make out
that Christianity in its fundamental principles does approximate a
great deal more closely to the things that the world goes by than it
really does. It is all vain, and the only issue of it will be that we shall
have a decaying Christianity and a dying spiritual life. Keep the flag
up; emphasise and accentuate the things that the world disbelieves
and denies, not pushing them to the ‘falsehood of extremes,’ but not
by one jot diminishing the clearness of our testimony by reason of
the world’s unwillingness to receive it. Our victory is to be won only
through absolute faithfulness to Christ’s ideal.
And, lastly, meet hostility with unmoved, patient, Christlike, and
Christ-derived love and sympathy. The patient sunshine pours upon
the glaciers and melts the thick-ribbed ice at last into sweet water.
The patient sunshine beats upon the mist-cloud and breaks up its
22. edges and scatters it at the last. And our Lord here tells us that our
experience, if we are faithful to Him, will be like His experience, in
that some will hearken to our word though others will persecute,
and to some our testimony will come as a message from God that
draws them to the Lord Himself. These are our only weapons,
brethren! The only conqueror of the world is the love that was in
Christ breathed through us; the only victory over suspicion,
contempt, alienation, is pleading, persistent, long-suffering, self-
denying love. The only way to overcome the world’s hostility is by
turning the world into a church, and that can only be done when
Christ’s servants oppose pity to wrath, love to hate, and in the
strength of His life who has won us all by the same process, seek to
win the world for Him by the manifestation of His victorious love in
our patient love.
Dear brethren, to which army do you belong? Which community is
yours? Are you in Christ’s ranks, or are you in the world’s? Do you
love Him back again, or do you meet His open heart with a closed
one, and His hand, laden with blessings, with hands clenched in
refusal? To which class do I belong?-it is the question of questions
for us all; and I pray that you and I, won from our hatred by His
love, and wooed out of our death by His life, and made partakers of
His life by His death, may yield our hearts to Him, and so pass from
out of the hostility and mistrust of a godless world into the
friendships and peace of the sheltering Vine. And then we ‘shall
esteem the reproach of Christ’ if it fall upon our heads, in however
modified and mild a form, ‘greater riches than the treasures of
Egypt,’ and ‘have respect unto the recompense of the reward.’
23. May it be so with us all!
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
15:18-25 How little do many persons think, that in opposing the
doctrine of Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, they prove
themselves ignorant of the one living and true God, whom they
profess to worship! The name into which Christ's disciples were
baptized, is that which they will live and die by. It is a comfort to the
greatest sufferers, if they suffer for Christ's name's sake. The
world's ignorance is the true cause of its hatred to the disciples of
Jesus. The clearer and fuller the discoveries of the grace and truth
of Christ, the greater is our sin if we do not love him and believe in
him.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
If the world hate you - The friendship of the world they were not to
expect, but they were not to be deterred from their work by its
hatred. They had seen the example of Jesus. No opposition of the
proud, the wealthy, the learned, or the men of power, no persecution
or gibes, had deterred him from his work. Remembering this, and
having his example steadily in the eye, they were to labor not less
because wicked men should oppose and deride them. It is enough for
the disciple to be as his Master, and the servant as his Lord,
Matthew 10:25.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
17-21. The substance of these important verses has occurred more
than once before. (See on [1860]Mt 10:34-36; Lu 12:49-53, &c.).
Matthew Poole's Commentary
24. In the latter part of this chapter our Lord cometh to comfort those
who were his true disciples, against that third trouble, from the
prospect they had of that hatred which the world would pour out
and execute upon them, as soon as he should be withdrawn from
them. Hatred is rooted and originated in the heart, and is properly a
displeasure that the mind taketh at a person, which, fermenting and
boiling in the mind, breeds an abhorrence of that person, anger, and
malice, and a desire to do him mischief, and root him out; and then
breaks out at the lips, by lying, slanders, calumnies, cursings,
wishing of evil, &c.; and is executed by the hands, doing to such
persons all the harm and mischief within the power of him that
hateth: all this is to be understood under the general term
hate. By
the world here must be meant wicked men, in opposition to good
men, who are often in Scripture called the world, because they are
of the earth, earthly; they relish and savour nothing but worldly
things, and pursue nothing but worldly designs. Against this our
Saviour comforts them; first by telling them, that this part of the
world hated him before it hated them, which must needs be so,
because they hated them as his disciples, and for that very reason.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
If the world hate you,.... After our Lord had signified how much he
loved his disciples and what great things he had done for them, he
faithfully acquaints them with the world's hatred of them, and what
they must expect to meet with from that quarter, and says many
25. things to fortify their minds against it; his words do not imply any
doubt about it, but he rather takes it for granted, as a thing out of
question; "if", or "seeing the world hate you"; they had had some
experience of it already, and might look for more, when their master
was gone from them: wherefore, he, in order to engage their
patience under it, says,
ye know that it hated me before it hated you; which words are an
appeal of Christ to his apostles, for the usage he had met with from
the wicked and unbelieving world of the Jews; how they had
expressed their hatred, not only by words, calling him a gluttonous
man, and a winebibber, a sinner, a Samaritan, a madman, one that
had a devil, yea, Beelzebub himself, but by deeds; taking up stones
to stone him more than once, leading him to the brow of an hill, in
order to cast him down headlong, consulting by various means to
take away his life, as Herod did in his very infancy; which was done,
before they showed so much hatred to his disciples; and perhaps
reference may be had to the original enmity between the seed of the
woman, and the seed of the serpent, mentioned Genesis 3:15; as well
as to these instances. Moreover, the words , rendered "before you",
may be translated "the first" or "chief of you", your Lord and
head; and denotes the dignity, excellency, and superiority of Christ;
wherefore it is suggested, that if he, who was so much before them in
personal worth and greatness, was hated by the world, they should
not think it hard, or any strange thing, that this should be their case.
Geneva Study Bible
{6} If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated
you.
26. (6) When the faithful ministers of Christ are hated by the world as
their master was, it should not cause them to fear, but rather
strengthen and encourage them.
EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Meyer's NT Commentary
John 15:18-19. But now your relation to the world! as far as John
15:27.
In your fellowship, love; from without, on the part of the
unbelieving, hatred against you! Consolation for you: γινώσκετε
(imperat.) ὅτι ἐμὲ πρῶτον ὑμῶν (John 1:15), μεμίσηκεν. Comp. 1
Peter 4:12-13. This hatred is a community of destiny with me. A
further consolation: this hate is the proof that you no longer belong
to the world, but to me through my selection of you (John 15:16);
therein exists the reason for it. How must that fact tend to elate you!
Comp. 1 John 3:13; 1 John 4:5.
The fivefold repetition of κόσμος is solemn. Comp. John 3:17.
τὸ ἔδιον] “Suum dicitur pro vos, atque sic notatur interesse mundi,”
Bengel. Comp. John 7:7. They have become a foreign element to the
world, and therewith the object of its antipathy; χαίρει γὰρ τῷ
ὁμοίῳ τὸ ὅμοιον, Euth. Zigabenus; comp. Plat. Lys. p. 214 B; τὸ
ὅμοιον τῷ ὁμοίῳ ἀνάγκη ἀεὶ φίλον εἶναι.
Expositor's Greek Testament
27. John 15:18-25. The relation of the disciples to the world.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
18. ye know that it hated me] Better, know that it hath hated me
(comp. John 15:20). As in John 14:1 the principal verb may be
either indicative or imperative, and the imperative is preferable: the
second verb is the perfect indicative, of that which has been and still
is the case.
before it hated you] ‘It hated’ is an insertion by our translators, and
‘before you’ is literally ‘first of you,’ like ‘before me’ in John 1:15
(see note there) and 30; excepting that here we have the adverb and
there the adjective.
18–25. The Hatred of the World to both Him and them
In strong contrast to the love and union between Christ and His
disciples and among the disciples themselves is the hatred of the
world to Him and them. He gives them these thoughts to console
them in encountering this hatred of the world. (1) It hated Him first:
in this trial also He has shewn them the way. (2) The hatred of the
world proves that they are not of the world. (3) They are sharing
their Master’s lot, whether the world rejects or accepts their
preaching. (4) They will suffer this hatred not only with Him, but
for His sake. All this tends to shew that the very hatred of the world
intensifies their union with Him.
Bengel's Gnomen
28. John 15:18. Μισεῖ, hates) So far from loving you. [In this there is
described, 1) the unreasonable hatred of the world in general, John
15:18-25 : 2) the confirmation of the truth which stands in contrast
to the same, John 15:26-27 : 3) the hatred accompanied with more
violent paroxysms, John 16:1-4: 4) the greater force of the
confirmation, John 15:5-11.—V. g.]—γινώσκετε, know ye) [But
Engl. Vers. ye know]. They did know it: ch. John 11:8, “The
disciples say, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone Thee:” and yet
they are ordered now more to reflect on this very fact: John 15:20,
Remember, etc., ch. John 16:4.—πρῶτον) prior to its hating you.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 18. - You need net be surprised if the world hate you. "The
world," κόσμος (five times used in strongly emphatic manner), is
humanity apart from grace. This world will despise and hate your
mutual love, will scorn your love to itself for my sake; will detest the
higher and unworldly standard which you will set up. But here is
some consolation. Know (γινώσκετε imperative, as μνημονεύετε in
Ver. 20) that it has hated me before (it hated) you. "Me first, me
most" (Lange). "The superlative contains the comparative"
(Tholuck). "This hatred is a community of destiny with me"
(Meyer). You know how it has hated me, and hunted me from
Bethlehem to Egypt, from Nazareth to Capernaum, from Gergesa to
Jerusalem. Be not surprised if it hate you.
Vincent's Word Studies
If the world hate (εἱ μισεῖ)
Literally, hates. The indicative mood with the conditional particle
assumes the fact as existing: If the world hates you, as it does.
29. Ye know (γινώσκετε)
This may also be rendered as imperative: Know ye.
It hated (μεμίσηκεν)
The perfect tense, hath hated. The hatred continues to the present
time.
Before it hated you (πρῶτον ὑμῶν)
Literally, first in regard of you. See on John 1:15.
END OF BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
PRECEPT AUSTIN RESOURCES
STEVEN COLE
What To ExpectIn The World (John 15:18-27)
RelatedMedia
31. If you know that you’re going to face a difficult situation, it’s helpful to have
some idea in advance of what you’ll be in for. I’ve told you before about a
funny event that happened when I was in CoastGuard boot camp. A guy
showedup for boot camp with his water skis and fishing pole because a
recruiter had told him that boot camp was on an island (true) and that you
could water skiand fish in the estuary surrounding the island (true, if “you” is
understood to mean, “a person technically could do those things”). But if
“you” meant “you personally,” it was about the furthest thing imaginable
from the truth!
The recruiter conveniently failed to tell this naïve recruit that the first day of
boot camp, they issuedyour uniform and made you ship home all of your
civilian clothes, including your underwear, along with your comb, shampoo,
and all toiletries, exceptfor a razor and shaving cream. You wouldn’t need
your comb and shampoo after they gave you the bootcamp haircut, which
came next, because youwould have no hair! Also, they controlledyour life all
day and all night. If they wanted to wake up everyone at 2 a.m. and have you
march or stand in formation in the cold, they could do that. For the next nine
weeks,you were not in controlof your life—they were!If that recruit had
been told anything close to the truth, he might not have signed up. (I joined
because it was better than being drafted and sent to Viet Nam.) But for sure,
he wouldn’t have shownup with his waterskis and fishing pole!
The problem is, some Christian “recruiters” (also called, “evangelists”)entice
you to sign up by describing all the wonderful benefits that you’re going to
receive:“Godloves you and has a wonderful plan for your life!” That sounds
pretty good! And, Jesus promises an abundant life to all who follow Him!
“Yeah, I could use more abundance in my life!” And so you sign up for the
program, not realizing that while there are many benefits in following Jesus,
there are also many trials and persecutions (Mark 10:28-30).
Jesus knew that after He left the disciples to return to heaven, they would face
some difficult opposition from the world. Maybe, because He had just told
them that they would do even “greaterworks”than He did (John 14:12), they
were envisioning receptive crowds and smooth sailing ahead. But the reality
was, they would face some severe persecution, notjust from the paganworld,
32. but also from the religious crowd. The Lord wanted them to know what to
expectfrom the world and how to respond to the hostility that they would
experience. His messageis:
While the world hates believers, we should testify to the world of the truth
about Jesus Christ.
These verses presenta sober, evengrim, picture, exceptfor what has gone on
before: Becausewe enjoyChrist’s love and joy (John 15:1-11)and because we
are members of the loving family of God (John 15:12-17), we canendure the
hostility of the world. But we need to be prepared for it so that we’re not
shockedwhenit happens. Our text falls into two sections:The world’s hatred
of Christians (John 15:18-25);and our responsibility to the hostile world,
namely, to bear witness of Christ (John 15:26-27).
1. The world hates believers because it hates Jesus Christ (John 15:18-25).
There are five things to note about the world’s hatred:
A. Hatred or love for Jesus Christ is what either divides or unites people.
Note the contrastbetween verses 17 & 18:Christians are to be known for
their love, but the world is known for its hatred. Jesus emphasizes “world,”
using it six times in verses 18 & 19. The world refers to the organized system
under Satan’s domain that is opposedto God and His rightful King, Jesus
Christ. In 1 John 5:19, the apostle draws the contrast: “We know that we are
of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
Of course, if you were to go out and ask people on the street, “Do you hate
Jesus Christ?” mostwould answer, “No, I don’t have anything againstJesus.
He was a greatmoral teacher.” If you asked, “Do you follow the devil” they
would strongly exclaim, “There’s no waythat I follow the devil! I’m not a
Satan-worshiper!” They don’t follow Jesus, but they aren’t openly opposedto
Him, either. And they aren’t aware that they’re following the devil, even
though they are. They subscribe to godless values. Theyignore God in their
daily lives, unless they get into a crisis where they suddenly decide to pray.
But the average unbeliever isn’t going to say, “I hate Jesus and I hate
33. Christians!” He’s just living his life as he sees fit and is content to let religious
people follow Jesus if they want to.
But Jesus says (John15:18), “If the world hates you, you know that it has
hated Me before it hated you.” “If” is not uncertain; it’s a Greek construction
that means, “If the world hates you, and it will”. The Lord wants us to know
that behind the world’s hatred for us is its hatred for Him. And, as He adds
(John 15:23), “He who hates Me hates My Fatheralso.” You can’t separate
Jesus from the Father.
But, you may wonder, why does Jesus saythat the world hates both Him and
the Father, as well as all believers, when most unbelievers would say that they
don’t have anything againstJesus or againstChristians? In Matthew 12:30,
Jesus draws a similar line: “He who is not with Me is againstMe.” He paints
the contrastin black and white to draw a distinct line to show that you must
take sides. There is no gray zone. Either you love Jesus and His Fatherand all
who follow Jesus, oryou hate them all, whether you admit it or not! The boat
is leaving the dock. Either you’re on board or you’re not, but you can’t
straddle both!
D. A. Carson(Jesus’FarewellDiscourseandFinal Prayer[Baker], pp. 116-
117)points out that we see the world’s hatred in those who claim to be liberal
and tolerant of differing viewpoints, but who are not so tolerantwhen it comes
to Christian absolutes. He states,
They demonstrate their forbearance and large-heartedgoodnesswhenthey
confront diverse opinions, varied lifestyles and even idiotic practices. Butif
some Christian claims that Christianity is exclusive (as Jesus insisted), or that
moral absolutes exist because they are grounded in the characterof God (as
the Bible teaches), orthat there is a hell to be shunned as wellas a heavento
be gained, the most intemperate language is used to excoriate the poor fool.
The world hates.
B. The world hates because Jesus exposesits sin.
John 15:22: “If I had not come and spokento them, they would not have sin,
but now they have no excuse for their sin.” Jesus adds (John 15:24): “If I had
34. not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have
sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.”
What does Jesus mean? Obviously He doesn’t mean that those who have
never heard of Him or His miracles are sinless. The Bible is clearthat all
people, even those who have never heard of Jesus, are guilty sinners before
God (Rom. 3:10-18). All people have evidence that there is a Creatorby
looking at His creation, but they “suppress the truth in unrighteousness … so
that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:18-20). Also, all people have violated
their consciences, doing what they instinctively know is wrong (Rom. 2). And
so, all have sinned and thus are guilty before God (Rom. 3:23).
Rather, Jesus means that His coming and the many miracles that He did
increasedpeople’s responsibility and guilt when they did not submit to Him as
Savior and Lord. In Matthew 11:20-24, Jesus denouncedthe cities where He
had done most of His miracles because they did not repent. He made it clear
that it will be more tolerable even for the pagans in Tyre and Sidon and for
wickedSodomon judgment day than for these cities. In other words,
increasedlight rejectedmeans increasedsin and guilt.
When Jesus exposes people’s sin, unless the Holy Spirit is convicting them and
drawing them to Christ, they reactdefensively. As Jesus told His then
unbelieving brothers (John 7:7), “The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me
because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.” Or, as John 3:19-20 states, “This
is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the
darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who
does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his
deeds will be exposed.”
Also, note that unbelief is not due to a lack of solid evidence. These people
heard Jesus’words and they saw His many miracles that no one else had done
(John 15:22, 24), but they still rejectedHim because He exposedtheir sin. It’s
still true today: there is more than enough evidence to believe in Jesus Christ,
but people rejectthat evidence or bring up other excuses fortheir unbelief
because they enjoy their sin and they don’t want to repent.
35. Two applications:First, if you live in obedience to Jesus Christ, you will
threaten unbelievers in your family, at school, orat work, because your godly
life will expose their sin. As a result, they will try to getyou to sin so that
you’re just like they are; or they will attack you falsely. Be ready for the
onslaught!
Second, if you go to church but you don’t submit your life to the lordship of
Christ, you’re exposing yourself to greaterjudgment! To put it another way,
going to a church where the Bible is taught is dangerous!There will be
degrees ofpunishment in hell. There’s a point where you have more than
adequate evidence to believe that Jesus is Lord. But if you rejectthat evidence
and don’t repent of your sin, you will incur a stricterjudgment.
C. If the world thinks that you’re wonderful, you may need to question
whether you’re being a bold enough witness for Christ.
Let me make it clear: You should not be the source of offense by being
insensitive, rude, or obnoxious. We need to conductourselves with wisdom,
grace, and sensitivity toward unbelievers (Col. 4:5-6). But here’s where you
will catchflak: Unbelievers will be tolerant until you tell them that Jesus is the
only way to God. Then they will accuse you of being intolerant. They will be
friendly until you make it clearthat God has absolute moral standards and
that our culture’s standards are wrong. Then they will accuse youof being
self-righteous and judgmental. They will be tolerant of your Christianity until
you refuse to lie to covertheir wrongdoing or cheatin favor of the company.
At that point, they will turn againstyou and go behind your back to turn
others againstyou.
But if you state or imply to unbelievers that all goodpeople will go to heaven,
you laugh at their dirty jokes, you go to the same filthy movies that they go to
so that you can be in the know with all the office chatter, and you lie for the
boss, the world will think you’re wonderful; but you’ve compromised your
witness for Christ. You may think, “But if I don’t go along with the world like
that, I’ll lose my job!” Well, we have brothers and sisters in Iraq who are
losing their lives because they won’t deny Christ. As Jesus said(Matt. 5:11-
12), “Blessedare you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely
36. say all kinds of evil againstyou because ofMe. Rejoice and be glad, for your
reward in heaven is great;for in the same waythey persecutedthe prophets
who were before you.”
D. The world’s hatred for Christ and for believers does not thwart God’s
sovereignty, but rather fulfills it.
Jesus says regarding the world’s hatred of both Him and His Father (John
15:25), “But they have done this to fulfill the word that is written in their Law,
‘They hated Me without a cause.’” He is citing Psalm 69:4 to show that
unbelievers can rage againstGod, but they don’t have any basis for their
hatred and they’re inadvertently fulfilling God’s word. God is sovereignand
no one can thwart His will (Ps. 103:19;115:3;Job 42:2; Dan. 4:35). The
application is that when unbelievers seemto win, don’t fret. God is still in
control and He will ultimately judge all unbelievers who wrong you and He
will vindicate His people who have been persecutedfor His name’s sake.
E. The world hates believers because we’re different than they are.
We’re different in many ways, but there are three in the text:
1) We have a different calling: Christ chose us out of this evil world.
John 15:19: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but
because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of
this the world hates you.” Jesus againbrings up a theme that upsets many:
divine election. Proud people like to think that they have the ability to choose
Christ, but He taught that no one cancome to Him unless the Fatherchose
him and draws him. When Jesus taught that in John 6:37-40, 44, & 65, we
read (John 6:66), “As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were
not walking with Him anymore.”
The world, even many in the religious world, will saythat if God chose only
some, He is not fair. But, as I pointed out when we studied John 6, Jesus
taught God’s sovereignelectionto the unbelieving Jews who were grumbling
againstHim (John 6:41ff.) to humble their pride. And, I must add, don’t ever
ask God to be fair with you! Pleadwith Him to be merciful to you, the sinner!
37. 2) We have a different Master:Jesus is our Lord, while the world serves
Satan.
In verse 20, Jesus implies that we are His slaves and He is our Master. But
Satanis the ruler or god of this world (John 12:31;14:30), who has blinded
the eyes of unbelievers so that they cannotsee the light of the gospel(2 Cor.
4:4). Before God rescuedus, we all lived in Satan’s domain of darkness (Col.
1:13), but now we live in Christ’s kingdom of light.
This means that the world does not understand our thinking or our behavior.
The world thinks that people are basicallygood, whereas the Bible says that
all are sinners in rebellion againstGod. People in the world live for themselves
and their own agendas, whereas the Lord’s people live for Him and His
purposes. The world makes up its own relative moral standards, whereas
God’s people obey His moral absolutes. So misunderstanding and hostility
from the world are inevitable.
3) We have different knowledge:We know the Father, but the world does not.
John 15:21: “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake,
because they do not know the One who sent Me.” The fundamental problem
of people in the world is that they do not know the living and true God.
Instead, they make up their own gods. Even atheists worship their own
intellect as supreme, refusing to acknowledgethatall that they have comes
from God (1 Cor. 4:7) and that they will give an accountto Him when they die
(Heb. 9:27). But knowing God is the essenceofthe eternallife that Christ
gives to all who believe in Him. As He prayed (John 17:3), “This is eternal life,
that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have
sent.”
But in spite of the world’s hatred, we should never respond with retaliation or
hatred. There may be times to ask God to judge the wicked. There are times
to shake the dust off your feetand move on (Matt. 10:14). There are times to
be silent rather than to castyour pearls before swine (Matt. 7:6; Luke 23:9).
But our normal response should be:
38. 2. In spite of the world’s hatred, we should testify to the world of the truth
about Jesus Christ (John 15:26-27).
Jesus leaves us in this world to proclaim His glory (1 Pet. 2:9). But how can we
bear witness in the face of such a hostile world? Jesus shows thatwe cando so
only through the Spirit of truth.
A. The Spirit of truth testifies about Jesus Christ.
John 15:26: “Whenthe Helper comes, whomI will send to you from the
Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify
about Me….” As you may know, that verse sparkeda controversythat split
the Easternand Westernchurches over whether the Spirit eternally proceeds
only from the Father(Eastern) or from the Father and the Son (Western).
But in the context, Jesus was not referring to the ontologicalnature of the
trinity, but rather to the mission of the Holy Spirit, whom He calls the Spirit
of truth. But we can know that the Holy Spirit is a person. A mere “force”
cannot testify to the truth. And, the fact that the Spirit proceeds from the
Father and is sentby Jesus, who Himself was sent by the Father, implies the
deity and the distinctiveness of all three persons of the trinity.
But the point here is that the Spirit will continue the witness to Christ after He
returned to heaven. How does He do that? He does it through the Word of
God, which He inspired, but also through believers. As Petertestified (Acts
5:32), “And we are witnesses ofthese things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom
God has given to those who obey Him.” The Spirit testifies through us.
B. Christ’s disciples testify about Him.
John 15:27: “… and you will testify also, because youhave been with Me from
the beginning.” This refers in the first place to the apostolic witness, because
they were with Jesus from the beginning of His ministry until He ascended
into heaven. They testified about what they had seenand heard (Acts 4:20).
They didn’t make up cleverly devised tales, but were eyewitnessesofChrist’s
majesty (2 Pet. 1:16). We have their factual testimony in the New Testament.
So our witness is not just true for those who choose to believe it. It’s always
true whether people believe it or not.
39. So the Holy Spirit uses believers to testify to others about the truth of Jesus.
As Merrill Tenney puts it (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary [Zondervan],
ed. by Frank Gaebelein, 9:155), “Without the witness of the Spirit, the
disciples’witness would be powerless;without the disciples’witness, the Spirit
would be restrictedin his means of expression.” We can’tjust relax and trust
the Spirit to do His thing apart from us. We have to give verbal witness to the
truth about Jesus Christas the Spirit gives us opportunities.
Conclusion
Three applications: First, some of us (like me!) need to have more contact
with the world. We are not to be of the world, but we are to be in the world
(John 17:14-18). If you’re always surrounded by Christians, ask the Lord for
opportunities to rub shoulders with people who need the Savior. You can’t
testify to the truth about Christ if you don’t have contactwith the world.
Second, pray for alertness to opportunities and boldness when you speak. I
often think about what I could have said about an hour after the opportunity
has passed. And, most of us do not err on the side of being too bold. None
other than the apostle Paulsaid (Eph. 6:19-20), “Prayon my behalf, that
utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known
with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassadorin
chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Third, expect from the world what Jesus receivedfrom the world: mostly
hatred, but some fruit. He says (John 15:20), “If they persecutedMe, they will
also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keepyours also.” If you
expecteveryone to respond favorably, you’ll be discouragedwhenthey don’t.
But if you expecteveryone to respond negatively, you won’t even try to bear
witness. Jesus promises that some will believe through your witness (Acts
18:10). So keepproclaiming the goodnews!
First Century Believers
40. Those first believers turned to Christ with the full understanding that they
were espousing an unpopular cause that could costthem everything. Shortly
after Pentecostsome were jailed, many lostall their earthly goods, a few were
slain, hundreds were ‘scatteredabroad.’They could have escapedallthis by
the simple expedient of denying their faith and turning back to the world.
This they steadfastlyrefusedto do.
To make converts, we are tempted to play down the difficulties and play up
the peace ofmind and worldly successenjoyedby those who acceptChrist.
We will never be completely honestwith our hearers until we tell them the
blunt truth that, as members of a race of moral rebels, they are in a serious
jam, and one they will not get out of easily. If they refuse to repent and believe
on Christ, they will most surely perish. If they do turn to Him, the same
enemies that crucified Him will try to crucify them.
A. W. Tozer, Source unknown
https://www.preceptaustin.org/john_commentaries
Jesus Was a Rebel'
Okay, he was. What's your point?
Brett McCracken
"Jesus was a rebel" is a favorite sloganof Christian pastors and authors
trying to "reachtwentysomethings,"as they say. The logic? 1) Young people
think Christianity is tired, boring, stale. 2)Young people are naturally
rebellious and contrarian. Therefore … 3) Maybe Christianity will be fresh
and exciting to them if it is framed in the context of subversion and rebellion.
But I'm not so sure that's a sound syllogism.
41. It's not a stretch to say that Jesus was a rebel. He was. He was bucking the
system, turning over tables, and saying all sorts of subversive things in the
days when he was walking the earth. It is perfectly appropriate, then, for
Christians to call Jesus a rebel or a subversive. And it certainly fits neatly into
any sort of a "Christianity is hip" PR ambition a church might be
undertaking. Hipsters love rebels, and even if they loathe church or
Christians, most of them still think Jesus is pretty dang cool.
When I askedEric Bryant, a pastorat Mosaic in L.A., why Jesus is still
consideredcoolin the eyes of young people, he saidthis:
They're intrigued by Jesus. Theylook to him. He is real, authentic, relevant.
He spoke with honesty. He was a man on a mission. He was a radical, a
revolutionary, yet tender and kind and loving. He was doing things completely
againstthe rules of the day. He was a mix of justice, kindness, judgment and
grace. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/februaryweb-only/18-
22.0.html
Jesus Was a Rebel
Mark Driscollwas interviewed on ABC���s Nightline lastweek. I
didn���t see it. I have only read the write-up on it (click here). As usual,
Driscollsaid some things I could really go off on a rant about, things no
Christian should say, but that���s not what I want to do today. What I want
to write about is something that Driscolldid not say, or at leastwas not
directly quoted as saying in the piece I read. It seems he probably has said it,
but I can���tquote him directly. In any case, the ABC writer said it as
though quoting. All clear? Good; let���s move on, then.
The phrase that caught my attention was, ���Jesuswas a rebel.���
Whether or not Driscollsaid it is not relevant; it���s not a new idea.
It���s been said by those on the hippie-fringe of the church for as long as I
42. can remember. It sounds good, it sounds cool, radical, like, you know,
something hip young dudes think is, like, totally, whatever. The trouble is, it
just isn���ttrue. Jesus was no rebel. Jesus was the most humble, submissive
man ever to walk this earth. He never committed a single rebellious act or had
a single rebellious thought. That would have been sin; and as you know, Jesus
never sinned. If he did, the gospelis dead.
Rebellionis opposition, resistance,defiance to authority. With that in mind,
was it even possible for Jesus to rebel?
When they came to Capernaum, those who collectedthe two-drachma tax
came to Peter and said, ���Doesyourteachernot pay the two-drachma
tax?���He said, ���Yes.���And when he came into the house, Jesus
spoke to him first, saying, ���Whatdo you think, Simon? From whom do
the kings of the earth collectcustoms or poll-tax, from their sons or from
strangers?���WhenPetersaid, ���Fromstrangers,���Jesussaidto
him, ���Thenthe sons are exempt. However, so that we do not offend them,
go to the sea and throw in a hook, and take the first fish that comes up; and
when you open its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take thatand give it to them
for you and Me.���(Matthew 17:24���27)
We should not need to be told that God Incarnate is under no man���s
authority, but from this passage,we cansee from Jesus���ownwords that
he had no one on earth to rebel against. Yet, so that he would not cause
offense, he submitted to authority that had no legitimate expectationof his
obedience. Notquite the picture of a rebel, is it?
Of course, in his Trinitarian relationship with the Father, Jesus was under
authority. This is an authority to which he willingly, humbly, submitted.
Philippians 2:8��tells us, ���Being found in appearance as a man, He
humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a
cross.���In his agony in Gethsemane, he prayed, ���Father, if You are
willing, remove this cup from Me;yet not My will, but Yours be done.���
(Luke 22:42).
The submissive spirit of Jesus is also seenin the Apostle���s teaching.
Children are to be obedient to their parents (Ephesians 6:1���3;Colossians
44. Who Is Jesus?
WestminsterBookstore
12 Comments:
#1 || 09·01·26··10:14 || Daniel
John Piper's writing style annoys me. It annoys me because he seems to go out
of his way to invent a clumsy way of saying a thing, then uses the clumsy label
throughout an entire book. I have shelved more than one of Mr. Piper's books
out of sheerfrustration over this unfortunate writing technique, and chalk it
up to saying the same things as I might say, but expressing them in a way that
I would not.
What does that have to do with Mark Driscoll?
Well, I hope that when Driscollsays or implies that Jesus was a rebel, that
what he really means is that Jesus did not caterto the religious culture of His
day; that is, I hope Driscollmeans only that Jesus was seenas a rebel by those
who were keeping the status quo - that Jesus was more concernedabout the
truth than rocking the boat of the establishedreligious culture.
I hope that this trend in Driscoll, therefore, canbe chalkedup, as with Piper,
to differences in expression, in fact I am certain it can. What offends is not the
thought behind the expression, but the ambiguity of the expression - is he not
45. co-opting a phrase just for the shock value? Is the gospelso impotent that we
must resortto sales gimmicks?
#2 || 09·01·26··11:26 || David
I���m with you on Piper. When I like him, I really like him (as in God is the
Gospeland The Swans Are NotSilent), but when he messes withthe language
(Christian hedonism? What?), he really irritates me.
I know Driscollprobably means ���rebel���justas you say; but if you
use one word and then have to explain that you really meant something else,
you���ve failed to communicate. The fact is that when ABC reports
���Jesus was a rebel,���the world hears the word according to it���s
proper definition, and so do most Christians, especiallythe young
���dudes���thatso admire Driscoll.
In short, no matter how obtuse it makes me seem, I���mgoing to take
words at face value. If you want to saysomething, say it with the right words.
#3 || 09·01·26··13:05 || Betsy Markman
A rebel is someone who hates authority and refuses to submit to it. God's
word says that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft(1 Sam. 15:23). Jesus
certainly never did such a thing. The secretto His submission was that He
knew Whom to obey. When He disobeyed, it was because He was choosing to
obey the higher authority which the lower authority was contradicting (such
as when He and His disciples pickedgrain on the Sabbath in defiance of the
46. Pharisees'legalistic interpretationof Sabbath laws). That doesn'tmake him a
"rebel." It makes Him a wise and discerning obeyer of God.
#4 || 09·01·26··13:31 || David
Betsy, I can���tbelieve I didn���t think of that passage. Thanks for
adding it.
#5 || 09·01·26··15:35 || Ian Hall
"As usual, Driscollsaidsome things .... things no Christian should say"
Agreed. In my view, a deliberate and ongoing strategy, the cussing pastor has
adopted to raise his own profile.
"The phrase that caughtmy attention was, ���Jesus wasa rebel. ... it just
isn���ttrue. Jesus was no rebel. Jesus was the most humble, submissive
man ever to walk this earth. He never committed a single rebellious act or had
a single rebellious thought."
Agreed. It does sound like something Driscollwould sayand it is a despicable
statement.
#6 || 09·01·27··05:16 || Adam Kruszewski
47. I haven't listened to the interview but as far as I remember in his sermons
Mark when he told to the youth for them to be Rebels is exactlyto be humble
and to be servants. So maybe it is just a miscommunication or something?
Cheers,
a.
#7 || 09·01·27··07:20 || donsands
Driscolsays things that are crude. There's no doubt about it. But he's a pastor
of a church of 6,000 people, and they all listen to him. So, he must be affected
by that, I would guess.
The Scriptures and the Word of God should be what molds Mark. The Word
is powerful. The Word is a razor sharp swordwhich cuts to the depth of our
soul. It convicts, and encourages. It exposes, andedifies.
I pray Mark would be more set to allow the Holy swordof the Spirit to cut
deep into his heart, and so expose his crudeness for what it is, even though
6,000, or600,000people cheerhim on. May the truth consume him, and not
the applause of people.
May the Holy Spirit do the same for the rest of us as well.
And I suppose could be wrong. I don't know his heart, that's for sure. But
there's no doubt Mark says things that are crude. I've heard him, and read
Vintage Jesus.
Greatpost BTW. Excellent. And goodcomments as well.
#8 || 09·02·09··13:40 || Bethany Lane
48. Look at the man's fruit and the crowdhe's reaching out to. Things are
changing in the world and Christians can evolve with those changes as long as
they are keeping true to the word of God. I am 18 and I believe in order to live
for Godin this day and age you must live radically for Him. There is such an
onslaught of sin in this world how can we combatit if we don't speak out the
word of God? Driscollis doing that and so many are seeking this church for
that truth. Those who watchedthe interview would see the majority of people
in his congregationare young adults. It's crucial for kids like me to go to
church or else we'll be sweptaway by whateverenticements the world brings.
We don't want to continue hearing what the world says of Jesus we want
what's realand the truth is he did rebel againstthe socialnorms of his day.
Rebellionagainsta culture of sin isn't bad is it? Well Jesus rebelledagainsta
culture of man's law and man's sin. Driscollwill always have critics I
understand but look at the man's fruit and you'll see he may be radical but
he's saving souls.
#9 || 09·02·09··15:52 || David
Bethany, you���ve entirely missedthe point. The fact remains that Jesus
was no rebel, and redefining the word to make it fit your usage does nothing
to change that. Calling Jesus a rebel only demonstrates one of two things:
either you don���t know Jesus, oryou don���tknow English.
But to answeryour comments:
Things are changing in the world and Christians can evolve with those
changes as long as they are keeping true to the word of God.
How, as relates to the gospel, is the world changing?
I am 18
49. I won���thold that againstyou. I���m sure you will learn a lot in years to
come. I hope your learning will be from God���s Word, rather than from
pragmatic, seekersensitive personalities.
and I believe in order to live for God in this day and age you must live
radically for Him.
What does that mean? Does it mean using outrageous behaviorand unclean
speech?
There is such an onslaughtof sin in this world
Yes, and so it has always been and will always be until Christ returns.
how can we combat it if we don't speak out the word of God?
We can���t. What���syour point, as it relates to this article?
Driscollis doing that and so many are seeking this church for that truth.
I hope so;but I suspectmany are there because he���s?�bercoolandthey
get to snickerat his dirty jokes.
Those who watchedthe interview would see the majority of people in his
congregationare young adults.
Yes, and that should be a warning sign. The young leading the young is not a
healthy situation. Where are the elderly folks? A church that prefers young
and crass to old and dignified has some very fundamental problems.
It's crucialfor kids like me to go to church or else we'llbe sweptawayby
whateverenticements the world brings. We don't want to continue hearing
what the world says of Jesus we want what's real
Again, what���s your point? Is the Word of God as it is not ���real���
enough? Does it need to be embellished?
and the truth is he did rebel againstthe socialnorms of his day. Rebellion
againsta culture of sin isn't bad is it? Well Jesus rebelled againsta culture of
man's law and man's sin.
50. And again, living righteously in an unrighteous culture is not rebellion.
It���s just the normal Christian life. But that doesn���tsound cooland
radical, does it? Sorry.
Driscollwill always have critics I understand but look at the man's fruit
The end justifies the means?
and you'll see he may be radical
That���s just funny. See, he���s notreally radical at all. That���s the
irony of the pursuit of cool. The cooleryou get, the more you���re just
conforming to the expectations ofyour audience. Boring, I say.
but he's saving souls.
No, he���s not. JesusChristis saving souls. They are souls that were chosen
by the Father before the foundation of the world, were given to the Son,
justified through his death, raisedwith him to new life, have been given
eternal life, and will be glorified with him in heaven. Their salvation was
accomplishedat the cross, not at Mars Hill Church. (I���m guessing
Driscollwould agree with that.) God is not waiting for us to come up with
���radical���new ways of reaching the lost, especiallywhen those
methods involve sensationaland unwholesome speech. He���sjust
expecting us to preach the Word.
#10 || 09·02·11··06:20 || Daniel
I suspectthat Mr. Driscoll, if he stays true to the Lord for his whole ministry,
will regretmuch in his latter years.
51. #11 || 09·04·29··07:58 || craig mullen
A rebel is someone who:
"Breakswith establishedcustoms"
Did Jesus do what the pharisees did? No. Did he speak out againstthe
Pharisees?Yes
Jesus didn't conform to the pattern of this world, and we aren't meant to
either. Romans 12:1-2.
I'm sorry but yes he did rebel againstsomething. No of course it wasn'this
father, But it was the Pharisees andothers like them. He didn't conform to
what they expectedor wanted, and if I'm right, based on the meaning of a
rebel, he did rebel against.
If we're not for the ways of this world, then we are for them. This world, when
it doesn't see us fitting into its ways, thinks we are rebelling againstit, that
doesn't have to be in a loud obtrusive way, but we are rebelling againstit
because we "Breaks withestablishedcustoms".
If we allow false doctrine to take place in our communities, then who is going
to stop that? We are meant to(1 Timothy). Rebelling doesn't mean it has to be
loud, but it does mean not conforming to it, and that whats Jesus did against
the Phariseesand its what we're meant to againstthe ways of this world.
���A rebel is someone who: ���Breakswithestablished
customs������
No, that would be a nonconformist.
The conceptof rebellion implies insubordination to a greaterpower of
authority. Since there is no greaterauthority than God, and Jesus was
perfectly obedient to the will of his father, he cannot be a rebel.
52. To the extent he was againstthe world it was because it was againstthe will of
his father, with whom he createdthe world.
Instead he devoted his life to saving the people of the world who are willing to
hear him and repent of their rebellion from God, which is sin.
Matthew 26:39
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My
Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, notas I will,
but as You will.
Matthew 6:9-10
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Fatherwhich art in heaven,
Hallowedbe thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven
Tim Ross, Thomist
Answered Dec 28, 2014 ·Author has 858 answers and819.9k answerviews
"Forlet this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the
form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but he emptied
himself, taking the form of a servant, having been born in the likeness ofmen;
53. and found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, having become obedient
even to death, and the death of the cross." - St. Paul's letter to the Phillipians
Obedience and rebellion are antonyms.
MichaelDarby, Student, gamer, former Christian, polyamorous, total nerd
Answered Dec 31, 2014 ·Author has 95 answers and 192.6kanswerviews
He was absolutely a rebel. NotagainstGod, but againstthe societyand
government of the time, he could definitely be considereda rebel.
Haaris Khan
All the prophets of Godwere rebels to the society, it's unjust practices and it's
blasphemies. They reasonedand questioned the illogicalpractices acrosstime
and thus being the reasonfor their huge following.
Jesus the Rebel
by Jeremy Crump
James Deanbecame a cultural icon for his role as a troubled teenagerin the
1955 film RebelWithout a Cause. Since then, there has been no shortage of
rebellious and controversialfigures idolized in popular culture. But none of
these hold a candle to the greatestrebelthe world has ever seen:Jesus Christ.
It might surprise you to think of Jesus as a rebel. Popular conceptions of our
Lord tend to soften him up and send a messagethat Jesus was someone who
never causeda stir or upset anybody but was loved and adoredby all. This
54. was certainly not the case. The realJesus made troubling statements such as
"I came to bring peace and not a sword." In fact, Jesus was hatedby most
and came into conflict with almost everyone he interactedwith for the
doctrine of moral purity and humble submission to God that he preached.
Nowhere is this more obvious than in his encounters with the religious leaders
of his day. Jesus stirred up trouble by healing on the Sabbath day and not
keeping the traditions of the Pharisees suchas hand washing. He made a point
of exposing the hypocrisy and self-serving behavior of the Pharisees and
warned his disciples not to follow their example. During the Passoverfestival,
Jesus overturned the tables of the money changers and drove them out of the
temple with a whip.
Jesus'rebellion againstthe religious establishment at Jerusalemcreateda
large following of Christians after his resurrectionthat threatened Judaism.
Christians spreadthroughout the ancient world, causing trouble wherever
they went because oftheir refusal to worship idols and engage in immorality.
This "rebellion" has now infiltrated every country in the world. It has lasted
for 2,000 years andshows no signs of diminishing.
Unlike other rebels in history Jesus was not sinful in his actions. This is the
major difference that sets Jesus apartfrom other subversive icons such as
James Deanand makes him far more "rebellious" than any of them. Jesus
was motivated by his total and absolute devotion to God; this makes Jesus a
true nonconformist. Absolutely no one else in the world was as devoted to God
as Jesus was.
The problem with other icons of nonconformity is that they eventually become
just as fashionable and acceptable as the groups they are rebelling against.
Not so with Christianity. True Christianity is never in fashionand will never
be in fashionin the world because ofthe demands it makes on worldly
individuals. So if you want to be a true nonconformist, if you want to truly
rebel againstthe status quo, engaging in sin is not the answer;following
Christ is.
In emphasizing the subversive nature of our Lord I do not in any way mean to
encourage wrong behavior. In fact, what I find to be preciselyso rebellious
55. about Jesus is the fact that he submitted to God's authority. And submitting
to God's authority requires submitting to other authority figures as well, such
as one's parents, church leaders, and electedofficials. Absolutely no one else
in the entire world was doing that as perfectly as Jesus. He was truly a
nonconformist. He rebelled againstthe status quo by his unwavering
commitment to moral and religious purity. In a world in which sinful, ungodly
attitudes and behaviors are the status quo, how else can we follow Jesus but to
rebel?
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the wayis easythat leads
to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and
the wayis hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew
7:13-14). https://fairviewparkchurch.com/articles-menu/jesus/61-jesus-the-
rebel
By D. Thomas Lancaster
Popular teachings depict Yeshua as a rebel who defied religious authority and
struggledagainstJudaism and so-calledmanmade rules. Yeshua appears to
be a rebel hero, standing up againstinstitutions and religious conventions for
the sake offreeing his followers to explore outside the box of religion. The
problem with the rebel Jesus is that his disciples tend to be rebels too.
That’s the subject of PastorBrent Rudoski’s book Jesus Was Nota Rebel.
PastorRudoskiis seniorpastor of Faith Alive Family Church in Saskatoon,
SK, Canada, an FFOZ Friend, and long-time student of Messianic Jewish
teachings. TobyJanickiand I recently had the opportunity to visit Faith Alive
for a weekendteaching seminar titled Israeland the Nations. We discovereda
thriving church, a vibrant community of brothers and sisters, and a genuine
love for Messianic teaching.
Our visit to Faith Alive came in the midst of a quick, January teaching tour.
The three-day event was well attended despite frigid temperatures (30 degrees
below zero on the Fahrenheit scale without wind-chill), testifying to the
56. congregation’s genuine dedication to the teaching and worship. PastorBrent
admitted that when temperatures dip that low, Faith Alive ordinarily cancels
its services, but on this occasion, theykept the doors open on our account, and
the people came.
We had severalopportunities to see how the teaching of First Fruits of Zion
has influenced the church. For example, we met many community members
who have completed the HaYesodprogram. Faith Alive also hosts Faith Alive
Bible College, anaccreditedschoolwhere Bible students can earna degree in
theologyand Bible. The Faith Alive Bible College has recentlyrevised their
curriculum to reflect MessianicJewishperspectiveslearnedthrough First
Fruits of Zion’s materials. Moreover, the Faith Alive television program,
which airs on CanadianChristian television, includes a “Messianic Moment”
to offer viewers insights into the Bible from Messianicteaching. TobyJanicki
and I had the opportunity to fill a few guestspots on the show for upcoming
episodes.
In addition to the above examples, considerPastorRudoski’s book JesusWas
Not a Rebel. In his 2014 book, PastorRudoskilaments how the church has
been damagedby a religious climate founded on discipleship to a counter-
culture iconoclastversionof Jesus who fought authority, defied institutional
religion, and rebelled againststructure. He notes that being “religious” has a
negative connotationamong many Christians today because they have so
thoroughly bought into the idea that Jesus defiedJudaism and religious
conventions. A theologicalrebelpsychologypermeates the church,
encouraging believers to distrust their leaders, defy authority, and abandon
the localbody.
PastorRudoskithinks that this rebel image of Jesus became popular with the
1960s baby-boomgenerationand that it is responsible for a lot of today’s
instability in Christian lives and congregations. Drawing insights from Torah
Club and the teachings of First Fruits of Zion, PastorRudoskidemonstrates
that the anarchist and anti-religious Jesus is not the Jesus ofthe Bible. He
demonstrates how Jesus submitted to the authority of his parents, the secular
government, to the Torah, and to the religious leadership of Judaism. He
shows his readers how Jesus taughthis disciples to submit themselves to
57. institutional authority. Presenting Jesus in compliance with the Judaism of his
day rather than in defiance againstit, Pastor Rudoskiremoves any pious
justifications for rebellious heart-attitudes and subversive forms of
spirituality.
Today’s church continually tries to reinvent itself lest it fall into the dreaded
trap of becoming predictable and routine. But is it possible to be so concerned
with “keeping it relevant” that we fail to nurture spiritual growth? Christians
today seek new “outside-the-box” innovations on the spiritual life, but Pastor
Rudoskipoints out that God prefers to keephis people “inside the box” with
clearboundaries, rituals, routines, rules, and defined authority structures. He
points out that real growthand spiritual maturity take place within the
normal, the conventional, and the routine.
Jesus Was Nota Rebelis not a Messianic Jewishbook. It’s a Christian book
written for a broad church readership, but it’s a messagethat every disciple
of Yeshua needs to internalize. The title says it all: Jesus Was not a Rebel. So
why are we?
PastorRudoskiand the entire ministry team and community of Faith Alive
Family Church in Saskatoonare goodexamples of how the church can benefit
by internalizing Messianic Jewishteaching. Theyare goodexamples of why
First Fruits of Zion wants to bring MessianicJewishteaching to both Jews
and Christians. It’s all part of the work of restoring the JewishnessofYeshua
and the gospelof the kingdom, and that’s something that should be relevant to
everyone.
About the Author: D. Thomas Lancasteris Directorof Educationat First
Fruits of Zion, the author of the Torah Club programs and severalbooks and
study programs. He is also the pastor of Beth Immanuel Sabbath Fellowship
in Hudson, WI. More articles by D. Thomas Lancaster
58. View all Sermons
Jesus, The RebelWith A Cause Series
Contributed by Tim Smith on Mar 17, 2011
based on 5 ratings
(rate this sermon)
| 11,681 views
Scripture: Mark 3:1-6
Denomination: Methodist
Summary: Throughout the Gospelof Mark, we see a growing opposition to
Jesus from the Pharisees andthe other religious leaders of the day. To
understand that, we need to look at the religious landscape Jesus ministered in
1 2 3 4
Next
Jesus, the Rebel With a Cause
Throughout the Gospelof Mark, we see a growing oppositionto Jesus from
the Phariseesand the other religious leaders of the day. To understand that,
we need to look at the religious landscape Jesus ministeredin. In Jesus’time,
there were three sects of Jews andthen the rest of the population. Through
the Gospelaccount, we find that Jesus is in conversationwith these three
groups. Mostof what Jesus taught was not new but were elements takenfrom
eachof these three groups. So while Jesus startedin conversationwith these
59. groups, eachof them felt threatened by Him and moved the conversations to
confrontations. But who were these groups?
The Essenesare not directly mentioned in the Gospels but certainly referred
to. They were a very small monastic group which emphasized separating from
the evil in society, either in monastic communities or communities of faith in
towns across Israel. Theyalso separatedthemselves from Temple worship
because they believed the priests of the Temple were corrupted and thus their
leadership in worship was illegitimate. Some scholars believe that Nazareth
may well have been an Essene community meaning Jesus eitherhad close
contactwith them or direct participation. Jesus’conflictwith them was that
they removed themselves from the unclean rather than help them to be clean.
The Sadducees were a group of priests from the tribe of Levi and were the
wealthy upper class and educatedelite who were the priests and scribes. They
comprised approximately 10% of the population of Israel, about 50,000
people. They oversaw Temple worship which was the centerof Judaism. They
believed when you came to God, you came to the Temple and brought your
sacrifices.Theywere the most conservative ofthe Jews meaning the keptto
the oldestof traditions. They lookedat the Law of Moses,the first five books
of the Old Testamentas the only inspired Word of God. They had great
respectfor the rest of the Scriptures but the laws they followedwere only in
the first five books. Theydid not believe in the resurrectionof the dead or the
afterlife because it was not mentioned in the Law of Moses.And so everything
they believed and every practice of their faith was grounded in the first 5
books. The Sadducees hadthe most to lose because ofJesus. Jesus’growing
influence and following among the generalpopulation jeopardized not only
their influence on the religious life of Israel, but also the support of the
Romans who ruled through the Sadducees to keeppeace among the people.
On the other end of the spectrum were the Pharisees whosename means the
“calledout ones” or “setapart ones.” There were approximately 6000
Pharisees in Israelin Jesus’time, roughly 1% of the population, and many of
them resided in Jerusalemand in and around the Sea of Galilee. Theywere
the most prominent of the religious sectof Jesus’day in terms of their
60. influence over the generalpopulation, in part because they too came from the
lowerclass.
Video Illustration of the Week
Get weeklyvideos including full access to all illustrations, sermons, and
church media.
Free With PRO →
While the Sadducees ruled over the temple, the Pharisees were the leaders of
the synagogue,the place where the majority of Jews wentfor worship, study
of the Hebrew Scriptures and discussionof how to apply them to life. They
were lay teachers ofthe law and their made emphasis was on holiness which
meant strict fulfillment of the law. They acceptedthe entire Old Testamentas
the word of God and believed in a number of things like angels and demons
and even life after death. The remnants of the Pharisees remaintoday in
Orthodox Judaism. They are the only sectto survive because whenthe
Temple was destroyedso were the Sadducees andthe Essenes’monastic
communities were destroyed in Rome’s suppressionof the rebellion of Israel
in 68 AD. Though Jews todaywould not considerthemselves Pharisees, they
are greatlyimpacted by them and their heritage.
Now the Phariseesemphasizedstrict adherence to the 613 laws ofMoses. To
be righteous before God, you have to make sure that people don’t
unintentionally violate any of the laws. So they createda setof rules around
the Law, called the oral law or mishnah, which actedas a hedge of protection
so people wouldn’t violate the Law. When commentary was added to the rules
and written down, it become knownas the Talmud. Forexample, take the
fourth commandment to keepthe Sabbath holy which said you shall not do
any work on the Sabbath. But what really qualifies as work? The oral law
clarified what work was. They came up with 39 different categories which
could be construedas work and in eachof those categories,there were dozens
of rules which defined what work was which violated the Sabbath. So now
instead of there being 613 laws, there are 1000’s ofrules on top of it. One
example was that a tailor was not to carry a needle with them on the Sabbath
because that was a toolof their trade and thus consideredwork to carry it.
61. Another rule was not to walk more than 2000 cubits or 3000 feeton the
Sabbath. Foodcannot be prepared on the Sabbath. TodayOrthodox Jews
have their own Sabbath rules which include not driving a car, riding a
motorcycle or a bike or even turning a light switch on or off. So the oral law
actedas a fence to protect you from breaking the law.
More than anything the Pharisees wantedto be holy and they called the
people of Israelto lead holy lives. But somewhere along the way, Jesus
thought they had gone astray. They had so emphasized the law that they failed
to follow the Spirit or purpose of the Law and thus God’s will. It is around
over the oral and written law where conflict arises betweenJesus andthe
Pharisees.Beginning in Mark Chapter 2 there are a series of events showing
an escalating conflictbetweenJesus and the Pharisees. All of these take place
in and around Capernaum. The historical context of this region is very
important to understanding the growing conflict with Jesus. This area had an
influx of settlers some 200 years before Jesus. Theywere Jews who had
decided to stay in Babylon after the exile but when they heard there was a
revolt in 200 BC and the government was under a Jewishcontrol, they
decided to return and begin preparations for the coming of the Messiah.
These settlers were Orthodox Jews whosemain concernwas holiness by
following the laws to the letter. So the region in which Jesus decides to do the
majority of his ministry is very conservative and strict in its adherence to the
Law.
The town of Capernaum is the home base of Jesus’ministry. He spends the
vast majority of his public ministry in and around this town and the Sea of
Galilee. In our Scripture today is the first scene ofthe clashbetweenthe
Pharisees andJesus. Some people bring their paralytic friend to Jesus and ask
him to be healed. Jesus seeing the Pharisees there turns to this man and says,
“Your sins are forgiven.” The Phariseesare unnerved by this and ask, “Who
has the right to forgive sins exceptGod?” That actually was a very good
question because it gets to the very heart of Jesus identity. Christians believe
that Jesus is God who walkedin the flesh here on earth. But Jesus says, “That
you may know the son in God in heavenhas the ability to forgiven sins, young
man take up your mat and walk.” This man who was paralyzed gets up and
walks. But the Pharisees are unnerved by this. That’s scene one.