John 15:18–20

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”

This is cold. The disciples are going to be hated.

Jesus has encountered opposition, but His followers haven’t gotten any push-back.

Yet.

Jesus is the target while Jesus is around, but that’s about to end. Things are going to get rough.

But that’s not an entirely new lesson; they’ve been warned about this before. What’s new here is the nature of the hatred. They won’t be hated because of who they followed; they’ll be hated because of something a bit like racism. Call it “worldism.”

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. You simply aren’t one of “them.”

And this isn’t by birth, but because Jesus chose you out of the world.

What a curious way to say it—chose you out. Sounds like they were picked from a lineup.

Which isn’t that far off. Jesus chose His disciples rather abruptly. He said, “Follow Me,” and they did.

It’s how they got in.

It’s how everyone gets in.

From our point of view this feels rather arbitrary. Some are chosen; some are not.

That’s true in a sense, but it ignores the planning involved. We are more than just chosen; we were created by the chooser for His purposes. It’s all by design.

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. — 2 Timothy 2:20

You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? — Romans 9:19–21

Remember, everything is about God’s glory.

That’s the key to this system.

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Saturday DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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The weekly study guides, which include the Monday–Friday devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.