The World Hates Jesus.
It is interesting to see how the name Jesus provokes a broad spectrum of responses. Savior, Prince of Peace, Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world-such name for billions. But for many, on hearing Jesus, there could be frowning, resistance, altogether something stronger. This is not a new phenomenon at all. For Jesus, he made it very clear when he said:" If the world hate you, it know that it hated me before it hated you" (John 15:18, ESV). Why does the world hate Jesus? This question may require a broad look into the Scriptures with a study of how the content, cause, and purpose of Jesus Christ, therefore, confronts and actually challenges the world's values and priorities.
1. The Challenge Of Truth
Jesus said: "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). It is carefully exclusive because salvation and eternal life are only in Him. In a world plagued by relativism and individualism, it is bound to sound rather offensive. The idea of an absolute truth is vehemently resisted on earth, especially when it pinpoints the individual's sins and counter-challenges a particular view of the world held by that individual.
The Apostle John captures this tension: "And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil" (John 3:19). Jesus' truth is light that reveals what is hidden. While many go into the light, some turn away because it shows what is in their hearts. Truth is not smooth, and Jesus' persistent words of truth often clash with the world's avoidance of moral conflict.
2. The Call to Repentance
An important part of Jesus' ministry was calling people to repentance: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). Repentance entails a 180 degrees turn, moving away from sin.
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