The relationship between those who belong to Jesus and this world is one that is incompatible

 

In the passage above, the brothers of Jesus told Him not to work in secret, but to show Himself to the world. From the passage below, we can see that even the disciples of Jesus had the same thought.

 

John 14:22 “Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?”

 

In this way, the fact that Jesus did not seek to show Himself to the world may, at first glance, seem different from God’s will in sending His only begotten Son because He loved the world. For the One who came to save the world did not seek to manifest Himself to the world.

 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

 

However, through the words of John 7:7, where Jesus says that the world hates Him, we are able to understand why Jesus did not seek to show Himself to the world. In other words, although God sent Jesus into this world because He loved the world and desired that none should perish, these words show us that the world, rather, did not want Jesus.

 

John 3:19-21 “19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

 

As this passage says, people hated Jesus, who is the Light, because Jesus testified that the works of the world were evil. If the relationship between God and people had been a normal relationship, then when God said that the works of the world were evil, people should have realized their evil, humbly repented, and returned to God (Jonah 3). But instead, because they feared that their evil deeds would be exposed, they loved darkness rather than light, and they even killed the Light. The result of this was that they crucified Jesus, and they hated His disciples. In other words, the world did not want Jesus, that is, the Word of God.

 

Matthew 27:16-23 “16And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. 17Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18For he knew that for envy they had delivered him... 20But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.”

 

In this way, the people wanted Barabbas rather than Jesus, because Barabbas was someone who had fought against Rome at that time. In other words, the Jews of that day chose Barabbas “for themselves.” In the same way, because this world today is more concerned with “human benefit” than with Jesus, it may be said that it is only natural, in a sense, that this world hates “those who bear witness to Jesus.” Therefore Jesus said to His disciples, “If ye were of the world, the world 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.” In other words, He was telling them not to marvel if the world hates His disciples (1 John 3:13), because this world hates Jesus.

 

John 15:18-27 “18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19If ye were of the world, the world 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. 20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”

 

As this passage says, this world does not belong to Jesus and therefore does not testify of Him. On the contrary, those who belong to Jesus testify only of Jesus because they belong to Him. Therefore, when we testify of Jesus, we have no reason to show ourselves to the world, just as Jesus did not. And even if this world does not receive our testimony, there is no reason at all for us to think it strange, to be discouraged, or to be upset. Rather, through this, we are able to distinguish those who belong to this world from those who belong to Jesus.

 

1 John 4:5-6 “5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

1 John 5:19 “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

 

In these passages, we must pay attention to the distinction made between “they,” “the whole world,” and “we.” Jesus also said:

 

Matthew 13:10-12 “10And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.”

 

In this way, He made a distinction between “you” and “them.” For reference, we must remember that these words were spoken so that we may belong only to Jesus, and never so that we may divide people into two groups and look down on those on the other side, as the Jews looked down on the Gentiles. Since Jesus said that those who belong to Him hear His word, by this we are able to discern those who belong to Jesus. And before discerning others, we must not forget that we ourselves must first hear the words of Jesus and belong to Him.

 

John 8:45-47 “45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.”

John 10:3-5 “3To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”

 

Therefore, as the sheep of Jesus who belong to Him, when we hear the words of Jesus, we must not harden our hearts, but must mix the word with faith (Hebrews 4:2).

 

Hebrews 3:7-8 “7Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, 8Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness.”

Hebrews 3:15-16 “15While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.”

Hebrews 4:7 “Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

Hebrews 4:2 “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.”

 

As these words teach us, when we hear the words of Jesus, it is important that our hearts do not become hardened, but that we acknowledge our sin and repent (Proverbs 28:13). Therefore, when Jesus said that the works of this world were evil, if people had not taken those words as an insult against themselves (Luke 11:45, Jeremiah 6:10), but rather had humbly acknowledged their own evil (Genesis 6:5-6), repented and turned back in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38), and lived as witnesses testifying of Jesus (Acts 1:8, Hebrews 13:15), how good it would have been...

 

As we have seen so far, sadly, this world is not on the side of Jesus. Therefore, just as James said that friendship with the world is enmity with God, we cannot be yoked together with this world.

 

James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

 

Therefore, we must now make it clear that we are not those who belong to this world, but those who belong to Jesus, whose citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20) and who belong to Him (Song of Solomon 2:16). And we must take care not to compromise with the world, just as Jesus did not. Soon God will once again judge this world by fire (2 Peter 3:6-7). But just as He judged the world by water before, He will surely save “those who belong to Him” by the saving strength of His right hand (Psalm 20:6). Therefore, we must never be conformed to this world. Rather, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, we must shine as lights, holding forth the word of life (Philippians 2:15-16), and we must stand firm in the faith of which the world is not worthy (Hebrews 11:38), the faith that overcomes the world (1 John 5:4).

 

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Psalm 20:6-7 “6Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. 7Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”

 

Amen.