Hatred - John 15:18-25

The disciples are commanded to love one another, but are reminded that intense hatred is coming their way. Jesus tells them that, “if the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you… but all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” It’s one thing to believe in Jesus or anything really when every one else either believes in it too or doesn’t care enough to make it a big deal. But once you start venturing into concepts and beliefs that people don’t like, they can make life for you very bad, very quickly. And why is that? Why do people care enough about anyone else’s beliefs and lifestyles to make it a big deal? Why can’t people just mind their own business? I understand if those beliefs are hurting or infringing on the rights of others, but usually they aren’t. Why does anyone care? I think the answer is best explained by the quote that I really like but can’t find right now. It basically says something like, “the violence with which the truth is opposed is proportionate to the depth in which the lie was believed.” Basically, it means that Satan will fight for his strongholds.

We know that he hates Jesus so very much, and I would imagine his number 1 priority is to do whatever he can to take power and influence away from the Savior and His movement. Satan would fight harder against the true gospel than anything else because it is so important to him that he destroy it. It makes no logical sense that a man would become famous for teaching peace and performing miracles and then that man would be hated by the people that he was doing those things around, it’s really baffling, it makes no sense. But we know that Satan doesn’t work in logic, only emotions and manipulations.
Satan has so much invested in the downfall of God’s kingdom that he will put any and all resources he has to it’s destruction. That includes convincing wicked people that the gospel will rob them of their power, influence, and wealth. His tactics include tricking people into religious fanaticism to the point that they will kill any who oppose them. They say that the best way to get someone to do something is to get them to think that it was their idea in the first place. In this sense, the best way to get someone who believes themselves to be religious to do something that goes against their beliefs is to convince them that they are doing God’s work.
Jesus calls these people on their hypocrisy saying basically that they can’t hide anymore because He has taught them the truth “but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.” This is the time for the disciples to decide just how far they are willing to go for the gospel. Jesus has told them repeatedly that he’s going to die and going home to his Father, and therefore won’t be there to carry the work forward. Will His disciples stand firmly in the face of abuse, rejection, disheartenment, and violence? He’s laying it all out there for them so that they can make their own informed decisions because it’s too late. He won’t trick them into being martyrs. It’s easy to love when you are surrounded by those who love you, such as the disciples being around Jesus, but will they still love and serve him once he’s out of sight, out of mind and the consequences are severe?
The IM quotes Elder Robert D. Hales as teaching, “One of mortality’s great tests comes when our beliefs are questioned or criticized. In such moments, we may want to response aggressively- to ‘put up our dukes.’ But these are important opportunities to step back, pray, and follow the Savior’s example. Remember that Jesus Himself was despised and rejected by the world… When we respond to our accusers as the Savior did, we not only become more Christ-like, we invite others to feel His love and follow Him as well.” We can respond aggressively and fight, but it’s just as likely that people will give up what they are being persecuted for, it’s easier and usually safer. But when Christ was persecuted, he didn’t give up, he remained steadfast in what He believed to be true. We know that Jesus had a special relationship with the Father, but that was build over time and through obedience, he wasn’t simply born that way. We too can have a rock solid relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and we build it the same was He did, through obedience. Remaining peaceful and/or remaining steadfast are both options that we must consider in the face of persecution.
How do we act like Jesus did act when he faced harassment? I hadn’t really thought about how complex his reactions were, but the IM continues quoting Elder Hales, “To respond in a Christ-like way cannot be scripted or based on a formula. The Savior responded differently in every situation. When He was confronted by wicked King Herod, He remained silent. When He stood before Pilate, He bore a simple and powerful testimony of His divinity and purpose. Facing the moneychangers who were defiling the temple, He exercised His divine responsibility to preserve and protect that which was sacred. Lifted up on a cross, He uttered the incomparable Christian response: ‘Father, forgive them; for they know now what they do.’… The Prophet Joseph Smith demonstrated (Christian) courage throughout his life… He did not retaliate or give in to hatred. Like all true disciples of Christ, he stood with the Savior by loving others in a tolerant and compassionate way. That is Christian courage. When we do not retaliate- when we turn the other cheek and resist feelings of anger- we too stand with the Savior. We show forth His love, which is the only power that can subdue the adversary and answer our accusers without accusing them in return. That is not weakness. That is Christian courage.’”
I’m a pretty hostile person in general, definitely not a “turn the other cheek” type at all, which is a testament that this life isn’t about being who you naturally were born as, but becoming your highest sense of self. How do we know which way to react to different situations? How do we know exactly what Jesus would do when we are faced with a situation that we don’t immediately know how to handle? Through the Holy Ghost. Jesus has said numerous times and throughout many generations that our mouths will be filled with what he wants us to say in the moment that he wants us to say them. That is the power of living in a manner so that we are worthy of the companionship of the Spirit. That’s what we should strive for, to live in a way that we can be used as God’s servants, so that we will know what to do and say when the time comes and have the courage to be obedient and firm in the face of opposition.