God came to earth, was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died as a substitution for all mankind, then rose from the grave and returned to Heaven. He is called Jesus, the Son of God. Is that a reason to hate Him?
While He was upon the earth as Jesus, he healed the sick, caused the blind to see, raised the dead, but yet He is hated. He wept over His friend Lazarus and He wept over Jerusalem, so why the hate? He called the little children to Him, and they loved Him. Why do the parents hate Him so?
He made provision for all who will to come to Him to share His riches in Heaven, to rule with Him, to experience all that is good, and have His protection from all that is evil. Could that be a reason for all the hatred? Surely this could not be it, since He has provided nothing but good.
When sin crept into the hearts of mankind from our first parents, Adam and Eve, a transformation took place. By disobeying God, they died spiritually. Since then, we all are born spiritually dead. Our only hope is to be spiritually born again.
“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)
Jesus made that provision to all who would come to Him in faith.
“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.” (John 3:16)
So obviously the problem arises with sin, but doesn’t it make sense though that mankind would be grateful that God has made a provision to be re-born? Some will be grateful and act upon it, but most will not. But why would anyone not be grateful? I think the Apostle Paul says it best.
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)
Man’s nature has been spoiled by Satan. By that I mean it is like food that has rotted, a leg that is gangrene, mold on the soul. Mankind is no longer in innocence, but treads the waters of a sinful nature. He no longer seeks after God, just as Adam and Eve hid from God in the Garden of Eden after they sinned. Mankind’s true self is very clearly revealed in the following passage:
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Romans 3:10-18)
Now we’re getting down to where the rubber meets the road. I wrote an article about four months ago called “God’s Word Ruffles Feathers” that certainly points us in the right direction. It said in essence that the Word of God, the Bible, is very dogmatic, and since it is His Word, Jesus is very dogmatic.
The world hates dogmatism … unless … you are dogmatically in their camp. We talk today of being “politically correct,” which is simply a means to avoid reality. For example, instead of saying that a person is “deaf” who cannot hear, the politically correct crowd says we are to use the term “the hearing impaired.” That sounds nicer. Therefore, to call sin “sin” is not politically correct and is hated by the politically correct boy and girls. Jesus called sin “sin.” Therefore, He is hated. Jesus also said that no one can be saved apart from Him. He is the only way to the Father.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
Okay, now we are really getting to the source of the problem. The sinful nature of mankind does not want to think of himself/herself as a “bad” person. However, Jesus says that all mankind is corrupt (read again Romans 3:10-18), and He is the only way anyone can be saved from sin (John 14:6 above). Now that is really “in your face!” We can hear the response of sinful man. “How dare you say I’m a bad person!” So we see why the scribes and Pharisees were so eaten up with hatred toward Jesus.
Let us go one step further by asking this question, “What was the primary sin of the scribes and Pharisees?” It is the same primary sin of today for those who hate Jesus. It is called “pride.” It started with Satan.
“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” (Isaiah 14:12-14)
Since fallen man has inherited this sin called “pride”, they are of their father the devil.
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)
Does Satan hate Jesus? Does a pig love mud? Yes Satan hates Jesus, and those who are under his control do likewise.
Notice what Jesus says in the verses following John 8:44 (above).
“And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” (John 8:45-47)
There is a saying “the truth hurts.” People do not want to hear the truth, but Jesus cannot lie. He cannot sugar-coat His words. He is Truth, because He is God. To believe Jesus is to admit we are a sinner and that our actions are sin. Also, many do not want to give up their sins, so they hate the Truth, Jesus.
A Christian wonders why anyone could hate Jesus, who is the very epitome of love. He is love itself. All that He does for us is in love. He even loves those who hate Him. He died for them.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Jesus tells us why the world hates Him and why we will be hated too,
“The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” (John 7:7) “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 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. Remember 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. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.” (John 15:18-21)
If you are reading this article and hate Jesus, realize that it is because Satan has blinded your eyes. Jesus is being very truthful with you, but Satan does not want you to know that. He is lying to you just like he did to Eve in the Garden of Eden. The truth may hurt, but it will save you from an eternal damnation in hell, if you will listen to it and accept it. Would you rather accept a lie and suffer because of it, or swallow your pride and accept the truth? The truth will make you free in Jesus, and I, and millions of others, can assure you that love will blossom in your heart for the One you once hated and rejected. His name is Jesus.
Grant Phillips