这可能是耶稣最难的教导之一——尤其是当你倾向于取悦别人。耶稣想要我们明白，跟随祂的人有时会和这个世界的价值观产生冲突。因此，有时我们会因为跟随祂而付出相应的代价。
但，我们会被人恨吗？
不被喜欢？或许吧。被误解？当然会。但是恨？这听起来很极端。
然而耶稣在这里使用强烈的字眼是有原因的。把神放在首位会带来争议——这对那些有自己野心和做事方式的既得利益者和利益集团是个威胁。
耶稣邀请人们进入神的国，这导致了祂死在十字架上。为什么？因为祂的教义代表了对宗教领袖的威胁。跟随耶稣意味着失去权力，地位和关注，所以他们的回应是摆脱挣扎，选择保护他们自己的利益（参约 11:48）。
既然耶稣受到这样的对待，我们还会因为相信祂而在自己的生活中遇到艰难而惊讶吗？当然不会。
然而，尽管在这世上有阻力，神对祂的百姓仍是信实的。靠着圣灵，我们会获得能力，重新振作，继续做神呼召我们去担当的事工。在教会中，我们总会获得支持我们继续跟随耶稣的力量，无论要付出怎样的代价。
主啊，请赐给我勇气忠实于你，即使有人批评或指责我对你的信仰。阿们。
约翰福音 15:18-25
18“世人若恨你们，你们知道，恨你们以先已经恨我了。
19你们若属世界，世界必爱属自己的。只因你们不属世界，乃是我从世界中拣选了你们，所以世界就恨你们。
20你们要记念我从前对你们所说的话：‘仆人不能大于主人。’他们若逼迫了我，也要逼迫你们；若遵守了我的话，也要遵守你们的话。
21但他们因我的名要向你们行这一切的事，因为他们不认识那差我来的。
22我若没有来教训他们，他们就没有罪，但如今他们的罪无可推诿了。
23恨我的，也恨我的父。
24我若没有在他们中间行过别人未曾行的事，他们就没有罪；但如今连我与我的父，他们也看见也恨恶了。
25这要应验他们律法上所写的话说：‘他们无故地恨我。’
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." - John 15:18
This may be one of Jesus' hardest teachings—especially if you tend to be a people pleaser. Jesus wants us to understand that his followers will sometimes be at odds with the values of the world. As a result, there will be times when we pay a relational price for following him.
But will we be hated?
Disliked? Probably. Misunderstood? Sure. But hated? That sounds pretty extreme.
Yet Jesus chooses strong language here for a reason. Putting God first will create friction—it's a threat to people and systems that have a vested interest in their own ambitions and ways of doing things.
Jesus invited people into the kingdom of God, and this resulted in his death on a cross. Why? Because his teachings represented a threat to the religious leadership. Following Jesus meant having less power, status, and attention, so their response was to get rid of the competition and protect their own interests (see John 11:48).
Since that is how Jesus was treated, should we be surprised to encounter hardship in our own lives because of our faith in him? No.
Yet, in spite of resistance in this world, God remains faithful to his people. Through the Spirit, we can be empowered and refreshed to continue the work God calls us to do. And in community we can find the support to keep following Jesus, no matter what it costs us.
Lord, give me the courage to stay faithful even when others criticize or condemn me for my faith in you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
