nothing. But real vital Christianity will always bring with it a cross.
To know and understand these things is of the ut- most importance to our comfort. Nothing is so mis- chievous as the habit of indulging false expectations. Let us realize that human nature never changes, that "the carnal mind is enmity against God," and against God's image in His people. Let us settle it in our minds that no holiness of life or consistency of conduct will ever prevent wicked people hating the servants of Christ, just as they hated their blameless Master. Let us remember these things, and then we shall not be dis- appointed.
We are shown secondly, in this passage, two reasons for patience under the persecution of this world. Each is weighty, and supplies matter for much thought.
For one thing, persecution is the cup of which Christ Himself drank. Faultless as He was in everything, in temper, word, and deed, — unwearied as He was in works of kindness, always going about doing good, — never was any one so hated as Jesus was to the last day of His earthly ministry. Scribes and High Priests, Pharisees and Sadducees, Jews and Gentiles, united in pouring contempt on Him, and opposing Him, and never rested till He was put to death.
Surely this simple fact alone should sustain our spirits and prevent our being cast down by the hatred of man. Let us consider that we are only walking in our Master's footsteps, and sharing our Master's portion. Do we deserve to be better treated ? Are we better than He? Let us fight against these murmuring thoughts. Let us drink quietly the cup which our Father gives us. Above all, let us often call to mind the saying, " Remember the word that I spake unto you, The servant is not greater than his Master."
lis EXPOSITOEY THOUGHTS.
For another thing, persecution helps to prove that we are children of God, and have treasure in heaven. It supplies evidence that we are really born again, that we have grace in our hearts, and are heirs of glory : "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." Persecution, in short, is like the Goldsmith's Hall mark on real silver and gold: it is one of the marks of a converted man.
Let us nerve our minds with this cheering thought, when we feel ready to faint and give way under the world's hatred. No doubt it is hard to bear, and the more hard when our conscience tells us we are innocent. But after all let us never forget that it is a token for good. It is a symptom of a work begun within us by the Holy Ghost, which can never be overthrown. We may fall back on that wonderful promise, "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven." (Matt. v. 11, 12.) When the world has said and done its worst, it cannot rob believers of that promise.
Let us leave the whole subject with a feeling of deep pity for those who persecute others on account of their religion. Often, very often, as our Lord says, they do it because they know no better. " They know not Hira that sent Me." Like our Divine Master and His servant Stephen, let us pray for those who despitefuUy use us and persecute us. Their persecution rarely does us harm, and often drives us nearer to Christ, the Bible, and the throne of grace. Our intercession, if heard on high, may bring down blessings on their souls.
JOHN, CHAP. XV. iiQ
Notes. John xy. 17 — 21.
17. — [These tilings 1 command.. .love one another."] The expression " these things," must either refer backwards to what has just been said, or forwards to what is going to be said. I prefer the latter view. " 1 press on you these repeated charges to love one another, because you must expect the hatred of the world. The more the world hates you, the more you ought to love one another and stick together."
18. — [If. ..world hate. ..hated Me. ..you.'] The object of this verse ia to encourage and comfort the disciples under the hatred and enmity of the unbelieving Jews. " Do not be surprised and discouraged if you find yourselves hated and persecuted by an unbelieving world. Do not think the fault is yours. You know, and have seen, and must remember that this same world has always hated and persecuted Me before you, although it could lay no fault to my charge."
The principle of the verse will be found true in every age. It is not the weaknesses and inconsistencies of Christians that the world hates, but their grace. Christians should carefully remember that their spotless and blameless Master was bitterly hated by the world when He was on earth, and they must count it no strange thing if they are treated in the same way.
Hengstenberg thinks that the words " ye know " should be taken as an imperative, and not an indicative, like " remem- ber," in verse 20. I doubt this ; but the construction of the Greek language makes it an open question.
The Greek word rendered " before " is literally " first." It ia the same that is translated " before " in John i. 15 and 30.
19. — [If ye loere of the world, etc.] In this verse our Lord shows the disciples that the hatred of the world, however painful to bear, is a satisfactory evidence of their state before God. It ia like " Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you," and " Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you." This comes out more clearly if we invert the order of the verse. " The world hates you because you are not like itself, but have a different faith and live a diiferent life, and because I have drawn you out of it to be my disciples and apos- tles. The world always loves what is like itself, and would love you if your standard of faith and life was like its own. The very hatred of the world, therefore, is a satisfactory evi- dence that you are my disciples."
I.uther remarks, " Towards each other, apart from Christ, the men of the world are as little friends as dogs and cats. In all that conceras Christ they are unanimous in hatred."