¹⁴ “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”

The world does not take too kindly to Christians. No matter how inoffensive we try to be, no matter how loving we are toward the lost, the world simply can’t stand genuine Christians. If they hated Christ, they will treat us likewise. Yes, many found Him fascinating when He fed them, healed them and put the establishment in its place. But when He became more pointed about righteousness and holiness, their attitudes quickly changed.

They ridiculed Him: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’” (Matt 11:19). The mob tried throwing Him over a cliff (Luke 4:29), the experts in the Law continuously tried to discredit Him. Many of those who followed early on, abandoned Him completely. And of course, in the end, they crucified Him, with popular opinion agreeing with the verdict, “Let His blood be on us and on our children” (Matt 27:25).

The bad news for the disciples was, it would seem at the time, things were only going to get worse for them. Not only was Jesus going to leave them, but all the animosity, rejection and hatred the world heaped on Him would transfer to them in His absence! The Good News of the Gospel wasn’t sounding too good and the prayer of our Lord must have added more gloom to the thick air of the Upper Room. Interesting that Jesus allows the disciples to hear Him praying like this. He never pulled punches; life as His follower would not be easy.

However, the thrust of His conversation with the Father was to prepare and equip the disciples for that coming reality. What they didn’t realize at this point was that they would be very well prepared, not only with the teaching of Jesus which they would very well remember, as He promised (John 14:26), but also with the Holy Spirit who would enable them, as God’s presence after Jesus left them.

Jesus’ prediction was true. After the spiritual high experience of Pentecost when the disciples were “having favor with all people” (Acts 2:47), Peter and John were arrested, then all the apostles were arrested and flogged (Acts 5), Stephen stoned (Acts 8), the disciples scattered under the fierce persecution of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 8), and then James the apostle was beheaded (Acts 12). Jesus knew what was coming, so He prayed fervently and intensely for His followers. There was absolutely no way they could handle what was coming, apart from divine strength and intervention.

Lord, thank You for praying for me before I fall into my trials.