Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day290

October 16;   John 7:7;   75/260(II);   ‘Hatred of the World’

John 7:7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.

Jesus was talking to His brothers.  Really, His half-brothers.  There is a saying that familiarity breeds contempt.  They grew up with Jesus.  Until the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus, to empower Him for ministry, Jesus the carpenter, was pretty normal.  Once Jesus’ ministry began, His brothers had to be confused at the miracles He did.  Perhaps they were jealous, perhaps they, with their natural minds, did not know what to think of the incredible ministry of Jesus.  Jesus’ half-brother James, is the author of the Book of James.  It is said that he did not believe that Jesus was the Son of God until Jesus arose from the dead.  The Lord’s brothers, thought as the world thinks, being alienated from God. The Lord Jesus’ life, ministry and character completely refuted the way the world thinks and believes.  Since they did not understand the ways of Jesus, and since His teachings challenge their ‘norm,’ their initial reaction to Jesus was hatred.  With the exception of the proud and jealous religious leaders and the wicked, deceived by their craving for what is forbidden, Jesus’ love, teachings and miracles would turn the hearts of the common people to Him.  They would see in Him a way of life that drew them away from the godless ways of the world they knew.  God’s Word is truth.  God’s love never fails, it always impacts people.  God’s miracles confirmed to them not only who Jesus was, but that the compassion of the Lord would help them.  In spite of the glitz and glamour the world boasts of, what it produces is empty.  Jesus and now us representing Him, show them the better way.