Why was Jesus persecuted? He tells us: “The world . . . hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil” (John 7:7).
His very presence exposed the world for what it was. He alone lived as a human is meant to live. His perfect love for his Father’s will shines bright against the backdrop of the self-defining and self-justifying standards of righteousness that has characterized humanity since the creature turned his back on his Creator. When fallen man stands in the front of this divinely sent Mirror he has two choices: to acknowledge the ugliness he sees in its light and repent, or break the mirror. Humanity regularly chooses the latter.
Why are Christians persecuted? Because they are united to Christ: "If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you" (John 15:19).
The more the disciples of Jesus reflect his image, the more they can expect that attempts to destroy them will follow. The prospect of such suffering is not pleasant to contemplate. If this is the reality that comes with the call, we might be tempted to leave off following Christ. But walking away is not an option. As Peter acknowledged when others found Jesus words hard to hear, ‘‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68). No, we must not walk away. Rather, we must witness. The promised Holy Spirit who, himself, bears witness to Christ, also empowers us to testify (John 15:26-27). United to Christ, empowered by his Spirit, we are more than able to “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering” (Hebrews 10:23).
