As the people of God grow together in unity, one of the things they incur is the enmity of outsiders. For many believers, this is quite mysterious. They want to be at peace with everyone, and it is easy for them to believe that the difficulties are caused by something that they are doing.
Jesus gives us the source of much of this enmity in His response to His brothers. “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.” (John 7:7). The world hated Jesus, in other words, because of the implications of His witness. If His life was true, then theirs was false. If His life were wholesome, then theirs was corrupt.
When Jesus later went up to the feast, it caused an interesting division. “And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people” (John 7:12). Note—the only perfect man ever to enter Jerusalem found that when He did so, half the people thought He was an impostor, a cult leader, a wicked man, a deceiver.
So the world hates those who testify of it that its deeds are evil. But the world also hates those who behavior is hateful, spiteful, malicious, and so on. How are we supposed to tell the difference? How are we supposed to recognize and follow Jesus? When a demagogue entered Jerusalem, some followed and some refused to. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, some followed and some refused to. How are we supposed to know what to do?
Jesus answers the question just a few verses later, and the answer is laid bare in every man’s heart. What happens when each person stands before God to answer the fundamental question? Did you really want to know? Did you earnestly desire to do God’s will?
“If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood” (John 7:17–18, ESV).
Then you will know. And as you follow the one who refused to seek His own glory, you will become increasingly like Him—refusing to seek your own glory.
Very nice. Thank you.