Get the appMore Than Just a Story - the Book of JohnSample
In these verses, Jesus is talking to his disciples about how the world will view them. He is trying to prepare them for the reality of what life will be like being one of his disciples and followers. Jesus has also hand picked His followers, just like He has hand picked each of us. The world loves its own and going against the world can seem scary and tough at times, but “if you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own” (verse 19) but we do not belong to the world. Hopefully, we can all find comfort in the fact that we were created in the image and likeness of himself, the Savior and not the image and likeness of the world.
Being a follower of Jesus comes with its ups and downs. We will face persecution, hatred, harassment, etc. But so did Jesus, and yet He had followers that obeyed His teachings and spoke with Him. (Wouldn’t it be so fun to chat with Jesus?!?) Even when we face those challenges, we are never alone. Jesus is with us facing those challenges as well and we can reach out to Him for guidance. If He didn’t go out and teach, then they would not be guilty of sin. And because Jesus taught, we, and everyone else in the world, is guilty of sin (verse 22). And yet, Jesus is fulfilling the Law set by His Father. He is setting the example for us to follow.
Luckily for us, we have the Holy Spirit to help us speak the truth to others. Jesus has known about each of us from the beginning and now we must take action with the Holy Spirit to go and spread the good news, even though we will face hatred and persecution. We are being challenged to remain faithful to Him, no matter what the world throws at us. We are not owned by the world, but by the Savior himself. Even if the world rejects us, we will never be rejected by Him. He loves us so much.
In what ways have you experienced rejection or hatred because of your faith? How did you respond?
What are some ways that the world is tempting you to “belong” to it rather than to belong to Jesus? How can you overcome those temptations?
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About this Plan
The book of John reveals Jesus as the Messiah, the Savior, and the Son of God by focusing on His life and ministry. This is an anthology, created by a diverse group of people from different backgrounds and perspectives, all connected to Embrace Church MN. Through personal reflections and insights, it explores the entire book of John, connecting its timeless truths to real-life experiences. Whether you're new to the Bible or deeply familiar with it, this journey will help you know Jesus more—not just through facts, but by allowing His life to inspire and transform you each day.
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We would like to thank Embrace Church for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: https://www.embracemn.life
