Hated, Excluded, Reviled, and Defamed

The Coliseum in Rome. The Disciples really did not
anticipate what it would cost to follow Jesus. 

Scripture:

Luke 6:22    “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. ²³ Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.

Observation:

In Luke’s Sermon on the Plain, we find this fourth beatitude that breaks up the blessings and the woes. Again, we see clearly that he is speaking to and mentoring his disciples. He wants them to have a clear understanding of what is going to be required of them, for following Jesus is costly. 

Already we have seen two examples where the religious leaders have criticized Jesus’ disciples. They are getting a taste of what lies ahead for they will be hated. That word is very strong and carries with it much emotion, but in their misunderstanding regarding the Messiah, people will rise up with hate against Jesus’ followers. They will condemn them because of their fear that these disciples just might mess up the system that has been established. 

The disciples will be intentionally excluded from family gatherings because people will be embarrassed to have them around. The fear of associating with a relative that followed Jesus would become greater than their love for that individual. They were going to need to brace themselves for a new life, one in which they would be left out of many things they had previously enjoyed. 

They will also become the victims of verbal abuse. They will be berated by people because of what they believe, and called horrible names. Their character will be defamed among the people, and all of this on account of being with Jesus. 

While Jesus is preparing them for what they will have to accept in the days ahead, he also helps them think about ways in which to respond. When people treat them in this way, they are to be joyful, because they will be able to see and realize that they are on the right path. Their reward will be in heaven, not in the flowery words of people who want to make them feel good now. 

False prophets were often celebrated because they told people what they wanted to hear. John Chrysostom put it this way: “You see, it is not possible for a virtuous person who travels by the straight and narrow path and follows Christ’s commands to enjoy the praise and admiration of all people—so strong is the impulse of evil and the resistance to virtue” (HOMILIES ON GENESIS 23.8). 

Application:

Are we really ready to be followers of Jesus Christ? In my tribe we talk about making “Christlike disciples in the nations.” That sounds really good, but if we are serious about this business of discipleship it will cost us something. 

I’m afraid that in the last few decades, in certain parts of the world, Christianity has found a comfortable space, where leaders have been praised and accepted by authorities. Whenever that happens we must be very careful because when Christians get into places of power there is always the temptation for abuse and corruption. 

After the fall of the Byzantine Empire, the Russians would say that the heart of Orthodox Christianity moved to Russia where the Czar and the Patriarch ruled the Empire together. The word Czar, is the Russian word for Caesar. During the leadership of Peter the Great, the Patriarch, Nikon, attempted a power play, because he wasn’t content with sharing power.  He wanted to be able to influence and control the Czar. Peter was not pleased to have his authority questioned by the religious leader and began to dismantle the structures of the Church. From that time until 1918 there was no Patriarch in Russia. The Church was not to participate in charitable works such as health care, but this would now become the responsibility of government alone. The Church lost her voice for nearly 200 years because of her desire to have power and authority in the political sphere. 

Let us rejoice when we are hated, excluded, reviled and defamed, for the sake of Jesus. God’s people have always done their best work at being Christlike when they were marginalized — because that’s where we find those with great faith in the One who can transform lives. 

Prayer:

Lord, I really want to follow you. I’m not sure that my heart is always prepared for what that may cost. I ask for your strength and leading.  Amen.