Words of Grace

By Rev. Mahlon Nevel

It was written of David’s enemies in Psalm 35:19, that they hated him “without a cause.” and we read in the Psalm 69:4 that those who hated David “without a cause” wanted to destroy him.

When Jesus was in the world, he was hated by those who were in the world. This came to pass, according to Jesus, that the written word might be fulfilled, “they hated me without a cause” (John 15: 25).

Those who hated Jesus hated his Father also. Because Jesus did the works of God among them, the people both saw and hated both him and his Father. (vs.23, 24)

Jesus reminded his disciples of the hatred that is in the world. “if the world hates you,” he said,” you know that it hated me before it hated you” (vs.18)

If they had been of the world, then the world would have loved them. But because Jesus had chosen them out of the world, they were now hated by the world. (vs.19)

Jesus prayed for his disciples in John 17. He prayed, not that the Father should take them out of the world, but that they would be kept from the evil that is in the world. (vs.15)

Deliver us from evil!