Hated

 Generally, people do not like to be corrected, that is, revealing their wrongs and guiding them to better practices. This is rejection, non acceptance. Bible students can be quick to point out that in scripture, "hated" may really means "loved less."This is highlighted in God's example of Jacob and Essau (Mal. 1:3; Rom. 9:13). However, in some cases nonspiritual "hated" means more than "loved less." And with such opinions come ramifications. [Jesus said,] "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 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. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause,’" - Jn. 15:18-25 (ESV). Jesus makes a profound observation in this passage which is, if He had not come to clearly explain their sin, the people could not be held accountable. Because Jesus was rejected, his disciples will also be rejected to various extents. Today, when Jesus' disciples follow His instructions to take the faith with them “as they go” (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 8:4), they may not face rousing welcome, but face rejection or persecution, hardship, and hatred because of their faith. They need to know that they are not alone. Heb. 12:1 speaks of believers being surrounded by a cloud of witnesses. Further, confident believers need to realize it is not them personally being rejected, but because they stand for Jesus’ principles they are rejecting these and being distanced. Jesus also faced these things as did other Christians before us have faced these things. Believers are accompanied by a God who lives inside them via His Holy Spirit and promises never to leave them or forsake them. Jesus' disciples must not take their mistreatment and persecution personally; they're not being rejected, but God, His will, and His grace are being rejected. As Jesus' disciples, we need to be faithful, and our testimony will affect other people in some way. Hopefully, because of our faithful actions, others will share the victory crown of life that awaits us!