The Victory of Being Hated

During Jesus' last week before crucifixion his disciples have the awful realization he is leaving them. So, Jesus comforts them with the words found in John 15, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." These words might not seem comforting, but hidden within them, and this passage, is a promise; that the victory we have in Christ is worth the pain of being hated. Life with the resurrected Jesus brings joy and peace in the midst of the pain and discomfort we experience as his followers in this world.