“But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’” (John 15:25 ESV).
As Jesus prepared His disciples for the hatred they would face from the world, He pointed them to the Scriptures. He reminded them that the world’s rejection of Him was not a surprise, but a fulfillment of what was already written: “They hated me without a cause.” This phrase echoes Psalm 35:19 and Psalm 69:4, where David laments being hated unjustly by his enemies.
David’s experience, however painful and real, pointed forward to something greater. He was a shadow of the true and better King who would come—Jesus Christ. Where David suffered for being God’s anointed king of Israel, Jesus suffered as the Anointed Savior of the world. Unlike David, Jesus lived a sinless life, perfectly holy and loving, and yet was hated by the world with no just reason. By referencing these psalms, Jesus not only validates their prophetic nature but reveals that His suffering is the ultimate fulfillment of their meaning. David’s words find their fullest expression in Christ, the righteous one hated without a cause.
As followers of Jesus, we should not be surprised when the world rejects us for our faith. If they hated our Lord without a cause, we can expect to experience some of the same rejection as we walk in His ways. Yet this truth also reassures us. The hatred Jesus faced was not random. It was part of God’s redemptive plan foretold long ago.
We find strength in knowing that our Savior has walked this path before us. We are not alone in our suffering or rejection. Like David, we may feel the sting of being misunderstood or wrongly accused. But like Christ, we can entrust ourselves to the Father who judges justly.
Let us remain faithful in the face of opposition, remembering that the world’s hatred of Jesus fulfilled the Word of God. And now, our lives bear witness to that same Word as we live in union with Him.
PRAYER: Dear Father, we thank You that Your Word is true and that it finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, our Savior and King. Help us to remember that when we are opposed for our faith, we are sharing in the sufferings of Christ. Strengthen us to remain faithful. May we not return hatred for hatred, but reflect the love and righteousness of Your Son. Keep us grounded in Your Word and filled with Your Spirit, so that even in rejection, we may glorify You. In Jesus’ name, amen.