Saturday 28 October 2023

Psalm 117

Background

Today's passage sits in the middle of a long farewell discourse by Jesus with his disciples set within the context of the Last Supper. It follows a series of positive messages making clear that "if you love me you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15); " they who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me, and those who love me will be loved by my Father" (John 14:21) and "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love." (John 15:10)

 All these emphasise the link between a follower’s love of Jesus and God leading to obedience and a will to keep God’s commandments. This is to be demonstrated through “love for one another” (v. 17).

Jesus then turns to a much more negative narrative in which he reverses the situation from one of love to hate. Earlier and subsequent interactions between Jesus and the religious authorities, including the Pharisees and Herodians, provide examples of people trying to work against Jesus to seek his arrest and downfall. These may be some of those who Jesus refers to as hating him and his followers. However, by the time John’s Gospel was written, it would be increasingly common for the new Christian communities to attract abuse and hatred as the persecution of those holding and expounding this new faith had started. Those listening to these words would have been all too aware that there was a growing divide between those who loved them and those who hated them and were a threat.

While this hatred was coming from the religious authorities, Jesus’ words make clear that the hatred is not only of him but of God, and so those who are supposed to be God’s representatives are actually demonstrating hatred for God. To underline the religious teachers' complete misunderstanding, the quote that is “written in their law” from Psalm 35:19 highlights that they have not recognised that this animosity without cause was predicted.

Whether it was the disciples at the Last Supper who worried what the next few days and weeks would hold for them, or the later persecuted followers of Christ, they could take comfort in the knowledge that what they were to experience was because they had been specifically “chosen out of the world” (v. 19) by Christ. Also, they wouldn’t be left alone, for “the Advocate comes who I will send you from the Father” (v. 26). Moreover, Jesus had experienced this hatred first (v. 18), so those who followed had the example of someone who had travelled the road ahead of them.

To Ponder:

• Consider a time when you, or someone you know, experienced criticism or abuse because of your faith. How did it feel and how did you respond?
• Pray for those around the world who are persecuted because of their faith.

Prayer

God of love, thank you for the ministry of Jesus and for the strength given through the Holy Spirit to follow in his footsteps. If I ever experience hateful comments or actions from others, help me to feel the reality of your loving care and to know that you will be with me always. Amen.