Lessons Jesus Taught His Disciples
Lesson Five • The World
Pastor Josh Yates
1. As we near Easter this year, how are you really doing? How is your family? How are your relationships? How is your world?
God is good. He has given us so much and loves us so much. I am hopeful that the answers given to the first question were encouraging. At the same point, there may be some struggles going on in your life. There may be strife going on in the world around you.
I am also hopeful that you are pointing your life at Jesus. As we are in the midst of the Easter season, we are continually reminded of all that God has done for us and the immense gift that we have in salvation. However, the world in which we live has largely rejected the gift that God has given. God has called us to live differently from the world and that can cause trouble for us.
Read John 15:18-26.
What a reality check that Jesus gives us here, right? Jesus talks about if the world hates you, but it is more of a comment like, “If, and trust me they will, hate you.” Jesus is telling us that the hatred of the world is a certainty. This is an overall and general hatred from the world and its systems that stand against the Gospel of Jesus.
2. Have you ever felt the hatred or the oppression of the world? How?
Less than 24 hours after He made this statement He was arrested, stood trial for crimes He did not commit, was mocked, beaten, stripped naked, whipped, nailed to a cross, verbally assaulted on the cross, struck in the heart with a spear, and was killed. It brings tears to my eyes to even write these words. Yes, Jesus was hated.
Jesus was hated, and so would His followers. If you follow Jesus, you were chosen to be His. You were called out of the world in which we live. You were called to be “aliens and strangers in this world” (1 Peter 2:11 AMP). You were called to be a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for his own possession” that carries the name of Jesus to the world (1 Peter 2:9).
D.A. Carson is quoted as saying, “Former rebels who have by the grace of the king been one back to loving allegiance to their rightful monarch are not likely to prove popular with those who persist in rebellion.”
3. What does the realization that Jesus suffered and was hated do in your heart?
There is no way to follow a crucified Savior and not expect a cross. It is not that any one of us goes out and looks for persecution. The reality is that just by living for Jesus and His Kingdom, you will look different than the world and its systems. When that happens, friction is coming. The toughest thing to remember when that friction happens is that it is not personal. It is not really you anyone will have a problem with, it is Jesus living in you. I have had situations in my life where just going to church on vacation caused arguments and anger toward me and my family.
4. How have you experienced friction and anger toward Jesus in your life? How did you deal with those situations?
Jesus reminds us in verse 15:21 that the world simply does not know Him. This gives us a reason why things are the way that they are. It is easy to think that those around us should act better than they do; however, we must not expect those that do not know Jesus to act as though they do. The world and its systems are living in open rebellion against the King, which is where we all were before we met Jesus.
5. In what areas of your life do you still struggle with living in rebellion against Jesus?
There are two sorts of exceptions to this, however. We can think that we are being persecuted because of Jesus, but in reality, we are being persecuted because we are being a jerk! We should never look for persecution, but it can be easy to bring it upon ourselves. On the other hand, if we do not face any persecution or struggle at all because of our faith in Jesus, it could mean that we are an “undercover Christian” that simply is not living out a life that follows Jesus. The world does not hate those that never talk about Jesus.
6. Have you found yourself in either of these positions (bringing persecution upon yourself like on social media or living as an undercover Christian)?
7. What does it look like to live a life that is following Jesus?
Jesus loved people and yet He was hated. Why was that? The biggest reason that the world hated Jesus then and hates Jesus today is that He exposes the guilt of people’s actions. No one likes it when they are called out for doing something wrong, and this is exactly what Jesus did and does today through His followers. A Jesus-follower exposes sin just by living life differently for the Kingdom of God.
H.A. Ironside tells this story:
“Years ago, at the time of the opening up of inland Africa by missionaries, the wife of an African chief happened to visit a mission station. The missionary had a little mirror hung up on a tree outside his home, and the woman happened to glance into it. She had come straight out of her pagan environment and had never seen the hideous paintings on her face or her hardened features. Now, gazing at her own face, she was startled. She asked the missionary, “Who is that horrible-looking person inside the tree?”
“It is not the tree,” said the missionary. “The glass is reflecting your own face.” She could not believe it until she was holding the mirror in her hand. When she had understood she said to the missionary, “I must have the glass. How much will you sell it for?” The missionary did not want to sell his mirror. But she insisted so strongly that in the end, he thought it would be better to sell it to her and thus avoid trouble. A price was set, and she took the glass. Fiercely she said, “I will never have it making faces at me again.” She threw it down and broke it to pieces.”
Jesus’ followers become a mirror of something totally different than what is seen in the world. This causes others to pick up a mirror to see themselves and this either causes friction or a turning toward Jesus. Sometimes people will want to break that mirror and other times they may let Jesus change the person in that mirror.
Think about that, your life can help someone see Jesus. Do not ever stop living the Gospel. The Holy Spirit has been sent exactly for this purpose, to help you live the Gospel. He bears witness of Jesus through your life! He empowers you to live and share the Gospel as you live your life for God and as you learn more about Him.
8. How can someone’s life speak the Gospel to others? Do you have to use words when you proclaim the Gospel (sort of a trick question)?
Read John 16:25-33.
How does it feel to be loved by God Himself? It should be an amazing truth that is daily changing your life as you realize it more and more. Jesus went back to His heavenly throne and sent the Holy Spirit that now dwells inside each person that knows Jesus as their Savior. We have direct access to the Father who knows and loves you deeply. This kind of access and friendship with God is necessary gifts to us as we face trials and tribulations while we are in the world.
No matter how alone you may feel in tough times, you are never alone, because God is with you just as He was with Jesus. Every one of us will have trouble, but we can know that we are never alone and that Jesus has overcome this world already.
John 16:33 says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
9. How does the fact that God is ever-present with you and loves you help you in your times of trouble?
Jesus told us that we would have trouble in this world. It is not a question of if, but when. We live for a different Kingdom. We have a different purpose in Jesus. However, Jesus has overcome the world. He offers salvation to that same world.
10. How can you share the Gospel with those around you today, this week, and this month?
No matter what you face today, you are loved. You are not alone. Carry that truth in the name of Jesus wherever you go today and proclaim His love to the lost and the captive. Will you face persecution? Yes. Will God use you to bring some people to know Jesus as you live for Him and proclaim the Gospel? Yes!
What a friend we have in Jesus!
God is good. He has given us so much and loves us so much. I am hopeful that the answers given to the first question were encouraging. At the same point, there may be some struggles going on in your life. There may be strife going on in the world around you.
I am also hopeful that you are pointing your life at Jesus. As we are in the midst of the Easter season, we are continually reminded of all that God has done for us and the immense gift that we have in salvation. However, the world in which we live has largely rejected the gift that God has given. God has called us to live differently from the world and that can cause trouble for us.
Read John 15:18-26.
What a reality check that Jesus gives us here, right? Jesus talks about if the world hates you, but it is more of a comment like, “If, and trust me they will, hate you.” Jesus is telling us that the hatred of the world is a certainty. This is an overall and general hatred from the world and its systems that stand against the Gospel of Jesus.
2. Have you ever felt the hatred or the oppression of the world? How?
Less than 24 hours after He made this statement He was arrested, stood trial for crimes He did not commit, was mocked, beaten, stripped naked, whipped, nailed to a cross, verbally assaulted on the cross, struck in the heart with a spear, and was killed. It brings tears to my eyes to even write these words. Yes, Jesus was hated.
Jesus was hated, and so would His followers. If you follow Jesus, you were chosen to be His. You were called out of the world in which we live. You were called to be “aliens and strangers in this world” (1 Peter 2:11 AMP). You were called to be a “chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for his own possession” that carries the name of Jesus to the world (1 Peter 2:9).
D.A. Carson is quoted as saying, “Former rebels who have by the grace of the king been one back to loving allegiance to their rightful monarch are not likely to prove popular with those who persist in rebellion.”
3. What does the realization that Jesus suffered and was hated do in your heart?
There is no way to follow a crucified Savior and not expect a cross. It is not that any one of us goes out and looks for persecution. The reality is that just by living for Jesus and His Kingdom, you will look different than the world and its systems. When that happens, friction is coming. The toughest thing to remember when that friction happens is that it is not personal. It is not really you anyone will have a problem with, it is Jesus living in you. I have had situations in my life where just going to church on vacation caused arguments and anger toward me and my family.
4. How have you experienced friction and anger toward Jesus in your life? How did you deal with those situations?
Jesus reminds us in verse 15:21 that the world simply does not know Him. This gives us a reason why things are the way that they are. It is easy to think that those around us should act better than they do; however, we must not expect those that do not know Jesus to act as though they do. The world and its systems are living in open rebellion against the King, which is where we all were before we met Jesus.
5. In what areas of your life do you still struggle with living in rebellion against Jesus?
There are two sorts of exceptions to this, however. We can think that we are being persecuted because of Jesus, but in reality, we are being persecuted because we are being a jerk! We should never look for persecution, but it can be easy to bring it upon ourselves. On the other hand, if we do not face any persecution or struggle at all because of our faith in Jesus, it could mean that we are an “undercover Christian” that simply is not living out a life that follows Jesus. The world does not hate those that never talk about Jesus.
6. Have you found yourself in either of these positions (bringing persecution upon yourself like on social media or living as an undercover Christian)?
7. What does it look like to live a life that is following Jesus?
Jesus loved people and yet He was hated. Why was that? The biggest reason that the world hated Jesus then and hates Jesus today is that He exposes the guilt of people’s actions. No one likes it when they are called out for doing something wrong, and this is exactly what Jesus did and does today through His followers. A Jesus-follower exposes sin just by living life differently for the Kingdom of God.
H.A. Ironside tells this story:
“Years ago, at the time of the opening up of inland Africa by missionaries, the wife of an African chief happened to visit a mission station. The missionary had a little mirror hung up on a tree outside his home, and the woman happened to glance into it. She had come straight out of her pagan environment and had never seen the hideous paintings on her face or her hardened features. Now, gazing at her own face, she was startled. She asked the missionary, “Who is that horrible-looking person inside the tree?”
“It is not the tree,” said the missionary. “The glass is reflecting your own face.” She could not believe it until she was holding the mirror in her hand. When she had understood she said to the missionary, “I must have the glass. How much will you sell it for?” The missionary did not want to sell his mirror. But she insisted so strongly that in the end, he thought it would be better to sell it to her and thus avoid trouble. A price was set, and she took the glass. Fiercely she said, “I will never have it making faces at me again.” She threw it down and broke it to pieces.”
Jesus’ followers become a mirror of something totally different than what is seen in the world. This causes others to pick up a mirror to see themselves and this either causes friction or a turning toward Jesus. Sometimes people will want to break that mirror and other times they may let Jesus change the person in that mirror.
Think about that, your life can help someone see Jesus. Do not ever stop living the Gospel. The Holy Spirit has been sent exactly for this purpose, to help you live the Gospel. He bears witness of Jesus through your life! He empowers you to live and share the Gospel as you live your life for God and as you learn more about Him.
8. How can someone’s life speak the Gospel to others? Do you have to use words when you proclaim the Gospel (sort of a trick question)?
Read John 16:25-33.
How does it feel to be loved by God Himself? It should be an amazing truth that is daily changing your life as you realize it more and more. Jesus went back to His heavenly throne and sent the Holy Spirit that now dwells inside each person that knows Jesus as their Savior. We have direct access to the Father who knows and loves you deeply. This kind of access and friendship with God is necessary gifts to us as we face trials and tribulations while we are in the world.
No matter how alone you may feel in tough times, you are never alone, because God is with you just as He was with Jesus. Every one of us will have trouble, but we can know that we are never alone and that Jesus has overcome this world already.
John 16:33 says, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
9. How does the fact that God is ever-present with you and loves you help you in your times of trouble?
Jesus told us that we would have trouble in this world. It is not a question of if, but when. We live for a different Kingdom. We have a different purpose in Jesus. However, Jesus has overcome the world. He offers salvation to that same world.
10. How can you share the Gospel with those around you today, this week, and this month?
No matter what you face today, you are loved. You are not alone. Carry that truth in the name of Jesus wherever you go today and proclaim His love to the lost and the captive. Will you face persecution? Yes. Will God use you to bring some people to know Jesus as you live for Him and proclaim the Gospel? Yes!
What a friend we have in Jesus!