1. What surprising statement did Jesus make about being hated?

 IN HIS Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “Happy are you whenever men hate you.” (Luke 6:22) Those words must have surprised his listeners. After all, no one enjoys being hated. Why did Jesus make that statement? That is a good question to consider because Jesus’ followers today are hated by many people. We will discuss why we are hated and why we can be happy when we are hated.

WHY WE ARE HATED

2-3. What is one reason why true Christians are persecuted, and how might this affect our view of opposers? (John 16:2, 3)

² We are hated because we worship Jehovah. Regarding those who would persecute and even kill some of his followers, Jesus said: “They have not come to know either the Father or me.” (Read John 16:2, 3.) Who is ultimately to blame for the opposition to God’s people? Satan is. He is “the god of this system of things.” (2 Cor. 4:3, 4) He blinds people to the truth about Jehovah and influences them to oppose those who do know and love God. (John 8:42-44) How might knowing this affect our view of opposers? For one thing, realizing that they have been deceived will help us to avoid hating them in return.

³ Consider the example of Pavel, a who lives in a country where our work is banned. Because he continued faithfully worshipping Jehovah, he was arrested, cruelly beaten, and placed in solitary confinement for months.  Pavel now says: “It is clear to me that persecution is due to demonic resistance to pure worship. It seems that most who work in the prison system have no personal animosity against us. They are simply doing their job.” A brother in Croatia who endured vicious persecution from his unbelieving parents states: “I have come to see Satan as my real enemy, not my parents.”​—Eph. 6:12.

4. What can we learn from the examples of Jesus and of the disciple Stephen? (See also picture.)

⁴ We do not hate our opposers. In fact, we may be moved to pray for them. (Matt. 5:44) In this regard, we can learn from Jesus and the disciple Stephen. While nailed to the torture stake by Roman soldiers, Jesus prayed: “Father, forgive them.” (Luke 23:34) Jesus was asking Jehovah to forgive these soldiers who were charged with executing him. He may have been thinking also of those in the crowd who, egged on by his religious enemies, had clamored for his death. Jesus realized that these people did not really know what they were doing. Similarly, the disciple Stephen asked God to forgive his executioners. (Acts 7:58-60) Did Jehovah answer the prayers of Jesus and of Stephen? Yes. Many involved in Jesus’ trial and execution later repented, exercised faith in Jesus, and got baptized. (Acts 2:36-41) And at least one person who approved of Stephen’s execution​—Saul of Tarsus—​became a Christian and deeply regretted the terrible things he had done in his ignorance.​—1 Tim. 1:13.

5. What do you learn from César’s experience?

⁵ Jehovah continues to answer prayers offered in behalf of opposers today. Consider the experience of César, who lives in Venezuela. His father was violently opposed to the truth. César says: “My mother was everything a wife and mother should be. Though she always put the Kingdom first, she never neglected my father. She taught my siblings and me to respect our father. She also taught us to obey him unless he asked us to do something against God’s will.” Over the years, his father’s attitude softened. César relates: “One day, after I said a heartfelt prayer, I asked my dad if I could study the Bible with him. It is hard to describe the emotions I felt when he said yes.” In  time, César’s father got baptized. Not all opposers make such changes, but some do soften their attitude after observing our respectful speech and fine conduct. How happy we are when they do! We long to see how Jehovah, the merciful “Judge of all the earth,” may yet draw such ones to him.​—Gen. 18:25.

6. According to Mark 13:13, what is another reason why we are hated?

⁶ We are hated because we respect Jesus. Jesus said that true Christians would be hated by all people “on account of [his] name.” (Read Mark 13:13.) What does Jesus’ “name” stand for? It stands for his reputation and his authority as the King of God’s Kingdom. We are hated by people who have put their trust in earthly leaders, not in the one whom Jehovah has chosen to rule the universe, Jesus Christ. Jesus has been ruling as King of the Kingdom since 1914. Soon, he will remove all rival rulerships that have rejected his authority.

7-8. Why do some of Jehovah’s people become targets of ridicule? (John 15:18-20) (See also pictures.)

⁷ We are hated because we reject Satan’s world. Jesus explained that his followers would be hated because they “are no part of the world.” (Read John 15:18-20.) Like the early Christians, we reject the world’s ungodly attitudes, conduct, and speech. Because of this, many brothers and sisters have become targets of ridicule at work or at school. (1 Pet. 4:3, 4) We are pleased, however, that some opposers eventually have a change of heart and come to admire us for our stand.

⁸ Consider the experience of Ignacio, in Central America. He attended a school where one teacher mocked him for years for his high moral standards. However, before Ignacio graduated, that teacher asked him how he was able to live by Bible principles in such a hostile environment. Ignacio explained that he views God’s laws as a protection.  He then invited the teacher to a congregation meeting. To Ignacio’s surprise, the teacher attended! The teacher was so impressed by the warmth of the congregation that he continued attending meetings. Later, because of studying the Bible, the teacher himself faced opposition. But he continued making spiritual progress and eventually got baptized.

9-10. (a) For what other reason do Christians stand out as different from Satan’s world? (b) What can we learn from the apostle Paul’s example?

⁹ We also stand out as different from Satan’s world because we are neutral with regard to politics and war. (John 18:36) In harmony with the counsel found at Romans 13:1, we strive to be law-abiding citizens. Yet, as Christians, we remain neutral in political conflicts, so we do not run for political office or vote for political candidates. Why? Because our allegiance is to Jehovah and to his Kingdom under Christ. Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses have been imprisoned for their Christian faith. Nevertheless, imprisoned brothers and sisters continue to preach. They thus imitate the apostle Paul, who spent years under house arrest and in prison. (Acts 24:27; 28:16, 30) He continued to share the good news with all who would listen, including prison guards, court officials, governors, kings, and perhaps even officials of Roman Emperor Nero.​—Acts 9:15.

¹⁰ Similarly, our imprisoned brothers preach to all who will listen, including judges, government officials, and guards. One brother who spent more than six years in prison for remaining politically neutral said that he viewed his time in prison, not as a punishment, but as an assignment from Jehovah to find sheeplike ones. How happy we can be if Jehovah uses us to reach such individuals with the good news! (Col. 4:3) Let us also consider other reasons we have to be happy even when we are hated for serving Jehovah.

WHY WE CAN BE HAPPY WHEN HATED

11. How can experiencing persecution strengthen our faith? Give an example.

¹¹ We know that the world’s hatred fulfills Bible prophecy. Jehovah foretold in the first recorded prophecy that Satan and his symbolic offspring​—those who follow him—​would hate individuals who love and serve Jehovah. (Gen. 3:15) Jesus often reaffirmed the truthfulness of those prophetic words, as recorded by all four Gospel writers. (Matt. 10:22; Mark 13:9-12; Luke 6:22, 23; John 15:20) And other Christian Bible writers did likewise. (2 Tim. 3:12; Jas. 1:2; 1 Pet. 4:12-14; Jude 3, 17-19) So when persecution arises, we are not shocked. Instead, we are happy that Bible prophecy is being fulfilled. This assures us that we are serving the true God. A sister who lives in a country where our work is restricted says: “When I dedicated myself to Jehovah, I knew I would face persecution sooner or later. So trials neither intimidated me nor surprised me.” Her husband was one of her many opposers. He mistreated her and burned her Bible and Bible literature. But rather than shrink back in fear, our sister grew stronger in faith. (Heb. 10:39) She says:  “Persecution was prophesied, so I knew that it had to happen. Experiencing it convinced me that this was the true religion.”

12. What helped one brother to cope with persecution?

¹² Although we expect to be persecuted, we may still find it a challenge to endure. One brother wrote regarding his time in prison: “At times, I felt depressed or worried, and I would just cry.” What helped this brother to cope? “I always prayed,” he said. “I started each morning with prayer. During the day, I prayed whenever difficult situations arose. And when injustices made me angry, I would lock myself in the bathroom and pray.” Our brother also meditated on ancient and modern-day examples of integrity. That helped him to endure the persecution and to gain the peace that Jesus promised his followers.​—John 14:27; 16:33.

13. What can help us to conquer hatred?

¹³ We have love that is stronger than hatred. Down to his dying breath, Jesus loved his Father with all his heart. Jesus also loved his friends. (John 13:1; 15:13) When we develop such love, both for Jehovah and for our brothers and sisters, we too will be able to conquer hatred. How so? In answer, consider the example of the apostle Paul.

14. What helped Paul to stand firm in the face of death?

¹⁴ Not long before he was executed, Paul wrote to his dear friend Timothy: “God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but one of power and of love.” (2 Tim. 1:7) What did Paul mean? Paul was saying that strong love for Jehovah can move a Christian to be willing to face intense trials. (2 Tim. 1:8) No doubt the love Paul had for Jehovah helped him to face death courageously, without abandoning true worship.​—Acts 20:22-24.

15. How have our brothers and sisters in our time shown unselfish love for one another? (See also picture.)

¹⁵ We certainly love our fellow believers who remain firm in the face of persecution. Some today willingly put themselves at risk for their brothers and sisters, as Aquila and Priscilla did when they risked their lives for Paul. (Rom. 16:3, 4) In Russia, for example, many have gone to courthouses to encourage those  who have been arrested. When one sister who had been arrested saw dozens of her spiritual brothers and sisters at the courthouse, she was so overcome with emotion that she could not speak for a while. The unselfish love of her fellow believers strengthened her when she really needed it. How happy we can be that we have love that is stronger than hatred!

16. Why did the apostle Peter say that those who are mistreated for serving God have reason to be happy? (1 Peter 4:14)

¹⁶ We know that our endurance amid hatred brings God’s approval. (Read 1 Peter 4:14.) The apostle Peter said that those who endure mistreatment for serving God have reason to be happy. How so? Such mistreatment is proof that God’s spirit “is resting upon [us].” Peter knew what it felt like to have God’s approval and to endure persecution. Shortly after Pentecost 33 C.E., the Jewish temple police were dispatched to arrest Peter and other apostles for preaching. But Peter boldly defended his faith. (Acts 5:24-29) Even after being flogged, he and his fellow apostles did not stop preaching. Rather, they rejoiced because they had been “counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of [Jesus’] name.” We too can rejoice when enduring trials.​—Acts 5:40-42.

17. What did Jesus tell his disciples on the night before his death?

¹⁷ On the night before his death, Jesus told his disciples: “Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him.” (John 14:21) How we look forward to the time when we will be loved​—not hated—​for serving Jehovah! (2 Thess. 1:6-8) In the meantime, may we find comfort and strength in the many reasons we have to be happy when we are hated.