Read: John 15:18-16:4a
A few times in my life, I have had the privilege of attending the OU/Texas College Football game. The game is played each October at the Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas, TX. The game is played in a unique environment: half of the tickets are sold to Texas fans, and the other half to Oklahoma fans. Everyone in the stadium is wearing the color of their favorite team. Oklahoma fans tend to be extra kind to those wearing Crimson and Cream and rather hostile toward those wearing burnt orange. For Texas, the converse is true. It is not uncommon to have one of your team’s fans high five you on the way into the stadium, while one of “the other guys” are booing you loudly. Though you may not know EITHER of these people, they treat you a certain way based on the color you are wearing. In John 15:18-164a, Jesus lets His disciples know that the unbelieving world will mistreat the followers of Christ simply because the Christians are wearing Jesus’s colors on their bodies. Jesus explains this so that the disciples would not be surprised when persecution came their way.
Question of the Day: Have you ever experienced rejection simply because of your connection to Christ? If not, do you know anyone (or have heard) of anyone who has?