Why Herod Tried to Kill Baby Jesus

Why Herod Tried to Kill Baby Jesus

[John 15:18-16:4]

John 15:18-19 18 If

the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 15:20-21 20 Remember

the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

John 15:22-23 22 If

I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also.

John 15:24-25 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'

24

John 15:26-27 But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

26

John 16:1-3 I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.

1

John 16:4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

4

Why Herod Tried to Kill Baby Jesus • Explanation: the world has always resisted God (15:18-25) • Encouragement: how believers can remain faithful (15:26-16:4)

Why Herod Tried to Kill Baby Jesus • Explanation: the world has always resisted God (15:18-25) - Reality of hatred

John 15:18 18 If

the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

John 3:19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.

John 15:22 22 If

I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

John 15:24-25 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'

24

John 15:18, 20 18 If

the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.’ (13:16) If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

20

John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues.

Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 2

John 9:22 The Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue. (compare 12:42)

Why Herod Tried to Kill Baby Jesus • Explanation: the world has always resisted God (15:18-25) - Reasons for the hatred 1. Because of Jesus’ name

John 15:21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

21

John 15:22-23 22 If

I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

Why Herod Tried to Kill Baby Jesus • Explanation: the world has always resisted God (15:18-25) - Reasons for the hatred 1. Because of Jesus’ name 2. Because the world doesn’t know God

John 15:21; 16:3 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

15:21

And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.

16:3

John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues.

Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 2

Bear witness, O Thou wronged and merciful One! That Earth’s most hateful crimes have in Thy name been done!

John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892) “The Gallows”

Why Herod Tried to Kill Baby Jesus • Explanation: the world has always resisted God (15:18-25) - Reasons for the hatred 1. Because of Jesus’ name 2. Because the world doesn’t know God 3. Because Christians’ loyalty has changed

John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

19

John 8:23 You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.

John 12:46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

19

John 17:14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

Why Herod Tried to Kill Baby Jesus • Explanation: the world has always resisted God (15:18-25) • Encouragement: how believers can remain faithful (15:26-16:4)

John 16:1 I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.

1

The method I have observed toward those who have been denounced to me as Christians is this: I interrogated them whether they were Christians; if they confessed it I repeated the question twice again, adding the threat of capital punishment; if they still persevered, I ordered them to be executed.

Others at first confessed themselves Christians, and then denied it; true, they had been of that persuasion but they had quit it many years ago. They all worshipped your statue and the images of the gods, and cursed Christ.

Pliny the Younger, governor of Bithynia, writing to the Roman emperor Trajan (A.D. 98-117)

Why Herod Tried to Kill Baby Jesus •  Encouragement: how believers can remain faithful (15:26-16:4)

- Persevering

John 15:26 But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

26

John 16:1 I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.

1

Why Herod Tried to Kill Baby Jesus •  Encouragement: how believers can remain faithful (15:26-16:4)

- Persevering - Proclaiming

John 15:26-27 But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

26

John 17:18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

Mark 13:11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:12 All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Luke 6:26 Woe to you, when all people speak well of you,