Even though He was man, He was also God, most of all. And that constituted a gap men could not close. He was the Light and men darkness. Everywhere He went the works of darkness were exposed. Darkness being the comfort zone of mankind, they could not escape the truth. The Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes of those days were targeted several times because they themselves tried to entrap YAHSHUA with questions they knew the answers. Even Pilate recognized their jealousy and hatred in the day of YAHSHUA’S trials. He knew that it was because of envy that they delivered up YAHSHUA to him (Mark 15:10). The hatred of the Jewish nation against their own Messiah was evident in their beating, scoffing, ridiculing of YAHSHUA, and their spitting at Him. In fact, by the time YAHSHUA was to suffer in the hands of the Romans, His own nation had already beaten Him with not only their emotional hatred, but also physically. They chose a murderer for a king in their ultimate rejection of their Messiah, YAHSHUA. He came for His own, but His own received Him not (John 1:11). This is a solemn truth the nation of Israel must deal with. They cannot run from it by denying the fact. History does not lie, although writers might. But the only infallible book- the Bible does not lie. It is the word of God; history is His story. YAHSHUA, in defense of Whom He was, said, I have come in My Father’s name and with His power, and you do not receive Me; but if another comes in his own name and his own power and with no other authority but himself, you will receive him and give him your approval (John 5:43). YAHSHUA plainly prophesized Israel’s acceptance of the false Messiah- the antichrist, with whom they will sign a covenant in their ultimately rejection of God’s previous covenant with them. The word another here was understood by the nation to be messiah, since they knew and rejected YAHSHUA their only true Messiah. The Prophet Isaiah prophesized about Israel’s covenant with the devil: Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have an agreement – when the overflowing scourge passes through, (tribulation) it will not come to us, for we have made lies our refuge, and in falsehood we have taken shelter; your covenant with death shall be annulled and your agreement with Sheol shall not stand when the overwhelming scourge passes through, then you will be trodden down by it (tribulation). (Isaiah 28: 15,17).
David, a picture of the Messiah, found himself powerless in the hands of King Saul, who envied and at the same time feared him because David, the Bible says, acted wisely in all his ways and succeeded, and the Lord was with him (I Sam. 18:14). David succeeded in all the battles, causing the women to celebrate him by dancing and saying, Saul has slain his thousands, but David ten thousands (Vs. 7). Saul’s jealousy and envy of David brought in him the spirit of murder. An evil spirit found room in his heart causing torment. He tried to kill David, but he escaped. David, from that point on, became a fugitive. Without cause, he was persecuted and suffered much under the fear of Saul. Later, David prayed, Let not those who are wrongfully my foes rejoice over me; neither let them wink with the eye who hate me without cause (Psalm 35:19), and Psalm 69:4: those who hate me without cause are more than the hairs of my head… YAHSHUA’S words resonated with those of David many years later when He said, If I had done among them the works which no one else ever did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have both seen and have hated both Me and My Father. But that the word written in their Law might be fulfilled, They hated Me without a cause (John 15:24-25). David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, even though was referring to his own experience, was prophesizing about the coming Messiah, YAHSHUA. He was a type of the rejected Messiah in the hands of Saul, who was a type of the nation of Israel in his rejection and persecution of David. He, as the authorities of Israel was jealous and envy of David, and sought to kill him for no cause, besides his own jealousy. God, however, protected David and his kingship. Saul could not touch the anointed of God, no matter how hard he tried with all he had. God’s plan prevailed in David’s life and he became a successful king. Although the Jewish nation rid of YAHSHUA by betraying and handling Him to the Romans – a Gentile nation, that happened in the perfect purpose of God to save them and the world. For that reason He had come to the world to fulfill the will of His Father. His future kingdom will be at the end of times. His kingdom will not be of this world; His kingdom will be a heavenly kingdom, complete with power, integrity, purity, and perfection.
Israel will then accept Him, that is, those who survive the tribulation- the remnant – the third part. They will have to go through a period of refining like silver is refined; they will be tested as gold is tested. At that time they will call on the name of the Lord, He will hear and answer them. God will say, It is My people; and they will say, The Lord is my God (Zech. 13:9). The price Israel will have to pay for rejecting YAHSHUA as their Messiah will be more than they bargained for. Many who continue rejecting Him today will be caught by surprise and lose their lives in the aftermath of God’s judgment. They are without excuses in view of God’s warnings. The Lord is giving them opportunities to repent and rid their hatred for YAHSHUA. “Hatred without cause” are three words that bring the nation to its condemnation. But YAHSHUA’S love for them never dies. As He forgave the Romans who were crucifying Him, He also has forgiven those who handed Him over to be killed. His unconditional love extends to all who will receive Him and love Him in return. Even to those who hate Him. But the tag price for the continuous rejection and hatred of Him will be ultimately applied.
Today, the believer is the recipient of the world’s hatred, because of bearing YAHSHUA’S name. He so warned His disciples: If the world hated you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, the world hated you. Remember that I told you, A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.. . (John 15:18-20). We all know in what manner He suffered in the hands of those who hated Him without a cause. We also know that nothing that we will go through for His name sake, will measure that which He suffered in our instead. For He carried upon Himself the entire world’s suffering: past, present and future. As believers in Him we must become recipients of His sufferings to share His glory, as Paul said: only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory (Rom. 8:17b).Are you willing to suffer hatred without a cause for YAHSHUA sake, as He did for you?
Light from the Word 