"If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. (Jn 15:18-21)
Jesus gives a lesson on who belongs to him (Jesus) and what reward will be given to him for following Jesus. In his last discourse, all the lessons and information and revelations are to the disciples and followers, though it is addressed to only the twelve. Through them it is passed on to his followers of the ages to come.
Anyone who belongs to Jesus does not belong to the world. The disciple is in the world but does not belong to the world. So he will be in constant tension with the world and he will be in confrontation with the world. By the word ‘world’ Jesus does not mean the material world alone but much more the evil power in the world. Jesus was not against the world as such but he was in constant confrontation with the evil power of the world. A disciple/ follower will be so.
The outcome (reward) of this is that the disciple will be hated by the world as it did with Jesus. Hatred and dislike are the natural outcome for the disciple from this evil power in the world. Probably a true disciple will be able to recognize where the evil power is at work by the way he is treated.
