Hated Without a Cause
Jesus came as a light to deliver all from darkness, but the world hated him without cause because people love their sins and have no desire to be free.
David Wilkerson preaches about the profound love and compassion of Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost while humbly serving others. Despite performing miraculous acts of healing and delivering people from bondage, Jesus was hated without cause, primarily because he brought light into a world that preferred darkness. The world despises the light because it exposes evil deeds, and many choose to remain in their sins rather than embrace the freedom offered by Christ. Wilkerson emphasizes that as believers, we carry the Light of the world within us, enabling us to shine brightly and share this truth with others.
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Jesus said he came to seek out and save the lost. This was the same One who had power to subdue the very winds and waves, yet he came as a humble servant. The gospels tell us he listened patiently to people's heartbreaking cries. Multitudes pleaded with Christ to deliver them from their afflictions and he met their needs. He healed the sick, opened blind eyes, unstopped deaf ears, loosed tied tongues, and made cripples to walk. Jesus set captives free from every form of bondage -- he even raised the dead.
No one ever loved humankind more than Jesus; he grieved over the multitudes before him, seeing them as lost sheep in need of a shepherd. The truth is, nobody in history should be more revered, respected and loved than Jesus Christ. He performed works of compassion for the people he met; he wept over the world's spiritual blindness and poured out his life for all. But in spite of the good things Jesus did, the world hated him without cause.
What did Jesus do that he should be so despised, both in his own day and today? Simply put, the world hated him because he came as a light to deliver all from darkness. He declared: "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (John 8:12). Jesus also told us, "Everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed" (John 3:20).
Jesus promised to deliver people from their chains of darkness and pledged to set men everywhere free from all satanic power. However, what we Christians see as a holy gift of deliverance and liberty is viewed by the world as a form of bondage. Such people love their sins and have no desire to be free from them.
The Light of the world is come and dwells within you. As you embrace this truth and walk in the Spirit, you will be able to shine forth his light to those around you.
Sermon Outline
- I. Jesus' Love and Compassion
- A. He came to seek out and save the lost
- B. He performed works of compassion for the people he met
- II. The World's Response to Jesus
- A. They hated him without cause
- B. They saw his deliverance as bondage
- III. The Reason for the World's Hatred
- A. Jesus came as a light to deliver all from darkness
- B. The world loves its sins and has no desire to be free
- IV. The Christian's Response to Jesus
- A. Embracing the truth that the Light of the world dwells within
- B. Walking in the Spirit and shining forth his light
Key Quotes
“No one ever loved humankind more than Jesus; he grieved over the multitudes before him, seeing them as lost sheep in need of a shepherd.” — David Wilkerson
“The Light of the world is come and dwells within you.” — David Wilkerson
“Everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- As a Christian, I must walk in the Spirit and shine forth Jesus' light to those around me.
- I must be willing to let go of my sins and desires in order to be free from their bondage.
- Jesus' deliverance is a holy gift of liberty, and I must receive it and share it with others.