Jesus informs the disciples that when they face the world’s hatred, they must remember He was hated first. As we seek to follow Jesus, we will also face the hatred and persecution He faced. We should remember we no longer belong to this world, but have been chosen out of this world. However, if they accept Jesus and His Word, then they will accept us and the word we present on His behalf [It’s not about us!]. Because Jesus came speaking His Father’s word and doing the Father’s works, they are without excuse. In fact, He explains that their hatred is prophesied in Scripture. However, we are not alone because Jesus sends us an advocate, the Spirit of truth, to equip us with the power to remain faithful in our testimony of God. Like Christ, we can deliver an accurate word with the demonstration of God’s work in power so our world will be without excuse as was theirs. In light of what Jesus says, we should not be surprised or overwhelmed by the rejection or hatred of this world, but are equipped to persist in faithfulness to our calling.