Why Was Jesus Hated by the World So Much?
Regardless of your thoughts on Jesus, it is hard to deny his impact. He was one of the most revolutionary figures in history. Why was Jesus hated so much?
While some still try to deny Jesus’s existence as a historical figure, the data simply reflects otherwise. Many secular witnesses from that time even spoke of Jesus’s historical life. In fact, it is almost unanimous among ancient historians that Jesus was indeed a real man who walked the earth. Not only that, but additionally they conclude that we was crucified by the Romans.
Once you look at the data, it’s hard not to come to the same conclusion. As I reflect in his life, I often find myself asking the question, “Why was Jesus hated so much”? A man who lived the perfect life, without sin or faults, would eventually be murdered in one of the most gruesome ways possible. What was the motive or reasoning behind such a heinous act?
As I continued to ponder this question, I reviewed some of his teachings. Eventually, the further I dug into the teachings of Christ the clearer this answer became. Jesus Christ and his message was a direct attack on the establishment & status quo of the time.
A few Bible verses stuck out to me during this exploration:
“Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.”
Matthew 5:5
“But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Matthew 23:11
“For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Matthew 23:12
The more of Christ’s teachings I read, the answer dawned on me. “Why was Jesus hated so much by the world?”, because he preached in direct contradiction to the established power structures & establishment, then and now.
Hierarchical systems are an inevitable part of our world. Whether it’s sports, corporations, politics, organized religion, etc., everything follows this pyramid structure. There are small elite at the top, and everyone else at the bottom.
What Jesus preached was so radical, because it flipped this structure on its head. With teachings like, “the meek shall inherit the earth” and “he who humbles himself shall be exalted”, Jesus completely shook up the status quo. He taught that in his kingdom the first would be last and the last would be first.
What Jesus taught and stood for was a direct attack on those in power. This is most likely one major reason why the world hated Jesus so much. The powers that be did not like his message, and wanted to stifle it by any means necessary.