John 15:23-25
“Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfil what is written in their Law: “They hated me without reason.””
Sunday 22 June 2025 is Windrush Day in the UK. In 1948, the ship called Empire Windrush arrived at the Port of Tilbury coast near London, carrying 1,027 passengers mostly from the West Indies. Most suffered racial abuse, prejudice and hatred, had poor living conditions, were labelled educationally sub-normal, were refused entry into places and some even deported back illegally by the UK Government. They were hated without reason.
Jesus too was hated without reason. This ultimately led to Him being rejected with words of “Crucify him!”, when Pilate asked the people to choose between Jesus, who is called the Messiah (Matthew 27:17) and Barabbas (a murderer, Mark 15:7). He was innocent, He did no sin (1 John 3:5), but despite this He would say to those who hated Him, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) Don’t reject Jesus nor hate Him without reason – He loved you and died for your sin, my sin.
