Christosis: Participation in Christ and Imitation of ChristSample

Christosis: Jesus became like us, so that we could be with Him and become like Him.

Yesterday, we framed John 15:12-17 with this promise from Jesus in John 15:11:

I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
— John 15:11 (NLT)

With these words in mind, we are going to enter into John 15:18-27:

18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. 25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’ 26 “But I will send you the Advocate — the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. 27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.”
— John 15:18-27 (NLT)

Wow! What an inspiring message from Jesus.

Imagine if this were your job interview…

“Well, if you take this job, you will be hated, because, well, we are a hated company.”

This is not the best sales pitch from Jesus in our modern world. But Jesus is not making a sales pitch. Jesus is speaking honestly about following Him. Jesus is speaking truthfully about how the world will react to Him. Jesus gives us some challenging insight about participation in His death and life.

We could say it this way:

Christosis includes participation.

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Participation is an invitation to separation, tribulation, and revelation.

This is the life Jesus has invited us to live. This is the life we participate in. Let’s walk through these three concepts:

Separation

Thankfully, Jesus is not inviting us to be separated from God. He is inviting us to be close to God. Closeness to God implies separation from the world.

18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.”
— John 15:18-19 (NLT)

Bottom line: There are two major movements in the world. One movement is the movement of Jesus, and all other movements are the movements of this world. The movements of this world hate the movement of Jesus.

The movement of Jesus is rooted in justice, life, and love.

The movement of this world is rooted in revenge, death, and hate.

Two contrary ideas. Two competing kingdoms.

John, who wrote this Gospel, was so impacted by this idea that he said this in 1 John 3:

13 So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.- 1 John 3:13 (NLT)

He said, Don’t be surprised if the world hates you. The way of Jesus is the way of life. We are either walking in life or walking in death. James, the brother of Jesus, said it this way:

4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. - James 4:4 (NLT)

James calls followers of Jesus who flirt with the ways of the world adulterers, as if they are cheating on God.

Have we given our whole lives to Jesus? Have we separated from the world?

Tribulation

According to one study, about 13 Christians are killed every day somewhere in the world just for being Christians. That is persecution. Let us not diminish actual persecution by lightly using that word. At the same time, let’s acknowledge that suffering, trials, and tribulations are a part of following Jesus.

Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. - John 15:20 (NLT)

You may not experience the same level of persecution as others, but we participate with Christ in His death—in a cross-shaped life.

Jesus invites us to take up our cross:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”
— Matthew 16:24 (NLT)

Paul speaks of the Church participating in death and life with Christ:

3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
— Romans 6:3-4 (NLT)

The worldly pursuit of fame, celebrity, and comfort is not consistent with Jesus’ invitation to tribulation and participation in Christ’s suffering. I’m not saying we inflict suffering onto ourselves, but sometimes our pursuit of comfort has left us ill-equipped for our suffering, the suffering of others, and sharing in the sufferings of Christ.

Tribulations are a part of taking up our cross.

Revelation

Don’t worry, I’m not talking about the book of Revelation. That is another devotional for another time.

I’m talking about how Jesus reveals the Father. Earlier on, Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), and “He who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).

An apocalyptic revelation has happened in Jesus. Jesus reveals the fullness of the Father.

21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. 25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’
— John 15:21-25 (NLT)

Simply stated…

Loving Jesus is synonymous with loving God.

Hating Jesus is synonymous with hating God.

Jesus declares He is the fulfillment of Psalm 69:4:

Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head.
— Psalm 69:4

All the Scriptures point to Jesus (John 5:39). We don’t always see Jesus as God, because we don’t want God to be like Jesus. Sometimes we find ourselves shaping God in our image, ideas, and expectations. Jesus reveals the God who suffers—but this is good news. This means God suffers for us and with us.

Lastly…

Jesus has provided us with an impartation to equip us for participation.

Jesus has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit to empower us for this participation of separation, tribulation, and revelation.

26 “But I will send you the Advocate — the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. 27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.”
— John 15:26-27 (NLT)

Spend some time in prayer, listening for the Spirit.