Living for Jesus in a Hostile World

In John 7, the tension surrounding Jesus reaches a boiling point. His miracles and message had drawn attention, but now the undercurrents of hostility begin to break the surface. The religious leaders want Him arrested. His own brothers mock Him. The crowds are divided. Yet through it all, Jesus remains faithful to His mission: proclaiming the truth about who He is — no matter the cost.

We live in a world that still wrestles with Jesus. Some mock Him. Some reject Him. Most, however, are simply confused — much like the crowds in John 7. In this passage, we see three common responses to Jesus that still resonate today:

1. People Will Mock Jesus

Even Jesus' brothers didn’t believe in Him (John 7:5). Their sarcastic comments show how close someone can be to truth — and still not see it. Why? Because light exposes darkness, and people often recoil from the truth when it threatens their comfort (John 7:7, John 3:19–20).

As followers of Christ, we shouldn’t be surprised when people mock or misunderstand us. If the world mocked Jesus, they’ll mock His followers too.

2. People Will Reject Jesus

Jesus eventually went to the Feast of Booths and began teaching publicly. The religious leaders didn’t like His authority or His message. They questioned His credentials and even accused Him of having a demon. But Jesus, unwavering, pointed them back to the truth: His teaching was from God.

Jesus highlighted their hypocrisy — they allowed circumcision on the Sabbath but condemned healing. Their judgment was shallow because they didn’t want to see with spiritual eyes. Still today, many reject Jesus not for lack of evidence, but because His truth challenges their assumptions.

3. People Will Be Confused About Jesus

The crowd couldn’t agree on who Jesus was. Was He a prophet? The Messiah? A deceiver? They knew His earthly origin — Nazareth — but missed His heavenly one. They asked questions like, “Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?” and “Where is He going that we cannot follow?”

Much like then, our culture today is filled with vague and mixed opinions about Jesus. Many respect Him as a teacher but don’t follow Him as Lord. According to recent surveys, most Americans believe Jesus was real, but views on His divinity and resurrection vary widely. Only a small percentage attend church regularly, and most people are confused about what it actually means to follow Him.

So What Should We Do?

In a world where mocking, rejection, and confusion about Jesus are normal, how should we respond?

Here are five practical ways to live boldly for Christ:

1. Pray. Especially for those far from Christ or hostile to Him. Prayer softens hearts — ours and theirs.

2. Listen. Be slow to speak and quick to listen (James 1:19). People often need a listener more than a lecturer.

3. Be Bold About the Main Thing. Don’t get sidetracked by politics or side debates. Point people to Jesus and the cross (1 Cor. 2:2).

4. Live with Integrity. Back up your witness with a life that reflects Jesus (1 Peter 2:12,15).

5. Trust God’s Sovereignty. You are where you are — your work, family, neighborhood — by God’s design. Live with purpose and confidence.

Jesus never softened the truth to gain followers. He spoke clearly, lived faithfully, and loved deeply — even when misunderstood. We’re called to do the same.

This week, you will likely interact with someone who is confused about Jesus. As you pray, listen, speak truth, and live faithfully, God may use you to help them see Christ clearly. In a world full of questions, may we be people who point to the only true answer: Jesus.

Join us this Sunday at Powell High School! We’d love to walk through God’s Word with you as we follow Jesus together, and bring someone with you!