Gospel in Art: If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you

Contempt of Hatred, by Ernest Joseph Bailly, 1792 © Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Ghent / Alamy

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 24 May 2025
John 15:18-21

At that time: Jesus said to his disciples, 'If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: "A servant is not greater than his master." If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.'

Reflection on the painting

Much of this week's Gospel readings have centred on themes of love, trust, and friendship, but today's short passage takes a more sobering turn. Jesus says, "If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you." His words are a stark reminder of the cost of discipleship. Jesus is not naïve about the realities of the world; He speaks with clarity and realism. From the beginning, He knew that those who follow Him would face hostility, just as He did. In the early Church, this hatred often took the form of brutal persecution, a reality that, tragically, persists in various parts of the world today. In our modern, 21st-century context, this opposition often presents itself more subtly, through aggressive atheism, cultural pressure, or widespread secular indifference.

The hostility we face now is less overt but no less real. It can leave Christians feeling marginalised, hesitant to speak openly about their beliefs. Many choose to practise their faith quietly, keeping their heads down to avoid confrontation. While there is wisdom in humility, Jesus calls us to be more than discreet believers. He asks us to be lights in a darkened world, not only through what we say, but through how we live: with integrity, courage, and love, even in the face of ridicule or rejection. To live the Gospel publicly is to risk being misunderstood, but that is a risk worth taking!

In 1792, in line with other cities like Paris and Lille, the Ghent Academy in Belgium held its first Salon, a competition focused on character portraiture. The young artist Ernest Joseph Bailly won first prize with this striking and unsettling work titled Contempt of Hatred. The portrait shows a man with a twisted, grimacing expression, seemingly filled with fury. But in a powerful reversal, the man is not consumed by hatred-he is rejecting it. Despite the intensity and discomfort of the image, the painting's message is a noble one: a visual rejection of hatred in all its forms. It serves as a powerful reminder that we are called, even when surrounded by darkness or hostility, to stand for something higher; to refuse hatred, and to remain rooted in Christ's love.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-15-18-21-2025-2/ (with audio)