After telling his disciples that they should love one another, Jesus began preparing them in John 15:18-16:11 to be hated by the world. Even so, he sent them out to be witnesses for him, but not on their own. He also promised to send the Holy Spirit to be the witness who would convince the world about the truth of the gospel.
Our little work of accepting each other in the church is part of the big work God is doing in the world.
God has always been with his people, in various ways and temporarily in Old Testament times and later and permanently in human flesh.
In the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30 and in the two preceding parables, Jesus prepared his followers for his absence. He wanted...