In John 15, Jesus promises that the world will hate His followers. In this lesson we look at what Jesus had to say about persecution, including why the world will hate His disciples. We also look at examples of martyrdom and accounts of Christian persecution in the early Church. May Jesus' teaching on persecution and the faithful witness of the Church through history strengthen those Christians suffering around the world today. May it also prepare us in the West for persecution that may await us in the coming years.