Nobody likes being disliked. Hatred against God and His people is evil; but Jesus would submit to it.  The reason He could endure it, and the pain of the cross, was because He knew about the joy beyond the suffering (Hebrews 12:2).  The future apostles needed training to tread the same path.  Although it was hard enough to think about their Master's distress, and they were scared for their own lives (Mark 14:50), they would soon rejoice in the privilege of persecution for the sake of Christ (Acts 5:41).

So, in this first training session, after the Twelve had been called by Jesus, He is blunt about their ministry career prospects.  Hated, insulted, excluded, and rejected: that was all part of the apostolic job description.  Those who proclaim the truth will be called evil.  It would be like that for Jesus and was the routine treatment of the Old Testament prophets (Luke 11:47-51).  But they also needed to take the long view of eternity; where horror, hatred and hassle are eliminated for ever. And even more importantly, God will positively reward those who have endured persecution along with Jeremiah, Joseph, Daniel and David ... ‘great is your reward in heaven’!

Our short-term reactions are either controlled by the pain of immediate circumstances, or by the long-term view.  Jesus said that when the opposition starts, get excited because God has promised far greater blessings in the future Glory.  His half-brother, James, wrote, ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’ (James 1:2-4): and Peter wrote, ‘In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.’ (1 Peter 1:6).  The assurance of heaven's reward is an essential part of the Christian's hope.  It is an unshakable conviction given by the Holy Spirit to every born-again believer, sustaining us in weakness, and enabling us to triumph in trouble.

So often we see those Godly people who suffer being the most serene and those in grief showing most grace.  It is an essential part of your Christian witness; indeed, that is partly why God allows troubles to come - so that others can see that Jesus lives in you - because you use the long-term certainties to control your reactions to short term distress.  Let your colleagues at work, today, see what Christ is doing in your heart.