Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson took to X on Saturday with a passage from John 15:18-20 that reads, in part, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.” The two-time NFL MVP did not add a caption. He did not have to. The verse, addresses persecution for following Christ, and the timing speaks for itself.
Jackson has faced sustained public criticism for his Christian faith posts online, most sharply after an August 2025 controversy involving a reposted message. That backlash never fully quieted, and the John 15 post on X arrived Saturday with the weight of everything that came before it.
Jackson’s faith has been a target since he reposted Charlie Kirk’s Christian message last August
When Jackson reshared a post from Charlie Kirk that read “It’s all about Jesus,” he received a flood of hate and criticism on X. The reaction surprised many given that his X timeline is consistently filled with Bible verses and faith-based reposts, with many followers noting that he reshares almost anything related to his beliefs.
Some users rushed to Jackson’s defense. “People are mad at Lamar Jackson for retweeting Charlie Kirk tweet praising Jesus. You cannot please these people,” one person wrote.
Another added: “It’s not the message that is the problem, it’s the messenger. If Lamar Jackson was a plumber and not a NFL player, Charlie Kirk would call him a DEI hire he wouldn’t trust to work in his home.”
The criticism was not about Jackson’s faith. It was about the source. Still, it landed on him.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson
Dec 7, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks on during warmups before the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Jackson’s political beliefs remain unclear. What has been consistent is his public devotion to Jesus, which predates any controversy.
““If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater…
— Lamar Jackson (@Lj_era8) April 11, 2026
In past interviews, Jackson identified his favorite Bible verse as Mark 6:4, the one about a prophet not being recognized in his own home. “You know, sometimes I feel like that happens in my life,” he said.
John 15:18-20 carries a related weight. It does not ask believers to fight back. It asks them to remember that the hatred was never about them to begin with.
The post comes as Jackson is navigating a fresh chapter in Baltimore. He showed up for the Ravens’ voluntary offseason program on April 6, his first under new head coach Jesse Minter and new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Jackson held significant leverage and could have stayed home to force contract talks, but instead chose to show up and lead the new-look roster from the front.
Off the field, the criticism around his faith has followed a similar pattern, showing up regardless of what Jackson does or does not say. Saturday’s scripture post was not a news conference statement. It was one man publicly anchoring himself in something that has mattered to him far longer than any news cycle.