John 15:18-16:15
Key Scripture
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 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. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me
You can be angry, you can sad - but you can’t be surprised.
John 15:22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate me and my Father. 25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause.’
In the face of the warning of persecution and hatred that the believers will face, Jesus makes a promise…
John 15:26 “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about me. 27 And you must also testify about me because you have been with me from the beginning of my ministry.
To continue what Jesus started and to live out being determined to make a difference, we will need the empowerment, enablement, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:1 “I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. 2 For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. 3 This is because they have never known the Father or me. 4 Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer. 5 “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. 6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you.
John 16:8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged.
This conviction is good news!
John 16:12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’
The reason Jesus gives this important warning is so that we stay faithful despite pressure and opposition.
Stay faithful.
Jesus said:
John 15:18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. 19 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.
Why Did They Hate Jesus?
He Made Massive Claims About Himself
He Was Confrontational
Matthew 10:34 “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword…Matthew 12:30 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
He Upset Power Structures
James 4:6b…As the Scriptures say “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
He Didn’t Excuse Sin
Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell…27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell…Matthew 15:19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”
He Didn’t Excuse Sin, But He Loved Sinners
Being loved by the world is not the goal.
John 15:19 The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world.
We continue to love, even when they don’t.
This is not easy. This is difficult. That’s why we need each other.
The challenge is to stay faithful.
Next week…
John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
Jesus warned us:
John 16:4a Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning…
What should we do with the warning?
Zechariah 7:9 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another.