Daily Scripture Reading John 15:18 - 16:11
Many Christians today grew up in a society that has a strong Judeo-Christian background. Thus, they feel entitled to live a life free of hate and persecution. In fact, many Christians think persecution and opposition are signs of personal defect.
Furthermore, Christians are like most people, they want to be liked. Thus, it is natural for Christians to live life in a manner that does not generate opposition and hatred. Once again, the prevalent attitude is that if you are hated, you are wrong.
However, Jesus used some strong terms in John 15 to warn that we should have the opposite expectation. Persecution is not a sign of defect. Opposition is actually a good sign.
The 15th chapter of John is part of a long, multi-chapter account of Jesus dining and dialoguing with His disciples. The account starts in John 13 and ends at the end of chapter 17. In the first part of chapter 15 we read about Jesus calling Himself the true vine and talking about loving one another.
John 15:18 ¶ “If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you.
John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
The word “hate” is used four times in verses 18 through 19. Hate is a strong word. Jesus said the world would hate the disciples.
Most people want to be liked. They want to fit in with the crowd. They certainly do not want anyone to hate them.
Therefore, many Christians have the mindset that they want to get along with the world. On issues like evolution, same-sex marriage, and abortion they try to avoid being controversial. They are timid about standing up for Biblical truth on these issues.
However, Jesus made it clear that the world hates Him. Therefore, anyone who wants to truly follow Jesus needs to accept that being hated comes along with being a follower of Jesus. We should not try to avoid hate. We should not shy away from taking stands on controversial topics.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
Notice the word “persecute”. Hate leads to persecution. Therefore, Jesus was persecuted and the disciples were persecuted. All Christians should expect persecution.
Many Christians feel entitled to live a life free of persecution because they grew up in a society that is based on Judeo-Christian values. However, as societies loosen their moorings to Judeo-Christian values, the persecution of Christians will increase. As persecution increases, Christians should not look at that as a sign of failure. Instead, persecution is a sign of standing firm for Biblical truth.
John 15:21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
John 15:23 He who hates Me hates My Father also.
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.
John 15:25 But this happened to fulfill the word that is written in their Law, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT CAUSE.’
Note the words “fulfill” and “written”. The word “written” tells us the concept of “hated me without cause” is written in the Old Testament. The word “fulfill” means the hatred of Jesus is similar to something that happened in the Old Testament.
The concept of “hated me without cause” appears multiple times in the Old Testament. Two examples are Psalm 35:19 and 69:4. Both of those Psalms were written by David. In both of those Psalms, David wrote about his enemies who hated him for no reason.
Jesus told His disciples that just as the enemies of David hated him even though David did nothing to deserve the hate, so too the world hates Jesus even though Jesus is innocent and does not deserve hate.
John 15:26 ¶ “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness about Me,
John 15:27 and you will bear witness also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
One of the difficulties of interpreting and applying the Bible is understanding when a passage is specific to the people being addressed and when it applies to all people or all Christians in general. This passage is one of many passages where it is not always easy to answer that question.
John 15 and 16 are part of a discourse Jesus spoke to the 11 disciples. Verse 27 is specific to the apostles. An Apostle is a man who was an eye witness of Jesus. Jesus was speaking to 11 of His eyewitnesses. The Apostles bore witness about Jesus after Jesus went back to heaven.
Does that mean this entire discourse only applies to the Apostles? Verse 26 tells us Jesus was going to send an Advocate. Did the Advocate only come to the 11, or did He come to all Christians?
Other passages in the Bible tell us the Spirit indwells all believers, which means the Advocate came for all Christians. However, this passage does not make that clear.
John 16:1 ¶ “These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling.
John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God.
This verse continues Jesus’ warning that the Apostles would experience opposition and persecution.
John 16:3 These things they will do because they did not know the Father or Me.
John 16:4 But these things I have spoken to you, so that when their hour comes, you may remember that I told you of them. These things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you.
John 16:5 ¶ “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’
John 16:6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
John 16:7 But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
John 16:8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment;
This verse communicates the mission of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s role is to bring conviction about sin, righteousness, and judgment.
John 16:9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me;
There are people who do not believe in Jesus. They need to be convicted that they are sinners and need Jesus to save them.
John 16:10 and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me;
Jesus no longer walks on earth; therefore, Christians need to be convicted about how to live a righteous life.
John 16:11 and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
Every person needs to be convicted that they will stand in front of God someday and give an account of their life because the threat of eternal punishment is the only reason to become a Christian.
Many Christians today grew up in a society that has a strong Judeo-Christian background. Thus, they feel entitled to live a life free of hate and persecution. Furthermore, Christians are like most people, they want to be liked. Thus, it is natural for Christians to live life in a manner that does not generate opposition and hatred.
However, Jesus said the world hates Him. Therefore, Christians should expect hatred and persecution.
What is the Judeo-Christian background of the society in which you grew up?
What were the benefits of growing up in that environment?
How has your society moved away from Judeo-Christian values?
What opposition and persecution do Christians face in your culture due to the lack of Judeo-Christian values?
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“Scripture quotations taken from the (LSB®) Legacy Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2021 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Managed in partnership with Three Sixteen Publishing Inc. LSBible.org and 316publishing.com.”