Helper vs Hatred

John 15:18-27

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world; therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’. 26 “But when the Helper 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. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Notes

The Lord commanded His disciples to love one another as He loved them, signifying that it involved service and sacrifice. He would demonstrate the greatest love through His suffering, death, and resurrection. Moreover, Jesus called His disciples friends instead of servants because He would give His life for them, and He revealed to them the Father’s plan. The Lord Jesus emphasized His sovereignty by clarifying that He chose the disciples and not the other way around. The Lord would prepare them because the world would hate and persecute them.

1. Hatred

   The world will hate those who love and obey Christ because they hate Christ. But the world will love all who belong to them. However, the disciples were not of this world because Christ chose them. The world will hate the disciples because they hated Christ, their master, and they are not greater than the master.

   
   18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world; therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me (John 15:18-21).

   Application: Rejoice with the assurance that Christ chose us if we truly believe in Him. However, let us not be surprised if the world hates us and persecutes us. Remember that we are not greater than our Lord. If they hated and persecuted our Lord, they will do the same to us.

   
   

2. Guilt

   The coming of the Lord gave hope of salvation, but it also exposed the sin of Jews. Even if the Jews witnessed His works, they did not believe; furthermore, they hated the Lord. If they hated the Son, they also hated the Father. All these happened to fulfill prophecy (Psalm 35:9; 69:4).

   
   22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’ (John 15:22-25).

   Application: The world is guilty of not believing in the Son and for hating the Son. We will experience hatred and persecution if we love and obey the Son. However, let us remain assured that God is in control. He allows such things to fulfill His purpose in Christ. Therefore, let us not fear but keep loving and obeying the Son of God.
   

3. Helper

   The work of the Holy Spirit is to bear witness of Jesus Christ. The disciples, who have been with Christ since the beginning of His ministry, would also bear witness. Thus, the work of the Holy Spirit and the disciples is the same: to bear witness to Christ and His work.

   
   26 “But when the Helper 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. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning (John 15:26-27).

   Application: The disciples did their work in bearing witness to what they had seen and heard, and they did so with the power of the Holy Spirit. We should continue to proclaim what the disciples witnessed because we are also disciples of Christ. Let us trust the work of the Holy Spirit when we proclaim the gospel and word of Christ

Reflection & Discussion

1. Explain why the world hated Jesus and why they will hate His disciples.

2. Why do the Jews have no excuse for their sin?

3. What is the joint work of the Helper and the disciples?