May 24, 2023

Tonight we will study John 15:18-25, continuing with these profound, extensive teachings of Jesus both to his apostles and to us! This passage includes Jesus' all-too-neglected teachings about our relationship with the world, what to expect, and why. I hope you can join us. 

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

H ILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL

M AY 24, 2023

John 15:18-25

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.’

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v 18 – “If the world hates you...”

“hate” – to reject, in favor of something or someone else

“it has hated me before you”

“has hated” – perfect tense, meaning past action with continuing results; not referring to a single

incident

True then, true now

v 19 – “If you were of the world...”

A major teaching of Jesus and the NT, very neglected in US Christian culture

world — kosmos, now invaded by the Church, defeated by Christ, but the devil is still doing what he can

while his time remains

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.—1 John

5:19

kosmos – not just the people (although this drives everything), but the systems in the world, the

way things work out...

Following Christ will separate us from much that is around us

If we were of the world, the world would love (phileó) us as its own

“I chose you out of the world...”

A verse to be memorized, a verse to appear on wall plaques

For the very reason that Jesus chose us out of the world

“therefore” [through this, dia] the world hates you

This is as much a part of the Christian message as anything we could say—but it is not a prevailing

concept for many Christians!

v 20 – “Remember the word I said ...”

We are told to be sure and remember it—because it will often be a relevant truth

“A servant is not greater than his master [lord]”—It helps us to understand and have realistic

expectations: if they persecuted Jesus himself (!), then what do we think will be the case with us?

2

“If they kept my word, they will also keep your word.”—This appears to be an ironical

statement, such as our saying “They’ll listen to you the same way they listened to me.”

v 21 – “But all these things they will do...”

Important! Jesus does not say “They will be unable to do anything to you because of my name...” but...

“all these things they will do to you on account of [dia] my name”

All authority belongs to Jesus, his is the name above every name—but the world is in a state of

rebellion against God, and evil is still allowed to operate

We are sent as the Church into this world, and we will experience the present victories that God

gives

Even our hardships, if we belong to God, will work out as victories

They do this “because they do not know him who sent me.”

True then, true now

know – eídō, be aware of, perceive

not they have not known about him (in some ways, they do), they have not known him.

v 22 – “If I had not come and had not spoken to them...”

more lit. “they would not have had sin”

This statement is deserving of a study unto itself. For now...

Jesus makes it clear that those to whom he is referring have knowingly rejected him; they have said no

to the opportunity for salvation that Jesus himself both came to give and spoke to them about

“Now, however, they do not have an excuse for their sin.”

This applies to all who deny Christ, but in this passage Jesus is particularly referencing the Jews

who have rejected him (cf. v 25), but who claimed to belong to God

v 23 – “Whoever hates me...”

A word for anyone, while again making it clear that the Father is not being worshiped by people who

reject Jesus!

v 24 — “If I had not done...”

Jesus continues the judgment against those who heard and saw and still rejected him

20 “Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they

did not repent. 21 ‘Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in

you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if

the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But

I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for

you.’”—Matthew 11:20-24

“they have seen and hated both me and my Father”

again, there is no belonging to God the Father while rejecting the Son

v 25 – “But the word that is written...

law – nomos, can and often does refer to all of the OT scriptures

Jesus is probably referencing Psalm 69:4, a Psalm that also contains other prophetic words about Christ

A final word for his Jewish opponents, that their very attitude towards him was prophesied in the

scriptures