April 23, 2020
Persecution Is Part of the Journey. We Must Respond in Love and Gentleness.
John 15:18-27
Jeff Fisher
Central Truth
We are called to a life of righteousness and obedience. Jesus reminds us that with this comes persecution. As Romans 8:17 (emphasis added) says, "[A]nd if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."
Key Verse | John 15:18-19, 25
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 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. . . . 'They hated me without a cause.'"
John 15:18-27
The Hatred of the World
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, 1 15:22 Greek they would not have sin; also verse 24 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.
Dive Deeper | John 15:18-27
As I write this, it's the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. What a vivid reminder of the evil in this broken world.
Jesus spoke the words in this passage as He and the disciples walked toward the place of His arrest. This was Jesus' last chance to encourage and remind the disciples of the cost of following Him. The opening verses show one of the truths He needed to remind them (and us) of. "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 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." (John 15:18-19)
Either we deny our flesh and follow Christ, or we follow the world's desires and passions. There is no middle road. The reason the world hates us is twofold: 1) We believe the only way to be saved is through Christ alone (John 1:9-13); and 2) when we live righteously, the works of the world are exposed (John 3:19-21).
God provides opportunities to live righteously in front of a broken world. People notice someone who acts differently. How we respond to adversity, ridicule, conflict, or other struggles shows the world Whom we belong to. It is more than just being a "hearer of the word" (James 1:22-24). We must live it out regardless of the costs (1 John 3:18). We don't live for the approval of man (Galatians 1:10), and we must also check our motives, tone, word choice, and even body language to ensure we are not sending the wrong message about who we are in Christ. God reveals how we should respond by pointing us to Christ's example and giving us guidance and boldness through the Spirit.
Jesus said, "They hated me without a cause." (John 15:25) None of us can live as perfectly as He did, but it should be our goal. Consider how you might pursue this command: "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." (Romans 12:12)
Discussion Questions
1. When you face ridicule because of your faith, do you tend to go along with the crowd? Consider a specific instance when you took the easy path, instead of speaking truth. What should the correct response look like?
2. When others ridicule you for the example you live out in front of them, do you respond in love? Do you become defensive? (Proverbs 15:1, 19:11; Colossians 4:6) Consider a specific instance when you did not respond in love. How should you have responded?
3. Would you benefit by allowing your community group to speak truth in this area? (Proverbs 15:22, 27:17)
4. Paul tells us in Galatians 5:16, "[W]alk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." What are you willing to do differently to live this out? Be specific! (Hebrews 4:16; Philippians 4:19; Romans 8:26-27; Ephesians 6:12-18; Proverbs 3:3-7)
5. To whom will you give permission to speak into your life for accountability?