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.
1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. —John 15:18-16:4
Big Idea: While the world still rejects Jesus and His followers, the Holy Spirit strengthens us to follow and bear witness to Jesus.
Introduction: Jesus wanted to prepare His disciples for the opposition they would face after His departure. To do this, He announced first that they would encounter resistance from the world. The world (Gr. kosmos) generally refers to the mass of unbelievers. The world would hate them. The conditional sentence in the Greek text (“If the world hates you …”) assumes the reality of what Jesus stated for the argument’s sake. A person cannot abide in or be an intimate friend of Jesus without drawing hatred from His enemies.
The world hates Jesus because He testified that its deeds are evil (“The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.” - John 7:7). His abiding disciples draw hatred from the world because they associate with Him and His teachings and seek to advance His mission. Remembering the world’s hatred for the Master makes bearing that hatred easier for His disciple.
1. We can accept rejection because Jesus models
(15:18-25)
- a. “The world” People dead set against God and the things of God
The world hates followers of Jesus because they are
- b. What does he mean by “Hate”?
- c. They hate without cause (v.25)
The world will hate Jesus’ disciples because
2. We can accept rejection because the Spirit
(15:26-27)
a. The Helper will testify of Jesus (v.26, 14:26)
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. —John 14:26
b. The Helper is from the Father and IS truth (v.26)
- c. The disciples will testify of Jesus (v.27)
By
3. We can accept rejection because God
(16:1-4)
- a. Jesus prepares His disciples to endure hard things (16:1)
- b. Christians will be rejected, silenced, persecuted. (16:2)
- c. Jesus encourages disciples to remember
Remembering the promises of God is
Small Group Questions
What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.
What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?
How does fear of rejection play a role in your spiritual life? Does Jesus’ example of accepting rejection help you to accept rejection because of your faith?
Why do we shy away from being a bold witness of gospel of Jesus in our relationships outside of Church? What will help us bear witness of God’s love to others?
Spend time as a group remembering how God has already ministered in your life. Finish by praying as a group seeking the Spirit’s help to remember God’s promises and character that you may endure the rejection of this world.