INTRO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, Sarah Barry
WHEN THE WORLD HATES YOU
Passage: John 15:18~27  
Key verse: 19
The World Hates the Disciples
18 “If the world hates you,(A) keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you(B) out of the world. That is why the world hates you.(C) 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’[a](D) If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.(E) If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name,(F) for they do not know the one who sent me.(G) 22 If I had not come and spoken to them,(H) they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.(I) 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did,(J) they would not be guilty of sin.(K) As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law:(L) ‘They hated me without reason.’[b](M)
The Work of the Holy Spirit
26 “When the Advocate(N) comes, whom I will send to you from the Father(O)—the Spirit of truth(P) who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.(Q) 27 And you also must testify,(R) for you have been with me from the beginning.(S)
Footnotes
- John 15:20 John 13:16
- John 15:25 Psalms 35:19; 69:4
Cross references
- John 15:18 : Isa 66:5; Jn 7:7; 1Jn 3:13
- John 15:19 : ver 16
- John 15:19 : Jn 17:14
- John 15:20 : S Jn 13:16
- John 15:20 : 2Ti 3:12
- John 15:21 : Isa 66:5; Mt 5:10, 11; 10:22; Lk 6:22; Ac 5:41; 1Pe 4:14; Rev 2:3
- John 15:21 : Jn 16:3
- John 15:22 : Eze 2:5; 3:7
- John 15:22 : Jn 9:41; Ro 1:20; 2:1
- John 15:24 : Jn 5:36
- John 15:24 : Jn 9:41
- John 15:25 : S Jn 10:34
- John 15:25 : Ps 35:19; 69:4; 109:3
- John 15:26 : Jn 14:16
- John 15:26 : Jn 14:26; 16:7
- John 15:26 : S Jn 14:17
- John 15:26 : 1Jn 5:7
- John 15:27 : S Lk 24:48; Jn 21:24; 1Jn 1:2; 4:14
- John 15:27 : S Lk 1:2
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. If you belonged to the world...(18-25)
The world hated Jesus so much that it crucified him. Jesus' disciples belong to Jesus, not to the world. The world hated Jesus because he exposed sin and called men to repent (22). The world hated Jesus because his mighty works proclaimed God's sovereignty and his almighty power (21,24). People didn't, and still don't, want to obey God. A world in rebellion rejects its Creator. So those who belong to Jesus and not to the world can expect to be hated.
2. Testify about Jesus (26-27)
It hurts to be hated. What can we do? First, we must come to Jesus and remember his words (18,20). Jesus promised to send the Counselor, the Spirit of truth, to help us (26). Second, we should have identity as Jesus' people (18,19). Third, we should boldly testify about Jesus (27). Jesus' disciples should not compromise with the world--Jesus didn't!
Prayer: Lord, I am weak, but you are strong. Help me to live as your disciple in a hostile world.
One Word: Remember Jesus; be his witness