(1) v.18-21
15:18 “If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me first.15:19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own.
The "world" in the Gospel of John means 3 things: the natural world (17:5), the people of the world (3:16) and the opposing system to Jesus and God (here). The opposing system loves and hates people depending on if you belong to it. Belong to the world vs belong to Jesus was illustrated by the master and slave relationship v.20. The world sees that we are following our Master Jesus and thus it will hate us and persecute us v.18, 20b.
The "world" in the Gospel of John means 3 things: the natural world (17:5), the people of the world (3:16) and the opposing system to Jesus and God (here). The opposing system loves and hates people depending on if you belong to it. Belong to the world vs belong to Jesus was illustrated by the master and slave relationship v.20. The world sees that we are following our Master Jesus and thus it will hate us and persecute us v.18, 20b.
(2) v.22-25 is an explanation of v.21, people hate Jesus because they do not know the Father. However, there is no reason why they did not know the Father.
15:21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.
(NET) He came to these people with both words (15:22) and sign-miracles (15:24), yet they remained obstinate in their unbelief, and this sin of unbelief was without excuse.
The conclusion was, "‘They hated me without reason v.25"
(BDAG) without reason= without contributory fault
(3) v.26-27
Jesus was indeed from the Father because the Spirit of Truth (Holy Spirit) Who came from the Father will testify for Him. The disciples will also testify for Him because they heard and seen all that He said and did which would testify that Jesus was from the Father.
Reflection: Why did Jesus tell the disciples about the hostile relationship with the world? I think it is because Jesus wanted to confirm the disciples when they faced the persecution. It is not "if" they faced persecution, it is "when" they faced it. Therefore, they needed to have a solid ground to know that they were from God and the world was not.
Second, I think this passage encouraged the disciples not to change their allegiance, from following Jesus to following the world because of persecution.
Disciples were encouraged to follow Jesus. In addition, they were given the important role to be the witnesses of Jesus. Acts 1:8, we were also commissioned by Jesus to be His witnesses to the end of the world.
Not only we should not be part of the world to follow it, but we should also preach to the world. How do you do in following this?
Audrey
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