The One Jesus Loves, Part 32: Jesus Makes a Promise

THE ONE JESUS LOVES – 32

The Gospel of John

 

Jesus Makes a Promise

John 15:18 – 16:4

 

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.

16 “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.

 

Why Would We Be PERSECUTED?

1.    Because the world HATES Jesus.

(John 15:18) “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” 

 

2.    Because we are not OF THE WORLD.

(John 15:19 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.)

 

3.    Because we have IDENTIFIED with Jesus.

(John 15:20 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.)

 

      (Galatians 6:17b ESV) … for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.

 

(Philippians 3:10 ESV) that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

 

 

4.    Because the world doesn’t KNOW JESUS.

(John 15:21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.)

 

(John 16:3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.)

 

5.    Because God’s Word PREDICTED IT.

(John 15:25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’)

 

(2 Timothy 3:12 ESV) Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

 

(1 Peter 4:12 ESV)  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.

 

 

How Should We RESPOND to PERSECUTION?

1.    We should rely on the HOLY SPIRIT.

 

(John 15:26 “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.)

 

(Mark 13:11 ESV) And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

 

2.    We should keep SHARING THE TRUTH.

 

(John 15:27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.)

 

(Luke 21:13-15 ESV) This will be your opportunity to bear witness.  14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.

 

 

3.    We should STAND FIRM.

 

(John 16:1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.”)

 

4.    We should remember this was PREDICTED.

 

(John 16:4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.)

 

Three Things to Remember:

1.    There’s a big difference between PICKING A FIGHT and enduring persecution.

2.    There’s a big difference between LIVING in the world and LOVING the things of the world.

3.    There’s a big difference between running SCARED and being INFORMED.

 

I believe that God will give us all the strength we need to help us resist in all time of distress. But he never gives it in advance, lest we should rely on ourselves and not on him alone. A faith such as this should allay our fears for the future.

-      Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Letters from Prison