The Weekly Show: Episode 56 - John 15:18-27

Join Tim and John as they talk about life and study John Chapter 15 Verses 1-15.

Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-beginning

Transition Song: https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/

Introduction to John 15:18–27 — The Hatred of the World

• As Jesus continues His Farewell Discourse, He shifts the tone. After teaching about abiding in Him and loving one another, Jesus now warns the disciples about what they will face in the world.
  • In John 15:18–27, Jesus prepares His followers for opposition and persecution. He makes it clear: the same world that rejected Him will also reject those who follow Him.
  •  This is not a possibility—it is a certainty for those who live in allegiance to Christ.
• Jesus does not say these things to discourage His disciples, but to prepare them.
  • He reminds them that they are not of the world, that they have been chosen out of the world, and that their witness will bring conflict with a world that is in rebellion against God.
• At the same time, Jesus promises that the Helper—the Holy Spirit—will come and empower their witness, even in the face of hatred. Though the world may reject them, they are not alone.

Key Themes We’ll Explore

• The world’s hatred of Christ and His followers — why opposition is inevitable.
• The identity of believers — chosen out of the world, no longer belonging to it.
• The reason for persecution — allegiance to Jesus’ name.
• The guilt of the world — rejecting Jesus and the Father despite clear revelation.
• The ministry of the Holy Spirit — bearing witness to Jesus through His disciples.
• The call to faithful witness — empowered by the Spirit, even in a hostile world.

This passage is a sober but important reminder:

• To follow Jesus is to expect opposition from the world.
• But in the face of that opposition, we are called to stand firm, bear witness, and trust the Spirit who empowers us.

Key Theme One: The World’s Hatred Is Expected (John 15:18–19) Study Breakdown

1. Hatred of the World Is Inevitable

• Jesus begins with a clear statement: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.”
  • The word “if” here does not imply uncertainty—in the Greek, it carries the sense of “since” or “when.”
  • Hatred and opposition from the world is not unusual—it is expected for those who follow Jesus.

1. The Root of the World’s Hatred

• The world hated Jesus because His light exposed its darkness.
  • The world continues to hate His followers for the same reason: they belong to Christ and reflect His truth.
  • This hatred is ultimately not about personal offense—it is about rejection of Christ Himself.

1. The Distinction: Not of the World

• Jesus reminds the disciples: “You are not of the world.”
  • Through faith in Christ, believers have been spiritually separated from the world’s system of sin and rebellion.
  • Their values, priorities, and allegiance have changed—they are now citizens of the Kingdom of God.

1. Chosen Out of the World

• Jesus further says: “I chose you out of the world.”
  • Our new identity is the result of Christ’s initiative—He has called us to Himself.
  • This choice marks us as different, and the world resents that difference.

1. The World Loves Its Own

• Jesus contrasts this by saying: “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own.”
  • The world embraces those who conform to its values.
  • But when believers live according to Christ’s truth, they can expect rejection and opposition.