John 15:18-16:4
Deep Love Deep Hatred
April 13, 2014
Read John 15:17 – 16:4 (902)
What is the difference between a person who is genuinely born again by God and someone who
professes to be but is not? Whatever that difference is it will become evident when that persons faith
comes in direct contact with opposition. Whatever your faith is when facing adversity is what your faith
is. The scriptures assure us that all claims of saving faith are on a direct collision course with opposition
and testing.
As further expression and explanation of Jesus deep love for his followers, he issues a clear warning of a
coming clash with the hatred of the religious and world authorities. This is an incredibly loving warning
to those who are considering following Christ that discourages false or easy professions of faith. If you
repent of your sins and believe on Jesus you must be prepared for and expect significant conflict and
cost. There is no such thing as easily believing on Jesus; it is always life transforming and disrupting.
This warning is also deeply loving to those who consider themselves to be believers in Jesus. Only as
you are able to experience thriving trust in Jesus during adversity are you able to have confidence that
you are a new person in Christ. It is the difference between your confidence resting on a decision you
made years ago or your confidence actually resting on Jesus. How terrific to help someone realize that
their faith is either the real thing or not.
Hours before his death by crucifixion Jesus knows something that his disciples do not. His love is about
to be completely exposed as he is arrested, tried, beaten, mocked and ultimately nailed to a cross to die
as a common criminal. From God the Father’s perspective this in an act of deep love for the world with
the intent to save and give new life to condemned people. From the perspective of the world and its
leader Satan, Jesus death is an act of hatred and rejection with the intent to destroy. Jesus warns all
people who believe on him or are considering believing on him, the hatred and opposition of the world
will not stop at his death; it will simply be transferred to those who follow him. Be ready for it. Get
ready for it.
Let’s turn our attention to these words of Jesus with the intent to understand the warning and respond
to it obediently.
1) Understand the warning.
18-19; 16:1-4
Warnings are sometimes hard to understand. Sirens, flashing lights and waving arms are sure to get
your attention that something is going on but it takes a while to know exactly what the danger is. The
heart of the warning Jesus gives has to do with the eternal destiny of your soul. The warning is this, the
biggest danger you face is not being killed by persecution for your faith, it is falling away from your faith.
Our grasp of the danger is crucial to being prepared for it. Jesus explains it at the beginning and the end
of this passage of scripture.
First, appreciate that the world hates Christ followers (18-19). Despite our world’s overwhelming
message of diversity and tolerance, there is something about a genuine association with Jesus that
positions the follower of Christ as an object of disgust to the spirit and direction of this age. The same
hatred and rejection that the religious and political leaders manifested toward Jesus is still on tap today,
now directed at and reserved for Christ’s disciples.
Note and compare 1John 3:13, 14 – Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. We know
that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.
Second, recognize that Jesus primary concern with this warning is to prevent you from doing something,
namely falling away (16:1-4). He is teaching these truths for one purpose, to keep you and me safe and
secure in him during times of opposition.
Falling away is a term that indicates an offense, stumbling block or impediment that causes a person to
trip or fall. Note these usages that help us understand what Jesus is saying.

Matthew 13:20-21 (818)



Matthew 24:9-10 (829)
Matthew 26:31-33 (832)
Luke 7:23 (864)
rocky ground, endures for a while, tribulation or
persecution comes, falls away.
deliver you up to tribulation, many will fall away
you will all fall away, denial
Blessed is the one who is not offended by me.
Note in John 6:60ff(892) that Jesus uses the term. It was about one year earlier than the teachings we
are reading in John 15 were given. Jesus had given his ‘bread of life’ talk indicating that he was the
bread sent from heaven that must be eaten for a person to know God. Both the level of commitment
and the exclusiveness of his claim caused even some who thought they were following him to be
uncomfortable. Note v.60 says they thought this was a ‘hard’ saying. “Hard’ here refers to harsh,
offensive or intolerable rather than hard to understand. Jesus asked, does this cause you to stumble,
take offense or fall away? The hard teachings of Jesus become the tripping point for many as they walk
away from him. Genuine new life from God comes by the Spirit through the word.
Warning: watch out for opposition and adversity. It may cause you to fall away. It most certainly will
expose the source and object of your faith.
Cmp. 2Cor. 11:24-29
2) Remember the reasons for the world’s hatred.
19-25
Too often our love-hate relationship with the world could be described as a misguided pity party that we
Christians have learned to embrace. Notice that Jesus is not saying that the world will hate his followers
because of their weaknesses or inconsistencies. Nor are they hated because of their religious and
political preferences. Our arrogance, self righteousness and goodness are not mentioned.
Jesus identifies two reasons for the world’s opposition to his followers:

A distinctive connection to Jesus.
19-21
they hate him
Chosen by Jesus out of the world . . . see 15:16 w/fruitfulness
Treatment of master indicates treatment of servant . . . see 13:16 w/servanthood

A distinctive exposure of guilt.
22-25
they hate exposure/light
The words and works of Jesus
3:19-21
9:39-41
They have seen and hated both Jesus and the Father. There is no way for them to cover or hide
their sin. Guilt would not be as clear if truth was not revealed by Jesus. Thus, hatred. It is not
the weaknesses and inconsistencies of Christians that the world hates, but their grace.
3) Connect to the Helper provided to empower you through opposition.
25-27
The Holy Spirit is a guide and helper for those who are facing opposition and adversity for the sake of
Jesus. It is hard to believe that God is actually alive and active when his cause seems to experience no
success and all the power appears to be on the other side. Note the help provided.

14:15-17 – he dwells with you and will be in you
14:26 – teach you and remind you
15:26 - Helper
Spirit of truth
The Holy Spirit comes alongside the believer to see that opposition and persecution do not
impair the witness of the believer.

The identity of witnesses for Christ.
The person of the Spirit of God.
27 – you also will bear witness of me
The work of words and works to reveal sin and draw people to Jesus will continue through the
witness of the Holy Spirit and his followers.
Our identity is not to simply endure opposition but to realize that it is the context of fruitful
witness bearing to the reality of new life available in Christ Jesus.
Summary/Take Aways
Reducing defections and self deception is the target of Jesus warning. Given the reality of opposition,
ask God to expose and help you see your heart clearly regarding . . .

Your grasp of the hard teachings of Jesus such as yielding complete rule of your life to him.

Your showing evidence of a transformed, turned around, being chosen by God life.

Your commitment to and reliance on Jesus exposing the shallowness and selfishness in others.

Your submission to and dependence on the Holy Spirit for help.
John 8:31
If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples . . .
The deep love of Jesus is expressed as he warns and prepares us for the transfer of hatred and
opposition from him to his witnesses.