John 15:22-27

November 16, 2014

Jesus is in the upper room with his disciples on the night before his trial, and he comforts
them in preparation for his departure. Hes leaving, but they wont be left as orphans; the
Holy Spirit will come, and they will love each other. However, that doesnt mean theyll be
without troubles because the world hates him and it will also hate the ones who love him. It
will hate, mock, harass, and even kill Christs followers because it has not known the Father
or the Son. Now he says:
22

If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no
cloak for their sin. 23He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24If I had not done
among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have
they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
When Jesus came he taught the people and told them he was Gods Son. He didnt just tell
them the truth and let it go, though; he also did works to prove his words were true (Jn.
5:36). The people were expecting a prophet like Moses, so they should have been ready and
rejoiced when Jesus finally arrived. However, they were just like their fathers, and they
hated the prophets who spoke for God (Mt. 23:32), thus they hated Jesus and wanted to kill
him too. Jesus explains that anyone who hates him also hates the Father because Jesus only
spoke the Fathers words (Jn. 12:49). What theyre doing is part of something bigger than
themselves: they are the children of the devil, and they have no love for God.
If he hadnt come then they would have no sin. This may be a little confusing, but keep in
mind that hes not talking about imputed or personal sin. Theres no crime if the prophet
doesnt speak; they could have passed him on the street, and how were they to know he
was the Son of God? Well, he told them the truth and supported it with signs, but they
rejected it. Now theres no excuse or cloak to cover their sin.
If they dont know hes the Messiah, its only because theyre willfully blind (Jn. 9:35-41)
and ignorant. Their fathers were guilty of the same thing when they witnessed Gods power
in the Exodus but still rebelled and complained while in the wilderness. Their crime was
unbelief, and Jesus says, he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19And this is the condemnation, that
light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil. 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his
deeds should be reproved (Jn. 3:18-20). He came as a light into the world, and they hated
him and the Father for it.
Jesus singles out this kind of rejection and its recorded in Matthews gospel: Then began he
to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
21
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were
done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth
and ashes. 22But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of

judgment, than for you. 23And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be
brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in
Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24But I say unto you, That it shall be more
tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee (Mt. 11:20-24).
Its hard to imagine what it means for the day of judgment to be more tolerable, but the
point is clear. The cities who should have been prepared for Christs coming will be worse
off than the cities who had no warning. Sodom was destroyed despite its ignorance, so how
much worse will it be for those Jewish cities who have Moses and the prophets yet willfully
refuse?
This is comfort for the disciples, but it doesnt really seem like it until we see the next verse:
25

But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law,
They hated me without a cause.
This isnt an exact quote, but its similar to several Psalms (35:19, 109:3, 119:161) and
sounds a lot like Psalm 69:4. David wrote, They that hate me without a cause are more than
the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are
mighty. This is the same Psalm where he talks about zeal of thine house hath eaten me up
(v. 9; Jn. 2:17) and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink (v. 21; Mt. 27:34), so we can
see that hes speaking as a type of Christ. This Scripture was fulfilled when they hated him
without cause, but it ends in hope:
Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein. 35For God
will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in
possession. 36The seed also of his servants shall inherit it: and they that love his name shall
dwell therein (v. 34-36).
The peoples hatred for Christ is ultimately a source of comfort for the disciples because it
proves that he is the Messiah and he didnt fail in his mission. He will save Zion, and his
children will inherit the cities of Judah.
26

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the
Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
The word for comforter means to be a helper or an intercessor,1 and Jesus promises to send
him to testify further. This is the Spirit of truth, and thats important because these men
will rely on him to remind them of all the things Jesus said and to teach them what it all
means (Jn. 14:16-17; 26). Theyll write the long letters that make up what we know as the
Gospels and the New Testament, and all of them will suffer persecution because of it. Its
comfort for them to know that they suffer for the truth, and they dont testify merely as
men or by themselves. The one who proceeds from the Father and the Son is with them.
1

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=paraklhtos&la=greek#lexicon

Thats an interesting phrase that sometimes gets misinterpreted. Some say it means he
originates from the Father, but, if you remember our Godhead study, the Spirit is a unique
Witness within the Godhead and he is God. The Greek word here simply means that the
Spirit is sent2 from the Father, and that fits the context: the Father sent the Son, but hes
about to leave, and the disciples will be left alone, but they wont be alone. The Father and
the Son have sent the Spirit to teach, guide, and support the saints in the world. It has
nothing to do with his origin.
He came on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2), and its notable that Peters first public testimony
followed immediately after. The crowd began to mock him and the others for being drunk,
but he boldly proclaimed the gospel and many were saved. The comfort that came from the
Spirit of truth was obvious that day!
Hes called the Spirit of truth because God is truth (1 Jn. 5:20; Jn. 14:6) and the Spirit speaks
and confirms what is true. He teaches the disciples, and we see in the next chapter
(16:8-11) that he also testifies about Christ against the world for their unrighteous unbelief
and convicts them for it. What comfort for the disciples to know they arent alone!
27

And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Jesus sought the disciples before he performed his first miracle, then he took them all to
Cana and turned the water into wine. John later writes, This beginning of miracles did Jesus in
Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him (Jn. 2:11). Many
more signs followed and included raising Lazarus, healing the sick, casting out demons, and
the transfiguration.
After the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension John would write: That which was from
the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked
upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2(For the life was manifested, and we
have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father,
and was manifested unto us;) 3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that
ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his
Son Jesus Christ. 4And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full (1 Jn. 1:3-4).
Their calling was for a purpose, and they understood it when the time was right. The
reason they couldnt make booths and hang out on top of the mount of transfiguration (Mt.
17:4) is because they must go back down and tell the world what theyve seen with their
own eyes. This witness is crucial because faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word
of God (Rom. 10:17). In that same chapter Paul writes, How beautiful are the feet of them
that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (v. 15).

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=ekporeuetai&la=greek#lexicon

This is the exact reason that John has written: that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. We have heard this
testimony, and have believed, and are saved, so we join in the witness. Were comforted
despite persecution or hatred because we know that Gods seed will accomplish his
purpose (Is. 55:11). We know he is victorious and that death cannot touch us because he
lives. We want to testify in Judea, Samaria and all the earth (Acts 1:8). We read Matthew
28:18-20 and we want to make disciples and baptize them because we know the peace that
comes with the blessing. We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
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