Hatred of the World – John 15:18-27

Wikipedia’s article on hatred describes three elements in hatred, 1) a negation of intimacy, by creating distance when closeness has become threatening; 2) an infusion of passion, such as fear or anger; and 3) a decision to devalue a previously valued object.  It also sees in hatred an “important self-protective function.”  Wow, that fits exactly what Jesus is talking about with his disciples about the hatred of the world.

“If the world hates you, know that it hated me first before you.  If you were of the world, the world would love its own.  But since you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you.  Remember the word I spoke 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.  But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they don’t know the One who sent me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they wouldn’t be guilty of sin.  But now they have no excuse for their sin.  The one who hates me hates my Father.  If I had not done the works I did among them that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin.  But now they have seen and hated me and my Father.  This is to fulfill the passage in their law, ‘They hated me without cause’.”

“Now when the Helper comes, whom I am sending to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who is coming from the Father, He will bear witness about me.  And you also bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.”  (John 15:18-27)

Our very association with Jesus and our adherence to his commands, even the command to love one another, will bring the hatred of those who do not know God.  Like Abel’s offering, our righteous lives take away the excuse unbelievers have for their sin, and like Cain, it stirs a murderous intent in their hearts.  And Jesus is so identified with the Father that hatred for him is hatred for his Father.  There is no legitimate cause for the hatred that comes our way  simply by virtue of being disciples of Jesus.  Jesus, as the ultimate righteous one, finds replayed what David experienced, hatred without a cause (see Psalm 69).

Still, we must bear witness to Jesus, despite the persecution that will come.  He has sent the Spirit of truth from the Father to aid us in this task.  Both the Father and the Son have sent the Spirit.  He proceeds from them both, meaning He is submissive to both while at the same time being in every sense their equal, as deity.  This is the Triune God at work, one in essence but three in personality.  There is only one God, but this God is tri-personal, a mystery that explains everything about who we are and yet is beyond our ability to fully take in.

Discussion Questions

1. What has been your experience of someone really hating you?
2. What do you think Jesus means by the world hating those who do not belong to it, and why would that hatred be aroused?
3. What do you see as the connection between the world’s sin and its hatred of Jesus and his followers?
4. Is all the hatred we sustain from the world unjustified?
5. How do you describe the partnership between the Spirit of truth and us in bearing witness to Jesus?
6. How dependent do you see yourself being on the Holy Spirit?