John Chapter 15:12-27 by Mark Dunagan

The Gospel Of John Chapter 15:12-27

‘Having explained the essential relationship of believers to Himself, Jesus proceeded to show His disciples what their relationship to each other should be. The differences of temperament among them and the jealousies that had arisen over the positions which they expected to hold in the coming kingdom made their group unstable. Jesus knew that if they were to maintain an adequate testimony for Him they could do so only as a unit. Disunity would mar their work.’ (Tenney p. 229)

John 15:12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” “This is My commandment”-Unfortunately, some have erroneously concluded that “love for brethren” is the only commandment which is binding upon us. Obviously, such is false, for we are also to love those who aren’t are brethren (Matthew 5:44). In addition, the first and foremost commandment is to love God (Matthew 22:37). What is true, is that many commands can be summed up or included under the general command to love our brethren (see Romans 13:9-10; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; Ephesians 4:25-32).

“just as I have loved you”-see John 13:34-35. Barclay notes, ‘One of the things that we always instinctively ask of anyone who makes a great demand of us is: What right have you to make that demand? So then if we ask Jesus: What right have you to demand that we love one another? His answer is: “No man can show greater love than to lay down his life for his friends---and I did that.”’ (p. 207) Here we also see how the commandments of God are not a burden (1 John 5:3). God commands us to seek the best true interest of our brethren, how could that ever be viewed as a terrible thing? The love in the above verse is a love that must continue to be exercised. ‘the verb naturally being a durative present, “keep loving.”’ (Lenski p. 1047) Lenski also notes, ‘The disciples are not merely to be attached to each other, devoted to each other, helpful to each other. Many who are not disciples show this kind of love, even calling each other brother. To love as Jesus loved is to see what he sees, the soul’s needs, the eternal interests.’ (pp. 1047-1048) Point To Note: The above language of Jesus is very convicting. For it forces us to ask ourselves, ‘Are we exercising such love towards our brethren?’ Are we willing to sacrifice tremendously for

the spiritual well-being of our brethren? Are we willing to bend-over backwards and go the second mile? Are we willing to sacrifice our comfort, time, money and energy so that they can end up saved? Is our love for our brethren weak and short-lived? ‘Their love for others must therefore be a sacrificial love. But the practice of that love should never be a joyless duty. Jesus endured the cross for the JOY that was set before Him.’ (Tasker p. 175) (Hebrews 12:2)

John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” “Greater love has no one than this”-‘No one can show greater love’ (Gspd); ‘There is no greater love than this’ (Lam). We need to realize, that not only did Jesus die for these disciples, He also died for His enemies (Romans 5:6-8).

“that one lay down his life for his friends”-This is a truth acknowledged by all, believer and unbeliever. ‘The world over it is acknowledged as the supreme evidence of love that a person voluntarily gives up his own life for the sake of his friends.’ (Lenski p. 1048) ‘Some have raised the question whether the love that dies for enemies is not greater than that which is concerned for friends. But that is not before us here. In this passage Jesus is not comparing the love which sacrifices for enemies with that which sacrifices for friends. He is in the midst of friends and is speaking only of friends. With respect to them he is saying that one cannot have greater love than to die for them.’ (Morris p. 674)

John 15:14 “You are My friends, if you do what I command you.” “You are My friends”-Wow! Even imperfect infinite humans can be the friends of Almighty God! Christians need to rejoice in such a glorious relationship. Let others boast about ‘who they know’, let us boast that we know God and are the friends of God (Jeremiah 9:23-24).

“if you do what I command you”-‘But friendship depends on common aims and outlook and thus Jesus qualifies…Once again obedience is the test of discipleship. The friends of Jesus are those who habitually obey Him.’ (Morris p. 675)

John 15:15 “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.” “No longer do I call you slaves”-Butler notes, ‘Those who believe and trust Jesus and keep His commandments find that their relationship to Him grows into one of friendship rather than the drudgery of slavish and unintelligent oppression. The slave is

given orders and is never taken into the confidence of his master as to the master’s purposes and plans. But Jesus tells His friends everything He can concerning the plans and purposes of the Father.’ (p. 279) ‘A servant is required to obey his master with no explanation being necessary. However, the Lord’s disciples are informed of God’s scheme of redemption, and they respond by faith to His word (Romans 10:17; Eph. 3:3-5; Romans 16:25-26).’ (Harkrider p. 104) Barclay notes, ‘It means that no longer do we need to gaze longingly at God from afar off; we are not like slaves who have no right whatever to enter into the presence of the master; we are not like a crowd whose only glimpse of the king is in the passing on some state occasion when, if we tried to come nearer, we would promptly be arrested.’ (p. 208) As with the Apostles, every Christian has been brought into the inner circle of friends with God. We have been given the Scriptures, God has shared with us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Every Christian has access to the same information. ‘Jesus never wanted his disciples to be merely slaves, blindly obeying orders, but slaves that were friends, intimately acquainted with all his heart’s desires and all his work and mission.’ (Lenski p. 1051) Carefully note that we are servants (Romans 1:1; Luke 17:10), but we are servants who are also friends. We don’t serve God out of slavish fear, but out of our love for Him and His great love for us.

”I have heard from My Father I have made known to you”-Through the Holy Spirit, the Apostles would be given all the details, all the information, all truth (John 16:13). They would be intimately acquainted with His plans and purposes. In like manner, every Christian who studies their writings can have access to the same information (Ephesians 3:3-5).

John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.” “You did not choose Me, but I chose you”-Here Jesus is specifically addressing the Apostles. Harkrider notes, ‘it is a poor exegesis of this particular verse to extend its meaning to all disciples (as the Calvinists so use it to teach special election by God of only certain individuals to be saved). It is true that all disciples are called by the gospel (2 Thess. 2:13-14), and “whosoever will” can choose to obey (Revelation 22:17; Romans 6:16-18). But this verse is teaching that the apostles were specifically selected to be “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20). They were the only ones chosen who had this authority (Matthew 18:18; 28:18-20).’ (p. 104) ‘Generally, Jewish students of that day selected their rabbis or teachers; but, in this instance, the order was reversed; the teacher selected the students!.’ (Woods p. 329) Point To Note: 3

‘It should not be overlooked, in this connection, that Judas was one of those chosen by the Lord and his election was in exactly the same way as that of the others. He became unfaithful and was rejected; the others continued with the Lord and were faithful servants of His…Thus, the factor which determined the perpetuation of their “choosing” was their faithfulness.’ (Woods p. 329)

“and appointed you”-These men would be Jesus’ ambassadors to the world (2 Cor. 5:20; they would be His witnesses’ (Acts 1:8).

“you should go and bear fruit”-Which would include spreading the gospel and converting the lost.

“that your fruit should remain”-Some of the fruit that would remain would be: 1. What was revealed through them, i.e. the New Testament. 2. The Church that they laid the foundation for in their preaching (Ephesians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 3:11). 3. See also 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

John 15:17 “This I command you, that you love one another.” Point To Note: This verse seems to start the next section. It is precisely because their faith is going to attraction persecution from the world (15:18), that they especially need to have an intense love for each other. Christians need to realize that they are going to have more than enough enemies, without having to have foes among their own brethren! It also suggests that if we fervently love one another, the world will still hate us. Barclay notes, ‘Jesus said, “You are not my slaves; you are my partners. I have told you everything; I have told you what I am trying to do, and why I am trying to do it. I have told you everything which God told me.’ Jesus has given us the honour of making us His partners in His task. He has shared His mind with us, and opened His heart to us, and told us of His plans, His aims and His ambitions. It is the tremendous choice that is laid before us that we can accept or refuse partnership with Christ in the work of leading the world to God.’ (p. 209) Let the reader be impressed that the world will still hate us, even though to love each other tremendously! People erroneously think that if we loved each other more, all opposition to the Gospel message would cease.

The Disciples And The World John 15:18 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.”

“If the world hates you”-Tenney notes, ‘Jesus never intended that he should live in pious isolation, but in active contact with the problems of men. Nevertheless, He drew a sharp line between the believer and the “world”…Jesus, in stating the attitude of the world, carefully forewarned the disciples of its hatred because He did not want them disillusioned when they met it.’ (pp. 230-231) The Christian can well expect to be persecuted (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12).

“you know that it has hated Me before it hated you”-Every Christian, and especially every young preacher needs to seriously evaluate the above truth. If the world rejected and crucified the greatest preacher ever, the greatest example of righteous living, then obviously, you are not going to convert the whole world! One of the greatest mistakes made by the denominational world and liberal brethren who are watering down the gospel message, is the MYTH that with the right attitude and the right marketing program we can make it where the gospel message is no longer offensive to a world that is hostile to God. Some modern liberal thinkers claim that what keeps people from coming to worship services or hearing the gospel is fear. Jesus tells us, that what will keep many people from accepting the gospel, accepting our invitations to study, is hatred, that is a hatred of the God who is going to tell them that they must give up some selfish behavior that they think that can’t live without. Points To Note: 1. There are only two groups, the people of God and the world. ‘To John there is no neutrality, no halfway house, no compromise solution.’ (Barclay p. 211) 2. No Christian can complain that Jesus didn’t set before them the true cost of following Him (Mark 13:9-13; Matthew 10:17-22); Matthew 5:11-12; Luke 6:22-23). 3. Barclay notes that the world ‘hates’ Christians because: A. ‘The world acutely dislikes people whose lives are a condemnation of it.’ (p. 216). B. In addition, the world hates what we stand for, because what we believe confronts the world, accuses the world, makes the world face up to its own selfishness. C. The Christian will be unpopular because the Christian cannot go along with the popular myths of the world, the popular excuses of the world, or the popular prejudices. A popular phrase today is the term, “politically correct”. What we need to realize is that the world has always practiced such. D. The Christian is unpopular, because the Christian places God as a higher priority than various human relationships. But the world has the attitude that we are supposed to cover for the sins of our friends and family, that we are supposed to look the other way. E. In addition, the Christian believes some very unpopular ideas, ideas that demand courage to accept, such as there is absolute truth, there is only one way to God, one must obey God to be right with God, an eternal punishment exists for the wicked, morality alone cannot save us, sincerity alone cannot save us, being simply religious isn’t enough either.

John 15:19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

“If you were of the world, the world would love its own”-Which tells us something about at what point one is becoming guilty of trying to be a friend of the world (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17). At what point you are conforming to this world (Romans 12:1-2). One writer said, “A half-Christianized world and a more than half-secularized Church get on well together…When Christian people and churches became vain, earthly, sensual, given to pleasure, wealth, and ambition, the world will not oppose them…but God will!’ (Butler p. 283) Points To Note: 1. We must avoid the temptation of wanting to be too popular (Luke 6:26). 2. Watering down the Gospel message won’t bring in more converts for God, rather, it will only covert the members of that congregation into the devil’s children. 3. The gospel message has never been extremely popular, the apostles were constantly rejected and persecuted. 4. And if churches continue to contort themselves in the attempt to make it where the non-Christian isn’t uncomfortable nor convicted by what they preach, then we have reached a point where there isn’t any difference between the church and the world. God expected and demands that there is to be a definite difference! Jesus is saying, ‘If you aren’t getting flak from the world concerning what you are standing for, then you probably aren’t standing for much.’ In addition, Jesus would not appreciate the attempts on the part of so-called Christians to find “common ground” with non-Christian/pagan religions or the secular world. Our job is to convert, our task is to save souls, to bring people out of darkness, our job isn’t to make friends with the darkness or to pat the darkness on the back.

“but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you”-Be impressed, the world doesn’t hate us because some Christians are inconsistent. Rather, the world hates us because we are different, we are consistently pursuing what they are not pursuing, i.e. the things of God. Morris notes, ‘It is important to realize this for we sometimes act as though it is surprising that upright worldly men oppose the things of God.’ (p. 679)

John 15:20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master’. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” “Remember the word that I said to you”-Such teaching is found in Matthew 10:24 and Luke 6:40.

‘A slave is not greater than his master’-‘The servant should be proud to share in tribulations with One who is so much greater than he, and regard his suffering a privilege rather than a burden (2 Cor. 4:17-18; Phil. 3:10; James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 4:12-16).’ (Butler p. 284) ‘Loyd has an interesting reflection on this statement: “How good it would be for us sometimes, when we are worrying about our feelings and about our ‘prayer-life’, if an 6

angel were to appear to us and say, ‘Don’t waste time worrying about these things. What you need to do is to get on with the business of being persecuted!’ Not that we are to go out of our way to invite persecution; but we should examine our lives more seriously to see if they are free from compromise with the world.’’ (Morris p. 679)

‘if they kept My word, they will keep yours also’-Especially, this would be true of the apostles preaching, which was inspired. There is an inherent link between Jesus and the words of the Apostles, for through them His commands would be given (1 Corinthians 14:37). Therefore, to reject the writings of the Apostles is to reject Jesus. Jesus is preparing the apostles for the persecution that they would face. The popular myth that everyone would naturally accept the Messiah and His reign, is an idea that the apostles need to get beyond. Just as the world has been very hostile to Jesus, the apostles will face the same hostility. Carefully note, that even with the help of the Holy Spirit, even speaking by inspiration and performing miracles as evidence that God approves of the message they are delivering, the message will still be rejected by many. We need to wake up and realize that the Gospel Message will never appeal to everyone and that we cannot make the message “popular” without destroying the message in the process.

John 15:21 “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.” “for My name’s sake”-‘So, not on our own account will the world hate us, but..on account of Jesus. The more it sees of him in us, the more it turns against us.’ (Lenski p. 1059)

“because they do not know the One who sent Me”-But this statement was not meant to excuse the world, but rather to bring out the guilt associated with the world’s self-chosen ignorance. Even though most people believe in God, and many non-Christians even call him ‘Father’, the fact of the matter is that most people also are fighting against God and the efforts of Christians.

John 15:22 “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.” “they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin” Points To Note: 1. ‘The words and deeds of Christ showed by contrast how evil men can become. His presence made their sin deliberate and inexcusable.’ (Tenney p. 232) 2. Jesus is not saying that had He never come, these people would have been sinless or at least excused for their ignorance. It is clear that the world was in sin, even before Jesus 7

arrived (Romans 1-3). 3. I like the idea that to sin is one thing. But to purposefully stand in the presence of Jesus (Deity), to hear Him teach, to see the miracles that He performed and then to reject Him, that is quite another thing. 4. It is clear that Jesus is saying, that whatever excuse the Jews might now offer for rejecting Him---is an excuse that God will not accept. 5. This verse also reveals that greater opportunities bring greater responsibilities (Matthew 11:21-24; 12:41-42; Luke 12:42-48). 6. People need to be impressed that much is at stake when they come face to face with the truth. A choice must be made and a choice is always made. The choice to reject the truth after you have heard it—is a choice to assign yourself to eternal condemnation (Acts 13:46). It is the choice to live the dishonest lifestyle. 7. Our children, those “raised in the church” need to take such verses very seriously, for they have heard more truth on a continual basis than 90% of the people on this planet. To have the privilege of being raised in a Christian family, and then reject that truth, is to stand inexcusable before God.

John 15:23 “He who hates Me hates My Father also.” One cannot serve Jesus without serving the Father and one cannot reject Jesus without rejecting the Father. Even today, people try to argue, ‘I don’t believe in Jesus, but I do believe in God.’ ‘The Jews were in the habit of thinking that they could claim God as their Father (8:41), while at the same time they regarded Jesus as demon-possessed (8:48). ….A person may imagine that he loves the Father while he hates the Son, but deceives himself…Men who scoff at blood-atonement and reject the vicarious death of Christ do not love God!’ (Hendriksen p. 312)

John 15:24 “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well.” “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did”-Jesus had previously spoken about His “words”, now He adds His “works”, i.e. the miracles. Miracles that no one else, not even Moses or the prophets in the Old Testament had performed. 1. The unbelief of Jesus’ opponents was inexcusable, for they had seen miraculous works, “evidence” which no other generation had ever been given! (Matthew 11:23 ‘for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day.’) ‘There was an obligation resting on them accordingly to take note of these works.’ (Morris p. 681) 2. Compare with John 7:46.

“they would not have sin”-Not that they would be sinless, for they had sinned previously to Jesus appearing (Romans 3:23). But clearly, they are completely without excuse. Here we see that additional privileges bring with them additional responsibilities. Lenski notes, ‘Jesus stresses the works he has done as the ultimate convincing proof that

should bar out unbelief; and when they are met with unbelief, this is absolutely inexcusable…The supreme character of these works is stressed: “which none other did” (compare 9:32). These works were intended to lift Jesus far above all the prophets the Jews ever had, and they did this. Their Messianic power struck the pilgrims as being beyond question.’ (pp. 1062-1063)

“but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well”-Here we see God’s justice. How fair and deserving eternal condemnation is for those who reject Jesus. One cannot read the New Testament, see the miracles that Jesus wrought without being impressed (John 20:30-31). And those who encounter the Gospel, and yet walk away unimpressed, indifferent, apathetic or angry, demonstrate themselves to be people who are inexcusable before God. There is no flaw in the presentation of the Gospel, there is no flaw in the life of Christ, rather, we find a full expression of God’s love for mankind. Our rejection of God’s love is inexcusable and deserves eternal condemnation.

John 15:25 “But they have done this in order that the word may be fulfilled that is written in their Law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’” Points To Note: 1. The quotation, ‘They hated Me without a cause’ is found in Psalm 35:19 and 69:4. The Jews hatred of Jesus was a hatred which lacked any reasonable foundation. Hatred which is illogical and irrational. This is the same type of hatred that David had experienced from his enemies. It will also be the kind of hatred that Christians will experience. 2. The verse reveals that the world doesn’t have a good reason to reject Jesus Christ. That there is really nothing in God, Jesus or their message to dislike (1 John 5:3). ‘Jesus had broken no law, injured no one, hated no one. To the contrary He sought only to do good to friend and enemy alike. What cause or reason had anyone for hating Jesus?’ (Butler p. 285) 3. Once again, every believer is morally obligated to tell us, ‘What is there about Jesus which is so repulsive that you can’t obey Him, what is there in His teaching which is terrible?’ 4. Actually, the truth of the matter is, that people reject Jesus, not because of something ugly in Jesus or His teaching, but because they want to hold on to something which is ugly in their own lives (John 3:19). ‘According to Psalm 35 the enemies are those who love to forget past favors; according to Psalm 69 they are people who cannot bear to be witnesses of the burning zeal which David manifests for the cause of Jehovah.’ (Hendriksen p. 313) 5. The Christian needs to realize that the hatred which they will experience from the world, is an illogical hatred. The world will resent beliefs and a lifestyle of which there is nothing to be truly resented.

John 15:26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me,” 9

John 15:27 “and you will bear witness also, because you have been with Me from the beginning.” Points To Note: 1. Once again, those whom the Holy Spirit will guide, are not all Christians in general. But rather, a specific group of individuals. ‘you have been with Me from the beginning’, i.e. the Apostles would be the one’s guided by the Spirit. The Apostles would be the witnesses (Acts 1:8). 2. ‘As eyewitnesses they must testify concerning Jesus (Acts 1:2122; 4:19). The Holy Spirit would come to them and guide them infallibly in calling to their remembrance, without error, what they had seen with their own eyes and heard with their own ears (1 John 1:1-4; 2 Peter 1:16-21)…But more than this, the Holy Spirit would accompany the apostles and bear witness to Jesus through the miracles He wrought through them (Hebrews 2:4).’ (Butler p. 286) 3. ‘The passage strengthens the conviction that the word translated “Comforter” has legal significance. The Spirit, so to speak, conducts Christ’s case for Him before the world.’ (Morris p. 684) 4. In addition, the Apostles cannot just sit back and let the Spirit do all the work, they must co-operate, they must have the courage to go to where the people are, and speak even when the crowds are not friendly (Matthew 10:18-19). Obviously, Jesus didn’t teach that the Apostles were simply to ‘let go and let God’. 5. To this day, the witness of the Spirit/Apostles is still on the earth. Their testimony is found in the New Testament Scriptures (John 20:30-31). And individuals today who chose to take the Apostles testimony and preach it to the world, can well expect to meet with opposition and hatred.