The Gospel of John Lesson 64 (02-16-14) John 15:18-9

The Gospel of John Lesson 64 (02-16-14)

Lesson 64 – John 15:18-9

In v. 18 Jesus reminds them which side of the street that they live on. Much of our difficulty comes from trying to fit in to a world and its system that we will never fit into. Our time is coming, but for now life here is difficult at best.

I have a friend and while we were talking one day out of the blue he said to me “I don’t fit into this world and the way that it works” expressing his frustration in making the so called essentials of this life work for him and his family.  My friend is a Christian, a believer and sincere follower of Christ, an attorney, a businessman, trying to make a living and take care of and provide for his family, truly making an honest attempt at making this thing called life here work. His comment is not an unusual one for a believer in Christ. This world is definitely out of sync with the life that Christ has called us to live.

Most of those who are of this world and align themselves with it identify with it because of its principles and, probably more so, by what it has to offer them. If you plug into this world and its system or way of operation you can get a lot. Sure you have to give up, give up a lot…everything that is you. But, then there is the promise…the promise of a lot…a lot more…at least more than what you have. It looks like the land of opportunity…if you play the game, joining those of this world adopting their principles.

In doing so, however, to get that lot more, you have to make concessions and compromises. Compromise your ideals. Compromise your principles. Compromise your time. Compromise the direction of your life. Compromise your purpose. Generally compromise your life, mostly denying the innate knowledge of who and what God has purposed you to be, most often for monetary gain, or in most cases existence, which temporarily appears to secure us a place and possibly some sort of purpose here in this present world system.

However, if you do concede and join this world’s offer, you can get… the successes of so called life in this world and what it offers… wealth, fame, status, comfort, pleasure, prestige, and sometimes position and power. Even if it was not what God created you for. Deny yourself and come join me is the call of this world. Come join me and get so much more than what you have right now. It all looks so good.  But, can the world make good on its promise? At what cost?

This is what Satan had offered Jesus when he tested or tempted Him in Matthew chapter 4. Jesus had already made His decision where His allegiance would lie. There was no real choice for Him…there was only one choice as far as He was concerned. His choice was clearly seen in His life. But, it did not come without repercussions from not fitting into a world that did not adhere to His Father’s principles and demanded total allegiance to its ways instead of God’s.

In saying this in v. 18 to His disciples… now the disciples will have to make their choice. Just prior to this, in this same conversation with them, Jesus had explained and challenged them to commit themselves fully to Him tapping into the True Vine challenging them to fully abide in Him. Now He begins the pruning process explaining to them that this world system with its ways was never intended for them, and, that in choosing to abide in Him they may be treated differently than those that choose allegiance with this world. In joining Jesus and abiding in Him those identifying with this world may say, “We don’t serve or like your kind here”. It is strange; this world inherently knows like Egypt of old, that it cannot live without us. But, it still won’t embrace or like us.

It is true that in reality they had already made their choice to follow Jesus, but now they will need to make a conscious choice, and, the choice that they make will have to include this reality, the reality that this world does not really like Jesus and now that includes them. In saying this to them in v. 18 Jesus is also challenging them to leave behind the ways of a world that were not meant for them and will not work for them if they are focusing on abiding in Him and His ways. The two worlds may attempt to tolerate each other, but in focusing on Christ’s challenge that He gave to them, the old ways of this world will not work.

However, Jesus in telling them this does not put it this way. He does not tell them that there will be times of difficulty and at times that they will be ignored or even occasionally or temporally shunned, ridiculed or rejected. He uses the much stronger word to describe what to expect from those who have bought into and agreed to accept the terms offered by this world using the word ‘hate’ which carries with it all kinds of possibilities. Hate, now there’s a dangerous word. Just imagine the possibilities.

Jesus was not one to over emphasize or exaggerate. When He said something it was not meant to be used as a lever to get His audience to do what He wanted as is so often found in politics, sales or other areas of life sensationalizing a potential hazard for personal gain.  No, this was a reality that they would have to be aware of if they were going to be a part of His family and organization. This was especially true for those present who would soon experience the reality of this statement.

The accusation has been made that in telling people about Jesus that we all too often tend to highlight the good or the benefits of knowing and following Christ.  In claiming an ‘abundant life’ for those following Christ and not explaining Jesus’ meaning of that statement one can give the picture that there are only so called good benefits in choosing to follow Christ and that there is no down side, or difficulty in making this choice. Doing so can be misleading. Jesus indeed did promise an abundant life for all who follow Him, however, His perspective and meaning of that abundant life was not the same as this world might give.

Before we go any further, it must be stated that this world offers a deceptive or twisted view of the benefits in joining them in their pursuits. They promise so much, but the end result is nothing like what is promised. It is bait and switch at its best. Even Jesus warned those who would hear of this deception. The world’s offer includes so many so called benefits when in reality in joining them what you get is a lot less than what you were led to believe. In reality, so often what you get is found to be more of a difficulty and a snare than a benefit.

However, in Jesus offering a full, ‘abundant life, to His followers He was offering them so much more than just the false temporary pleasures that this world promises its followers. Jesus’ offer included the exclusive benefits of Joy, Adoration and Worship, benefits that this world cannot even offer. Oddly enough, these benefits are often enjoyed even while suffering persecution.

But, notice that Jesus waits till now to make this point a reality to them. Up until this point in their relationship with Him His disciples had known little if any real difficulty or persecution for being with and following Jesus. Yes, they had been with Jesus when Jesus suffered opposition, but they were more observers at that time. The confrontation at that time was with Jesus and did not include them directly. Jesus tells them that now they will face the same difficulty and confrontation…persecution, directly involving them, that He did, and…it will be because of their decision to follow Him…guilty by association.

Notice how honest He is with them even at the risk of losing them. When difficulty was mentioned earlier in this book others not wanting to suffer with Him turned and left Him. He tells them that they will suffer significant difficulty because of their being connected to Him. Jesus’ call to come follow Him includes benefits and one of them He says here is persecution, persecution from a world that does not like Him or His message. Now He shares with them the reality of what it is really like to be a Christian and a follower of His. In v. 18 He says “If the world hates you, you know (or should be aware) that it hated Me (first) before it hated you”.

In saying this He is not implying that there is a random chance that some of us might find disfavor with the world that we find ourselves living in, but in stating this, just following His admonition to bond to Him and to each other, He braces them for the reality of what is to come because He has chosen them and they have chosen to be followers of His. His statement here is not that it might happen to them, but that it will indeed happen and when it does they were to remember that it was His experience also.

We all like to be liked and accepted by others. To be accepted is an extremely strong drive for us. However, Jesus reminds them here in this chapter that there are two kingdoms on this earth and one cannot in reality live in both for they are diametrically opposed to each other. Either they will live in one and be hated by the other or they will obey other and in the end be found to be at enmity with its opposite. Our Lord had strong words in Revelation 3:16 for a group of people in Laodicea who found their life in compromise trying to fit in. His message to them was to choose one side or the other. Jesus was being pointed with His disciples here making clear to them that in their choosing to abide in and follow Him they were to leave behind a world that was in opposition to Him.

We must make a choice…there is no middle ground. It is clear in v. 19 that Jesus does not give them the option to do both. He does not tell them to just blend in and do the best possible. He clearly identifies the two choices. But, in doing so in essence tells them that they only get one choice. The taste of the two mixed together to Him is offensive. He tells them to get use to it. This is your life now. Make a clear choice and commitment. Joy will come, be patient. Jn. 15:11 In a world of Facebook where likes and dislikes are registered and tallied Jesus reminds us to do the same, make only one choice.