A study of John 15:22-27 reveals we all must choose to accept or reject Jesus, those who hate Jesus hate the Father, and the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ disciples bear witness about him.
A study of John 15:22-27 reveals we all must choose to accept or reject Jesus.
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. (ESV, John 15:22)
On its own, this verse appears to say the people who didn’t hear Jesus preach weren’t guilty of sin. And demonstrates why the context around every verse must be considered when discerning meaning. In this case, Jesus instructs his twelve disciples following their last Passover meal together. And he summarizes what is about to happen and in the unfolding days ahead.
In V.18-21, he reminds them the world will hate them, but it hated him first. Who is he talking about? The world represents everyone who rejects Jesus. And he’s talking about the Jews and Jewish religious leaders who saw his divine works and heard him teach, but still rejected him as the Messiah. He didn’t mean if they hadn’t heard him they would be absolved of sin. The Old Testament law clearly taught the moral rules Jews were to follow as God’s people and provided a sacrificial system for atonement.
It also taught about moral corruption within the human heart.
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (ESV, Jeremiah 17:9)
Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. (ESV, Isaiah 59:2)
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (ESV, Isaiah 53:6)
Furthermore, the Apostle Paul reminds us that unbelievers have the same natural evidence of God as believers and are morally accountable for it.
For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse.” (ESV, Romans 1:19-20)
The people who saw Jesus’ divine works and heard him speak words from the father received the fullest revelation. God in human flesh. To have that opportunity and still reject him increased their level of accountability and judgment for eternity. It would be better for them if they had never seen or heard him. Because now they had no excuse for rejecting him.
A study of John 15:22-27 reveals that to hate Jesus is to hate the Father.
Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. (ESV, John 15:23-24)
The Jewish religious leaders thought their religious acts and committment to the law showed their love and devotion to God. And would vigorously object to hearing Jesus say they hated God. But it was external, religious observance that hid their self-righteous hypocrasy Jesus often pointed out. Both in the Old and New Testaments, what God desired, and still does is a genuine comittment of the heart. If their hearts truly sought God the father, they should have recognized his revelation in the Son. We see the heart commitment God desires from us reflected in the life of David.
After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety. (ESV, Acts 13:22)
But V.25 presents even further condemnation.
“They hated me without a cause.” This statement by Jesus is likely drawn from Psalm 69:4. It’s written by David who was on the run from enemies seeking to kill him. David complains of unfair treatment without reason. And Jesus uses his words to voice the same complaint.
However, some religious leaders did believe in Jesus. We see this in John 3:1-3 as the Pharisee, Nicodemus met privately with Jesus and acknowledged he was a teacher from God. Along with Joseph of Arimathea who was a Jewish council member that buried the body of Jesus in his own grave. And there were others too.
Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue. (ESV, John 12:42)
Jesus Christ was the Son of God in human flesh. To hate and reject him was the same as hating and rejecting God the father. And it results in eternal separation from him.
A study of John 15:22-27 the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ disciples will bear witness about him.
But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. (ESV, John 15:26-27)
The “Helper” is the Holy Spirit, third person of the trinity who will continue Jesus’ ministry after he returns to the father. The Greek word Paraklētos means one called alongside to help, advocate for, comfort and strengthen. Jesus also calls him the Spirit of Truth who will inspire teaching that is Christ-centered and fully supports God’s word. He would help the disciples and the church discern God’s truth from errant human philosophies and false teachings. The same as he does today.
The fact Jesus sends the Spirit who proceeds from the father confirms his full deity and personal distinction from the Father and Son. Therefore, the Spirit is eternally God who will “bear witness” about Jesus. The Greek word is martyresei that comes from the same word-family as “martyr” and means to bear witness or give testimony. The disciples, who were with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry, were also eyewitnesses to it. Therefore, they would join in the Spirit’s mission to testify to all they had seen, heard, and knew to be true regarding the gospel of Jesus Christ. And disciples today also bear witness by testifying to the truth of God’s Word.
About Chip Tudor:
Chip Tudor is a Christian author, blogger and professional writer. He publishes books, humorous Christian drama, and thought provoking blogs from a Christian worldview. This blog is originally published here.
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