Thoughts on the Gospel of John (149) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
John 15:20–22

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (149)
Jesus had just said, “If the world hates you ...”. Now He puts it more pointedly: “If they persecuted Me ...”. How many Christians have experienced not only hatred in the form of hostility and ridicule, but also violence to the point of martyrdom! That we experience so little of this in Western countries may have several reasons. Isn’t one reason that, in many cases, Christians have conformed to the world and its standards, and have lacked consistency in discipleship?

“If they kept my word …”. The Lord switches to what would have been a positive thing. Had anyone kept His word? Although the people of Israel as a whole led their Messiah to the cross, there were nevertheless a few who had believed, such as Nicodemus, the Samaritans and the man born blind. The disciples would experience the same pattern of things. Jesus foresaw that the world as a whole would reject it, yet speaks of those who would believe in Him through the disciples’ word (ch. 17:20).

Verse 22 concerns the sin of the people who rejected Him. The Lord could have exposed all their sins using the Ten Commandments. But He does not mention the law here. He Himself, the Son of God, had become man and had spoken to them in grace like no other – and yet they rejected His word. This sin made their many other sins seem small in comparison. Whoever rejects the Son of God can only expect judgment.

Today’s reading: 1 Kings 1:38-53 · John 4:1-14