2023: John 15:18–16:4

Persecutions Predicted

18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. 20 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. 21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they don’t know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 The one who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason.[a]

The Counselor’s Ministry

26 “When the Counselor comes, the one I will send to you from the Father —the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 You also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

16 “I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when their time[b] comes you will remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you.

—John 15:18–16:4

Read & Journal

Read John 15:18–16:4. Ask yourself these questions:

• What does this passage teach you about Jesus, his character or his mission?

• What does this passage reveal about the Holy Spirit or his role?

• These verses are part of Jesus’ final conversations with his disciples, offering comfort and final teachings in light of his impending death. How would these words have been comforting in that situation?

• How do you see Jesus preparing his disciples for after he is gone?

• How are these verses comforting to you today in light of the circumstances you are currently facing?

• What does the Holy Spirit allow believers to do, according to this passage?

• Think about God’s work in your life, even this week. How will you testify to what Jesus has done for you?

• Today’s world can be less than receptive to our testimony about Christ? Why is it important that we keep testifying?

• What is one way you could practically testify to Christ today?