John 15:18-19 18If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before you. 19If 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, on account of this, the world hates you
As the disciples went out on their mission of love, they needed to be prepared for opposition. For some reason, the world hates believers. The world (kosmos) in John’s Gospel represents unbelievers, many of whom stand in opposition to God and his revelation through Jesus. Jesus gives these instructions so that they would not be surprised when persecution comes, which it inevitably would (1 John 3:13). The conditional phrasing of verse 18 indicates that not always would the world be opposed to the disciples. There would be times of peace, but when persecution did come, the disciples would know the reason: their faith in Jesus.
The situation the disciples would face would be similar to what Jesus faced from the religious leaders, or the broad category of “Jews” often referred to in this book. Jesus already stated that the reason for the world’s hatred of his was that he exposed its evil (7:7). The darkness does not like the light. Unbelievers will opposed and even persecution Christians because their consciences have been convicted through the light that shines through the testimony of believers. The world loves its own because it shares the same views. The word for loves (ephilei) in verse 19 is different than the love God has and disciples should love (agapē). The world’s love is the type that is shared among friends and family, people who have a common bond.
As those who put our faith in Jesus, we should expect the same response as he received. The assumption in these verses is that the disciple had made the most crucial decision to commit in faith to Jesus. Jesus stated in the Synoptic Gospels (see especially Luke 9:57-62 and 14:25-33) the cost his followers must make in their commitment. This cost required following his path to the cross, which must total surrender to the Father’s will.
The disciples had been taken out of the world’s control and influence because they followed the truth revealed in Jesus. The disciples’ decision of faith connected them to a new source of truth. The way of truth pointed to by the revelation found in Jesus gave them a new perspective and new priorities. In grace, Jesus plucked them out of the world for the special purpose of being the leaders of his new movement. The application of this historical event compels us to see ourselves as in the same stream as these ordinary men turned ambassadors. We have been called out of the world when we hear the gospel. The message we hear invites and urges us to put our lives under the control and guidance of Jesus, through his abiding presence in the Holy Spirit. We should be prepared for an unwelcome reception in the world, but we must go forward because we have the truth of love, forgiveness, reconciliation, and purpose this sinful and contrary world needs.
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