FRIEND OR FOE?

John 15:15-16:4

“Any friend of Mary’s is a friend of mine!”

“If you’re a friend of Joe’s, you’re no friend of mine!”

INSTRUCTION BY THE SON OF GOD 13-16

After Jesus completed His final comments concerning His rejection, He turned from His public ministry to give His attention to His disciples.

In the upper room the night before His death, He instructs them to prepare them for ministry after His departure.

Washing of the disciples' feet 13:1-20

Jesus washes disciples' feet to give us example: how we should serve one another.

Prediction of His betrayal 13:21-30

Preparation for His death 13:31-38

Promise of His return 14:1-14

Provision of the Holy Spirit 14:15-31

Source for productive living 15:1-17

The way to produce permanent, valuable fruit is to abide in Christ-to draw from Him what sustains life.

Fruitful, productive living is the result of total dependence on Him.

        Fruitful living produces love–love for God–love for His followers.

HATRED FROM THE WORLD 15:18-16:4

Jesus gives a warning concerning the future.

If we live in accordance with His teaching, we will not be popular among our contemporaries.

The world hates Christ.

If we belong to Him, and live according to His standards, the world will hate us as it did Him.

If we follow Him, we should expect persecution from the world.

JESUS’ FRIENDS LOVE JESUS’ FRIENDS 15:12-17

Throughout this message to His followers, Jesus focuses our attention on the importance of love for one another.

        Since we’re one in Christ, we ought to love one another!

    Jesus commands His friends to love one another 12

    Jesus demonstrated His love for us by giving His life for us 13

    Our love for Jesus’ friends demonstrates that we are Jesus’ friends 14

    Jesus treats us as friends, not as slaves (servants) 15

        He reveals the Father’s plan to us.

    Jesus chose us to produce lasting fruit 16-17

        The fruit that lasts leads to our love for one another 17

THE WORLD DOESN’T LOVE JESUS’ FRIENDS 15:18-25

    The world hates us because it hates Jesus 18

    We don’t belong to the world 19a

    We have been chosen out of the world 19b

    The world hates Jesus’ followers because we aren’t like them 19c-25

        Jesus’ followers can’t expect better treatment than He received 20a

            If they persecuted Him, they will persecute His followers 20b

            If they obeyed His Word, they will obey His followers’ Word 20c

Why do WE expect something different? Something better?

        They will reject Jesus’ followers because they reject Jesus 21-25

        They reject Jesus because they have rejected His Father

However people respond to Jesus’ followers is the result of their response to HIM!

            However people respond to Jesus is the result of their response to His Father!

                 This isn’t about US!! It’s about Jesus!!

                     Ultimately it’s about people’s rejection of GOD!!!

Our actions as Jesus’ followers should make it evident that the world is out to get us because of HIS NAME–NOT because of our offensive conduct! 21

                     They hated ME without a cause!

                     They’re going to hate YOU without a cause!

THE SPIRIT WILL BEAR WITNESS ABOUT JESUS THROUGH HIS FRIENDS

15:26-27

    The Spirit bears witness concerning Jesus 26

    Jesus’ followers bear witness concerning Jesus 27

        Those who follow Jesus tell what we have seen.

THE WORLD WANTS TO SILENCE HIS WITNESSES 16:1-4

Jesus warns His followers about the persecution

        so we won’t be tripped up by it. 1 “Go astray” [NIV] = “Stumble” [NAS]

Those who persecute Jesus’ followers

                 think they are serving God 2 –Compare Paul’s story

Those who persecute Jesus’ followers

                 demonstrate they don’t know Jesus nor His Father 3

Jesus warns His followers about the persecution

        so we will know it’s part of God’s plan 4

Pretty simple message–NOT a pleasant one! But a simple one!

    When the Spirit comes, Jesus’ followers will become Jesus’ witnesses!

        But the world isn’t going to LIKE what it hears!

Bottom line:     If we decide to follow Jesus,

                         the world won’t understand us

                         the world will seek to destroy us.

THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO FOLLOW JESUS DEMONSTRATE

OUR LOVE FOR HIM BY OUR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER!

The world won’t love Jesus’ followers,

    But Jesus’ followers will demonstrate that we ARE His followers,

        by our love for one another!

Persecution will come,

    but true followers of Jesus will hang together,

        even in the face of persecution!