ACC ~ John 15 v18 - 21

OVERVIEW:

Jesus prepares his disciples for persecution by speaking first from personal experience (CYPRIAN). Preaching the gospel is not always popular (CYRIL), evident in the fact that the world that stands condemned persecutes, while the world that is reconciled is persecuted (AUGUSTINE). The hatred of the world is evidence of a person’s goodness while the world’s admiration is more than likely evidence of wickedness (CHRYSOSTOM). This world lays hold on us but is not able to keep us (AMBROSE). No one can please God and God’s enemies (GREGORY THE GREAT). The disciples should realize this and that the humiliation Jesus will undergo is also what is in store for them (CYRIL). But this should also serve as their consolation (CHRYSOSTOM). Those who suffer with Christ reign with him. We can also take solace in the fact that we are only called upon to sow the seed of the Word; God will bring forth the fruit (CYRIL). When persecutors attack us, it is Christ they are attacking (AUGUSTINE).

15:18 | The World Hated Me First

PREPARE FOR PERSECUTION

CYPRIAN: How grave is the case of a Christian if, as a servant, he is unwilling to suffer when his master first suffered! How serious it is that we should be unwilling to suffer for our own sins, when he who had no sin of his own suffered for us! The Son of God suffered that he might make us sons [children] of God, and yet we who are human sons will not suffer so that we may continue to be sons of God! If we suffer from the world’s hatred, Christ first endured the world’s hatred. If we suffer reproaches in this world, if exile, if tortures, the maker and Lord of the world experienced harder things than these. And he also warns us, saying, “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.’” Whatever our Lord and God taught, he also did, so that the disciple might not be excused if he learns but then does not put into practice what he learned.

Let none of you, beloved, be so terrified by the fear of future persecution or the coming of the threatening antichrist that you are not found armed for all things by the preaching of the gospel and its commands—and by the heavenly warnings. Antichrist is coming, but above him Christ comes also. The enemy goes about and rages, but the Lord immediately follows to avenge our sufferings and our wounds. The adversary is enraged and threatens, but there is One who can deliver us from his hands. LETTER 55.6-7. [1]

[1] ANF 5:349**; Letter 58.6-7 in CCL 3C:328-29.

PREACHING THE GOSPEL IS NOT ALWAYS POPULAR

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The word that speaks to the pleasure of the listeners will flatter rather than benefit the world. But those who obey the words of the Savior will not conduct their ministry in this way. Such a minister will prefer rather to please the Savior, and if the minister incurs hatred from those who have chosen to treat virtue with the utmost hostility, it shall be considered spiritual wealth. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2. [1]

[1] LF 48:413.

WORLD CONDEMNED PERSECUTES, WORLD RECONCILED SUFFERS

AUGUSTINE: But look here, the one that persecutes is called the world. Let us find out whether the one that suffers persecution is also called the world. Or are you completely deaf to the voice of Christ saying—or rather of holy Scripture testifying, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself” [1] ? “If the world hates you,” he said, “know that it first hated me.” There you are, the world hates. … Which world? “God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself.” The world condemned persecutes; the world reconciled suffers persecution. The world condemned includes whatever is outside and apart from the church; the world reconciled is the church. “For the Son of man,” he says, “did not come to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him.” [2] SERMON 96.8. [3]

[1] 2 Cor 5:19.

[2] Jn 3:17.

[3] WSA 3 4:33; PL 38:588.

EVIDENCE OF GOODNESS

CHRYSOSTOM: As if Christ’s suffering were not consolation enough, he consoles them still further by telling them that the hatred of the world would be an evidence of their goodness. They ought rather to grieve … if they were loved by the world, as that would be evidence of their wickedness. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 77.2. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:283**; PG 59:416.

15:19 | Belonging to the World

OF THIS WORLD, YET NOT IN IT

AMBROSE: That which is promised to us is already present with you, and the object of your prayers is with you. You are of this world and yet not in this world. This age has held you but has not been able to retain you. CONCERNING VIRGINS 1.9.52. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 10:371*.

GOD AND HIS ENEMIES

GREGORY THE GREAT: For the disparaging of the perverse [toward us] is our praise. There is nothing wrong in not pleasing those who do not please God. For no one can by one and the same act please God and the enemies of God. He proves himself no friend to God who pleases his enemy. And he whose soul is in subjection to the Truth will have to contend with the enemies of that Truth. HOMILIES ON EZEKIEL 1.9.14 [1]

[1] CCL 142:130.

15:20a | A Servant Is Not Greater Than His Master

JESUS’ HUMILIATION WILL BE HIS DISCIPLES’ HUMILIATION

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Jesus indicates to his disciples that they will encounter every kind of disgrace, saying, “The slave is not above his lord.” “For,” he says, “wicked people attacked me with their unbridled tongues. And leaving no kind of insult untried, they called me a man possessed of a devil and a drunkard and the fruit of fornication. Yet I did not immediately seek their punishment, but not being cut to the heart by their insults, I granted to my hearers the word of salvation.” Do not, then, seek out of reason your own aggrandizement or scorn the limits within which your Lord was bound, who lowered himself to such humiliation for us to benefit all. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2. [1]

[1] LF 48:416-17*.

CONSOLATION THAT THEIR LORD SUFFERED

CHRYSOSTOM: He showed that in this point they would be his most ardent imitators. For while Christ was in the flesh, people made war against him, but when he was translated [to heaven], the battle next came on them. Then because they were so few, they were terrified at being about to encounter the attack of so great a multitude. And so he raises their souls by telling them that it was a special subject of joy that they were hated by them, “For you shall share my sufferings. You should not therefore be troubled, for you are not better than I.” As I told you before, “The servant is not greater than his lord.” Then there is also a third source of consolation, that the Father also is insulted together with them. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 77.2. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:283*; PG 59:416.

15:20b | Persecution and the Fruitful Word

SUFFERERS WITH CHRIST REIGN WITH CHRIST

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: It is just as if Jesus said, “I, the creator of the universe, who have everything under my hand, both in heaven and on earth, did not bridle their rage or restrain … their inclinations. Rather, I let each one choose their own course and permitted all to do what they wanted. Therefore, when I was persecuted, I endured it even though I had the power of preventing it. When you too follow in my wake and pursue the same course I did, you also will be persecuted. You’re going to have to momentarily endure the aversion of those who hate you without being overly troubled by the ingratitude of those whom you benefit. This is how you attain my glory, for those who suffer with me shall also reign with me.” COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2. [1]

[1] LF 48:419**.

GOD BRINGS FORTH THE FRUIT

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Just as those who have been trained in agriculture … cut up the land with the plough, and then bury the seed in the furrow and do not rely any further on their own skill but rather leave the rest to the power and favor of God—I mean the germination of the seed that is buried in the earth and nourishing it up to perfect fruit—so too I think the interpreter of the noblest truths ought only to sow the Word and leave the rest to God. The Savior therefore gives his advice in this matter to his disciples as a medicine for lack of spirit and a cure for listlessness. For, he says, do not ever choose to shy away from continuing to teach, even if some of those who have once been admonished should nullify the teaching that has been given to them. Rather, finding that even my words are often not received by many, do not strive to surpass my reputation. Instead, follow in my footsteps and do not become discouraged. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 10.2. [1]

[1] LF 48:420**.

15:21 | All These Things for My Name’s Sake

IN YOU THEY WILL ATTACK ME

AUGUSTINE: “All these things” that “they will do to you” refers to what he had just said, namely, that the world would hate and persecute you and despise your word. … “for my name’s sake.” In other words, in you they will hate me, in you they will persecute me. They will not keep your word because it is my word. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 88.2. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:356**; CCL 36:546