John 15 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
“It makes no sense to me!” the woman proclaimed. “I can’t comprehend the concept of one way to God for only one simple reason. There are still people in this world who will never hear it. The village in India… they may never hear about Christianity except perhaps as a term. It makes no sense to me that a loving God would condemn them to hell for not believing in Jesus.”
“I’ve got some good news for you,” the evangelist replied. “Nobody goes to hell for not believing in Jesus. People go to hell because of their sin. Those people are sinning against the God they know exists. That’s why we send missionaries. If they didn’t know, sending missionaries would be the worst thing for them.”
If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin.
John 15:22 HCSB
Jesus came with a message from God. He carried the truth in the flesh, spoke the words of God directly to humanity’s ears, and welcomed sinners into His presence to be healed. The world, by in large, looked at Him and hated Him. Why did humanity hate God when He came to Earth to save us?
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 have sin. Now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father.
John 15:23-24 HCSB
Jesus’ coming to Earth is proof that humanity’s heart is full of sin. Again, this is a central theme in John’s gospel. Jesus is God in the flesh. He is totally and completely obedient to God. He came to do the works of God and speak the words of God. If we reject Jesus, we reject God – it’s as simple as that.
But there is comfort. Jesus says if we find ourselves being targeted with hatred from the world for following Him, this is proof that we truly are following Him. They don’t really hate you. They hate God and everything He stands for.
“Such suffering is not outside God’s providential care. It corresponds to a pattern found in Scripture, which is what fulfill means here (John 15:25). The rejection of Jesus and his disciples is found in the very law to which those rejecting them claim to be loyal, thus further demonstrating their culpability.”
IVP New Testament Commentary