[2026. 8. 16.] If the World Hates You (John 15:18–27)

[2026. 8. 16.]  If the World Hates You (John 15:18–27)

Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn (Hope of Heaven Baptist Chuch) 

 

2026. 8. 16. 주일예배 설교- 요한복음 강해 44
본문: 요한복음 15:18–27
제목: 세상이 너희를 미워하면

설교자: 손진국 목사 (하늘소망교회)

 

 

Continuing from last time, today’s passage is also an extremely important message Jesus gave to His disciples right before He carried the cross. In the earlier section, Jesus told His disciples, “Remain in My love,” and “Love one another.” But suddenly, the tone changes.

[Verse 18] If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. We often think that if we believe in Jesus, everything will go well and people will recognize us. But Jesus never said that. Instead, He told His disciples that the world would hate them.

Why did Jesus say this to His disciples? To prepare them for what they would face. In the Christian life, unexpected rejection, loss, and misunderstanding can come. If we do not understand this, we may think, “Am I living my faith incorrectly?” “Has God abandoned me?” “Why am I facing difficulties even though I believe in Jesus?”

But Jesus says, “Do not be surprised. I walked that path first.” In today’s passage, Jesus teaches His disciples how to live when they face the world’s hatred.

 

1. Remember that you belong to Jesus.

[Verse 19] If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

Jesus explains that the world hates the disciples because “you do not belong to the world.”

Here we must understand what “the world” means in this passage. It does not refer to all people, but to those who have turned away from God, placed themselves at the center, and live according to worldly values and systems.

The world says, “Do what you want.” Jesus says, “Do the will of God.”

The world says, “Think of yourself first.” Jesus says, “Deny yourself and follow Me.”

The world says, “Repay those who hurt you.” Jesus says, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

The world defines success by how much you possess. Jesus defines success by how faithfully and loyally you live before God.

Therefore, when we follow Jesus, moments will come when we collide with the world.

At that moment, we must remember our identity. We live in the world, but we do not belong to the world. We work in workplaces, but the workplace is not our master. We use money, but money is not our master. We have relationships, but people’s evaluations do not determine our value. We belong to Jesus Christ, who chose us, called us, and saved us.

So even if people do not recognize us, it does not mean we are worthless. Even if people misunderstand us, it does not mean we have failed. Even if people reject us, it does not mean God has rejected us. Our value is not based on how people evaluate us, but on the fact that Jesus chose us.

Park We (photo) was 28 years old in 2014 when an unexpected accident left him completely paralyzed. His life changed drastically, and he fell into deep despair. But in that despair, he encountered Jesus profoundly and rediscovered meaning and hope. He began sharing messages of hope and faith through testimony gatherings and through his channel “Wiracle,” saying, “I want to introduce the God I met.” He interprets his suffering as a special time of drawing closer to the Lord. He says, “People may look at my life in a wheelchair and think it is neither easy nor happy, but I am living fully happily in Jesus.”

Yes. The value of our lives is not determined by how the world sees us. The value of our lives is determined by whom we belong to. And whom do we belong to? We belong to Jesus. Repeat: “I belong to Jesus.”

Even if the world does not accept you, it is okay—Jesus has accepted you. Even if the world does not recognize you, it is okay—God has recognized you as His child.

May all believers boldly live in the world today with the identity that they belong to Jesus.

[Application] Whose approval influences me the most these days? What worldly value must I give up because I belong to Jesus?

 

2. Do not compromise with the world’s values—follow Jesus.

[Verse 20] Remember what I told you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also.

Here Jesus speaks clearly: “A servant is not greater than his master.” What does this mean? If the Master—Jesus—was persecuted, then we who follow Him may also be persecuted.

But we must not misunderstand this. Not all hatred or persecution we experience is because of Jesus. The hatred Jesus speaks of here is not the hatred we receive because of our stubbornness, poor behavior, rudeness, or difficult personality. That is not persecution for Jesus.

The hatred Jesus speaks of is hatred received because of His name, because we hold to truth, because we live according to the gospel.

Therefore, we must ask ourselves an important question: “Do people dislike me because of Jesus, or because of my wrong attitude?” We must distinguish this.

Jesus desires our faith to grow, but He does not desire an aggressive faith. Speaking truth does not mean hating people. Jesus told us to love our enemies.

[Matthew 5:44] Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

Therefore, Christians must not compromise with the world, yet must still love the world. We must call sin “sin,” but not hate sinners. We must not abandon truth, but we must not insult others. We must not look down on others because we have faith. A person with strong faith considers others better than themselves.

When we are hated by the world, we must be careful not to become people who hate in return.

Jesus did not do that. On the cross, He prayed for those killing Him: [Luke 23:34] Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

This is the life of Jesus we must follow.

Jesus faced the cross and did not compromise with the world but followed the Father’s will to the end, even through persecution. Yet even in that process, He had compassion and love for the people of the world.

Do not lose faith in the midst of life’s problems. Even if it costs you, keep the Word and live honestly. Even if people hate or persecute you, never give up love.

[Application] Am I prepared to accept real loss in order to keep my faith? Am I judging or attacking others under the excuse of “defending truth”?

 

3. Testify about Jesus even in the midst of the world’s hatred.

At the end of today’s passage, Jesus gives an amazing promise.

[Verses 26–27] When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—He will testify about Me. And you also must testify, for you have been with Me from the beginning.

Here we discover something important. After telling His disciples that the world will hate them, Jesus does not say, “So hide from the world.” Instead, He says, “Go and testify.”

Jesus knew the disciples would be hated by the world. Yet He still sent them into the world.

Why? Because the world must know Jesus. The purpose of the Christian life is not simply to live comfortably. It is not to do whatever we want. Why do we believe in Jesus and live as Christians in the world? Why did Jesus choose us and call us? To proclaim and testify about Jesus, our Savior.

[1 Peter 2:9] But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

God brought us out of the darkness of sin and death and into His glorious kingdom so that we would proclaim the beautiful and amazing gospel of Jesus. Believers are called to testify about Jesus.

But what is the problem? When we try to testify about Jesus, something inside us stops us. What is it? Fear.

“What if people think I’m strange for believing in Jesus?” “What if they feel uncomfortable when I say I go to church?” “What if talking about the gospel damages the relationship?”

But Jesus says, “You are not doing this alone.” The Holy Spirit is with you. The Holy Spirit helps us live as witnesses of Jesus.

Jesus did not tell His disciples, “Do your best to testify.” He said, [Verse 26] The Spirit of truth… will testify about Me.

Outwardly, it looks like we are testifying about Jesus, but in reality, it is the Holy Spirit within us who testifies.

This is extremely important. The most important thing in testifying about Jesus is not our speaking ability. It is not our Bible knowledge. The most important thing in testifying about Jesus is the work of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, when we share the gospel, we must not fear. The Holy Spirit works in that moment and moves the heart of the listener. Even the act of believing and accepting Jesus is the work of the Holy Spirit. God uses us as witnesses so that the Holy Spirit may work.

When I was a ministry intern, every Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., I evangelized on Queen Street using a Four Spiritual Laws tract. I did not simply hand out tracts—I spoke with people for 30–40 minutes, shared the gospel, invited them to receive Jesus, and prayed with them. I wrote their names and contact information in a notebook and connected them to nearby churches. Over two years, about 200 people received Jesus.

Many amazing things happened, and I want to share one. After finishing two hours of evangelism, I was rushing to my car because I had another appointment. A Kiwi man coming out of a bookstore stopped me and asked what the paper in my hand was. I said it was about Jesus, and he asked me to tell him. I shared the gospel for about five minutes, and he said he wanted to believe in Jesus. We prayed the prayer of acceptance. Then he showed me the book in his hand—it was a Bible. He said he had seen Jesus in a dream the night before. Curious, he went to the bookstore to buy a Bible. As he walked out, he saw me rushing by and felt compelled to ask what I was holding. When he heard it was about Jesus, he was shocked. What happened? The Holy Spirit was already working in his life.

When we take steps to testify about Jesus, believe that the Holy Spirit is already working. When we speak the gospel, believe that the Holy Spirit guides us and works in the listener’s heart.

The church does not exist to avoid the world’s hatred. The church exists to show Jesus to the world. Therefore, when we serve people in our community, it is not merely doing good works. Through everything we do, we must become a channel through which the world sees Jesus.

May all believers of Heaven Hope Church live as witnesses of Jesus—belonging to Him and bringing life to people with the heart of God.

[Application] Who is one specific person I must testify to about Jesus this week? What is the greatest fear I feel about being a witness, and why do I feel it?

 

 

하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.

Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.