The Spirit as Comforter Encourages the Church (15:18—16:4) - part 2 of 5

We are united with Christ (15:18,20).
​If they hated Him, they will hate those of us who are connected with Him. Jesus quoted this in John 15:20, the point He had made earlier, and the logic of this is clear. He is Master, we are Servants. He's bigger than us, so He has to receive the praise and glory. But the world shall not give Him praise and glory! The world hates Him, and therefore the world must hate us. If Jesus, with all His greatness and perfection, cannot escape persecution, what hope is there for us with our imperfections?

In some of the other images of the relationship between Christ and His own, this principle is evident. He is the Shepherd, and we are the sheep, and when they attack the Shepherd, it hurts the sheep (Matt. 26:31). We are the disciples, the learners, and He is the Master. But it is encouraging to know that when God’s people are persecuted, our Lord shares in their suffering, for He is the Head of the body and we are the members. “Why persecutest thou Me, Saul, Saul?” (Acts 9:4). All that the enemy can do to us has already been done to Jesus Christ, and He is “with us” in our suffering.