Feng Xiang: The Hate of the World (John 15:18-16:33)

Original link: http://www.ideobook.com/3187/world-hate/

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Academia generally says that the Gospel of John came out later than the Synoptic Gospel. One of the main arguments is the christology of the Father and Son expounded by the author, “The Father is in me and I am in the Father”, John 10:38, 14:10-11, the end-day anointed/Micah who has departed from the Jesus movement The Saiyan Creed also goes far beyond Paul’s discussion of the “resurrection of Christ”: Jesus was “recognized as the Son of God” by “rising from the dead”, Romans 1:4, 1 Corinthians 15:14. Another reason is that the style of writing is not like the vivid spoken language of the prophets of Galilee preaching the gospel of the poor, but the writing of well-educated people in a school or study. Such mature rabbinical poems and prose carry the way of Christ, and it will not be until the turn of the century, after three generations of inheritance and development, that the new religion has harvested a considerable soul of the middle and upper classes, and the conditions are met. According to the Synoptic Gospel, the Last Supper (the Passover meal on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month) was over, and Jesus led his disciples out of the city and down the mountain, into the oil press garden, and prayed to God. The author’s writing is concise, and the atmosphere is tense and full of sadness. The Son of Man was “suddenly grieved and restless” and said to Peter and the others, “My spirit is so grieved that it is almost dead, Mark 14:13-14, Matthew 26:37-38. After talking about the glorious day for a long time, the one who was about to go to the cross suddenly lost the courage to be resurrected on the third day and ascended to heaven “sit at the right hand of the Mighty”, Psalm 110:1, Mark 14:62, Matt 26:64. He even wanted to escape his fate, begging the Father to “take this cup away for me.” “In his agony, he prayed more and more earnestly, and the sweat fell to the ground in great drops like blood”, Luke 22:42, 44. Who can read this and not be touched by the humanity of Christ, this “too human” moment? But when it came to the Fourth Gospel, the story changed. Dinner was one day early (the fourteenth of the first month); after eating, as soon as Judas took the bread and left, Jesus immediately announced: The Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him! 13:31. Immediately there is a “new commandment” for the disciples: Love one another, agapate allelous, as I love you, 13:36, 15:12, 17. Then there is a long speech, declaring the ethics of the congregation, and explaining that the Father is one with himself and yet has other mysteries. Lord, where are you going? The eldest disciple Peter was still ignorant when he broke up, and did not understand the mission of the anointed to come into the world, 13:36, see 3:17. Lord, Thomas said, we don’t know where you’re going, how do we know which way to go? Jesus answered: I am the Word, hodos, truth and life, 14:5-6. Lord, said Philip, show us the Father, and we shall be content. Jesus answered: I have been with you so long, and you still don’t know me, Philip? When you see me, you see the Father… Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? 14:8-10. Lord, Judas (the son of Jacob, same name as the traitor) said, You have to manifest yourself for us and not for the world, what’s the point? Jesus answered: If anyone loves me, he will obey my words… And the words you hear, ho logos, are not from me, but the words of the Father who sent me. If you love me, rejoice! I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I, 14:22-24, 28. These are abstract teachings. But the author quietly slowed down the rhythm of the narration of Christ’s Passion, and let the son stop before he walked into the garden and was calmly arrested to discuss “the hatred of the world” in detail, which is indeed very meaningful. When “Judas who handed over him” led a battalion of soldiers, and the officers of the chief priests surrounded him with lanterns, torches, and spears, the rabbi drank Peter who drew his sword: put the sword in its sheath! This cup is given by my Father, shall I not drink it? 18:11. 18 If the world hates you, you must understand that he [they] hated me first and then you. 19 If you were of this world, the world would have liked you as its own; but you are not of this world, from whom I have chosen you, and for this reason the world hates you. 20 Remember, my admonition to you: A slave should not be greater than his master. If anyone persecutes me, I will persecute you; if anyone obeys my words, your words will be obeyed. 21 But all the things people do to you are in my name, because they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had never been there and had not warned them, they would be innocent; but now, they cannot shirk their guilt! 23 To hate me is to hate my Father. 24 If I had never accomplished unparalleled greatness among them, they would have been innocent; but now they have seen it and still hate me and my Father! 25 Verily, this is but the fulfillment of the words of their law: they hate me for no reason. 26 When the Comforter comes, He will be my witness when I send you the Spirit of truth from the Father from the Father’s side. 27 At that time you will also testify that you have been with me from the beginning. I have told you all this in chapter sixteen, lest you stumble. 2 They will expel you from the synagogues; yea, the hour has come when those who kill you think they are serving God. 3 They do this because they know neither the Father nor Me. 4 But I say these things so that you will remember in time, I told you. These things I did not say at first, because I am still with you. 5 Now I am going back to the one who sent me and none of you ask: Where are you going? 6 Instead, my heart was filled with sorrow because I told you. 7 But I speak the truth, and I go for your own good. The Comforter will come to you unless I go; only by going can I send him down. 8 And when he arrives, he will testify against the world: guilt, righteousness, and judgment. 9 Guilty, because they would not believe in me; 10 Righteous, because I am going to the Father and no longer be seen by you; 11 Judgment, because the ruler of this world has condemned. 12 There are many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 Wait until the Spirit of truth comes, and by him he will lead you into all truth; for he does not speak by himself, but declares what he hears, and communicates to you everything that is to come. 14 He will give me glory, for all that he has passed on to you has been received by me. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I say: He will pass on to you all that he has received from me. 16 In a while, you will not see me; in a while, you will see me again. 17 Some of the disciples whispered: What does he mean by this? After a while, you won’t see me again, and after a while, you will see me again? Also: Because I am going to the Father’s side? 18 (He said) What does “for a while” mean, we can’t understand! Between the murmurs, 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask questions, and he said: Are you talking about what I mean by saying: After a while, you will not see me, and after a while, you will see me again? 20 Amen, Amen, I tell you, ye shall mourn, and the world shall rejoice; ye shall mourn, but the grief shall be turned into joy! 21 How painful a woman is when she gives birth, because her hour has come; but when a child is born, she forgets the pain of childbirth—Rejoice, man is here! 22 Now you will also mourn; but I will see you again, and make your hearts rejoice, and no one can take away that joy. 23 Until that day you don’t have to ask me anything. Amen, Amen, I tell you that in my name your Father will give you whatever you ask. 24 So far you have not asked in my name; ask, and it will be fulfilled, and your xinxing will be fulfilled. 25 All these I have told you in parables. When the time has come, I don’t need to repeat the parable. The matter of the Heavenly Father can be clearly declared to you. 26 On that day you shall pray in my name, but I do not say that I will pray to the Father for you. 27 For the Father loves you, if you love me and know that I am of God. 28 From my Father, I came into the world; and now I am leaving this world and going back to my Father. …

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