(John 16:1-4)

The Gospel is offensive to natural minds because the flesh is contrary to the Spirit of God and by nature will not submit to God, Romans 8:7-8, “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Here our LORD warns His children against being offended by the reaction of unconverted sinners toward them. Until, or unless the LORD grants them FAITH, by His Spirit, their heart remains impenitent.

The word ‘offended’ that the LORD uses in John 16:1, means ‘to stumble or fall’- that is, to apostatize. There are many who profess a faith in the LORD Jesus, yet when persecution arises, they fall away. Such were never the LORD’s, or He would have kept them. Yet, our LORD here proceeds immediately to tell them, of what He had often spoken to them. They would be subject to great persecutions and trials, John 16:2, “They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”

Amazingly, the persecution would come from religious people. Our LORD Jesus Christ Himself was about to be removed by death at the hands of wicked men, according to God’s purpose, Acts 2:23. It was in the synagogues and the Sanhedrin that they plotted His death, so should any of us be surprised that opposition to the LORD Jesus should be so prominent in congregations where the Scriptures are read, yet the hearts are veiled? Our LORD clearly states the reason for such opposition in John 16:3, “And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.”