The Last Supper Discourse is Jesus' last will and testament to his disciples. He leaves them but he will not leave them orphans since he will send them another Advocate. He wants however that his disciples love one another; by this love, people will know that they are his friends. Within the context of this "Farewell" theme, Jesus also tells his disciples how their life will be. It will be characterized by a continuing vital relationship with Jesus based on his word (John 15:1-17). It is at this point that Jesus tells his disciples how they will be treated by the world. If internally, the disciples' existence will be characterized by communion in Jesus' life and love, externally, they will be exposed to the hatred of the world. But whether internally or externally, the other Advocate will be there to cement them together as one (cf. John 17) and in the face of a death-dealing world, will vindicate them. John 15:18-16:15 can be divided as follows:
- 15:18-16:3 The Hatred of the World
- 16:4-15 The Work of the Other Paraclete
- 16:4-11 The Holy Spirit as Advocate
- 16:12-15 The Holy Spirit as Guide to all Truth
Both these sections are brought together by the expression "I have said these to you" (16:1.4.5) and the mention of the other Advocate (15:26;16:7).
The Existence of the Disciples
If the existence of the disciples will be characterized internally by a communion of life and love with the Lord, externally, it is characterized by exposure to the hatred of the world. John 15:18-16:4 is marked by the keyword "to hate" and the particular way in which this hate is going to be expressed: persecution (15:20), expulsion from the synagogue and murder (16:1-2). Jesus tells his disciples that the world will hate them because they are not of the world (15:18-19); Jesus has chosen them from the world (15:19) and are identified with Him (15:20-21). The world is the enemy of Jesus and the Father and therefore the Scriptures is fulfilled that says "For no reason did they hate me".
The psalm citation is taken from Psalm 69, the same psalm quoted in the episode of the cleansing of the Temple, "Zeal for your house consumes me." The psalm itself is about a man who, because of his loyalty to Jewish piety is being persecuted and even unjustly accused. The psalm is not only a prayer for deliverance; it is also a prayer for vindication. Applied to Jesus in John 2, this same psalm applied to the situation of the disciples who will be hated by the world because of their identification with Jesus. The Body is hated along with the Head (cf. John 2:17-22)
The Work of the Advocate
The words of Jesus about the hatred of the world are meant to strenthen the disciples who will appear defenseless before their enemies. Within this context, Jesus mentions the Paraclete. "Ho parakletos" can mean both "Consoler" and "Advocate." He will be consoling the disciples in Jesus' absence. At the same time, however, He will be their Advocate, the one who will stand with them, like an Attorney before those that accuse them.
Before 15:26, Jesus mentioned the Paraclete twice. In 14:16, He calls the Spirit, "the other Advocate", "the Spirit of Truth", and the one who will abide with the disciples. In 15:25, Jesus tells them that the Advocate will teach them everything, and remind them all that Jesus has been telling them. In 15:26, Jesus returns to the theme of the Advocate whom He will send from the Father and who will give witness about him. In 16:8-11, Jesus becomes more specific about the way the Spirit will stand as an Advocate for the disciples: He will charge the world with regards to three things: about sin, righteousness and the condemnation they lay on the disciples.
The Paraclete as Advocate. Already in 15:21-24, Jesus has pointed out that because the world has rejected his words and his works, it's sin can no longer be denied. As early as John 3:20, Jesus has explained that those who reject His light prove themselves worthy of condemnation. The Holy Spirit will charge the world of its sin because of their rejection of Jesus' words and works. The Holy Spirit will also charge the world on the question of righteousness because it will be shown at the lifting up of Jesus (his glorification) that He is the Righteous One. His exaltation on Easter Sunday will show that the world has been wrong about Him. Finally, the condemnation laid by the world against the disciples themselves will backfire against the world since its leader will himself be judged and condemned.
The Paraclete as Guide All Truth. Recalling his words in 15:25, Jesus tells his disciples in vv. 12-15 that the Paraclete will guide them to all truth. Since what belongs to the Father belongs also to Jesus (cf. John 3:35), so also what the Spirit will tell the disciples will be taken from Jesus. More about this, here.
