John 16:3

In John 16:3, Jesus continues His intimate discourse with His disciples, preparing them for the intense challenges they will face after His departure. This verse succinctly explains the motivation behind the persecution they are about to endure: a fundamental ignorance of God the Father and of Jesus Himself by their persecutors.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' "Farewell Discourse" (John chapters 13-17), specifically following His stark warnings about the world's hatred and coming persecution. In John 16:1-2, Jesus tells His disciples these things so they will not "be offended" (stumble or fall away) when the promised difficulties, including being cast out of synagogues and even killed, begin. The actions described as "these things" directly refer to the severe hostility and violence mentioned in the preceding verse. Jesus reveals that the root cause of this animosity is not merely political or social, but deeply spiritual.

Key Themes

• Persecution as a Sign of Spiritual Ignorance: The verse highlights that hostility towards believers stems from a lack of true knowledge and relationship with God. Those who persecute the disciples do so not because they are evil for evil's sake, but because they genuinely do not recognize the Father or the Son.
• The Unity of the Father and the Son: By stating "they have not known the Father, nor me," Jesus powerfully links the knowledge of Himself with the knowledge of the Father. This underscores His divine identity and His inseparable relationship with God, a central theme throughout the Gospel of John. To reject one is to reject the other.
• Jesus' Foreknowledge and Comfort: Jesus' advanced warning serves to strengthen His disciples' faith. Knowing the reason for their suffering—that it is because of their connection to Him and the Father, not due to their own failings—provides a unique comfort and validation. This foreknowledge is a hallmark of Jesus' prophetic insight.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "known" is ginōskō (γινώσκω). This term implies more than just intellectual awareness or factual knowledge; it refers to a deep, experiential, and personal relationship. The persecutors' problem isn't just that they haven't heard about God, but that they haven't entered into a saving relationship with Him. Their actions are a direct consequence of this spiritual blindness and alienation from the divine.

Related Scriptures

• Jesus' previous warnings about the world's hatred are found in John 15:18-20, where He states, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you."
• The concept of true knowledge of God being central to eternal life is articulated in John 17:3: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."
• The close unity between Jesus and the Father is also emphasized in John 10:30, where Jesus declares, "I and my Father are one."

Practical Application

For believers today, John 16:3 offers several profound implications:

• Understanding Opposition: It helps us understand that opposition or even hostility towards Christians often stems from a spiritual void—a lack of genuine knowledge of God. This perspective encourages compassion and prayer for those who persecute, rather than bitterness or retaliation.
• Comfort in Persecution: When facing difficulty or rejection for one's faith, this verse reminds us that such experiences align with Jesus' predictions. It confirms that our suffering is not random but is tied to our identification with Christ and the Father, providing a sense of validation and purpose.
• The Centrality of Knowing God: The verse underscores the supreme importance of having a personal, experiential knowledge of both the Father and the Son. This relationship is not merely intellectual assent but a transformative encounter that shapes one's worldview and actions.
• A Call to Witness: Recognizing that ignorance is the root cause of hostility should motivate believers to share the Gospel, offering others the opportunity to come to a saving knowledge of the Father and the Son, as described in passages like John 3:16.