John 15:21 - But all these things will they do to you for my name’s sake, because they don’t know him who sent me.

Generated Verse: John 15:21

What does "John 15:21" mean?


John 15:21 means that people who persecute or mistreat Jesus' followers will do so because they are acting in the name of Jesus. They do not believe in Him or God, who sent Jesus to Earth.

Here's a breakdown of the verse:

"But all these things will they do to you...": This refers to the persecution and hatred Jesus has been talking about in the preceding verses (John 15:18-20). He's preparing his disciples for the hardships they will face as his followers.
"...for my name's sake...": The reason they will be persecuted is specifically because they are associated with Jesus and bear his name. Their identity as Christians, as followers of Jesus, will make them targets.
"...because they don't know him who sent me.": The root cause of the persecution is a lack of knowledge and understanding of God, the Father, who sent Jesus. Those who reject Jesus are ultimately rejecting God himself. Their actions stem from a spiritual blindness and a lack of recognition of God's true nature and purpose.

In essence, Jesus is saying that the world, which doesn't know God, will hate and persecute his followers because they represent him. This persecution is not a reflection of the followers' behavior but a consequence of the world's rejection of God.