Though brief, this week's gospel text from John offers revealing insight into Jesus' special relationship with his disciples. From the outset, the author hints that he personally witnessed Jesus' earthly ministry (John 1:14). The poetic, cosmic scope of John's language at the beginning accents the timelessness of Christ the preexistent Logos. Yet the personal asides throughout this gospel also emphasize the timeliness of Jesus' ministry and the pivotal role of his team of disciples as witnesses to both Jesus' earthly life and his resurrected glory.
Today's text highlights this simultaneously cosmic and communal paradox of John's gospel. Beginning in 15:18, Jesus outlines both the dreadful and the desirous developments that await his disciples. First, Jesus offers words of warning: He predi…