“He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.”

John 15:23-24

What does it mean that they would have no sin?
Jesus rebuked Chorazin and Bethsaida because they did not repent when He performed mighty works. He said that it would be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgement. God will hold people accountable according to the truth that has been revealed to them. He knew that Tyre and Sidon would have repented if Jesus had done His works there.

How have they seen Jesus and the Father?
Not even Moses was allowed to see the Father. He could only see the glory from where God had passed by. However, Jesus and the Father are one. The Father is known only through Jesus His Son. When Jesus spoke, He revealed the words of God. When he performed miracles, He displayed the power and authority the Father had given Him.

What are the implications for me?
I love Jesus, but I think that it’s possible for me to treat Him like the Pharisees did. What I mean by this is that Jesus has come into my life, spoken to me, and shown His power in me, and yet I sometimes do not look to Him in my struggles, but focus on my own ability or lack thereof. Reality is that I do not have it in me to please the Father, only Jesus in me can do that. The world suffers from spiritual blindness, but sometimes so do I. In Revelation Jesus tells the Laodiceans to apply eye salve from Him so they will be able to see their sorry state. Praise God that the solution to my blindness is Jesus! He also offered them robes of righteousness to cover their nakedness. He provides righteousness to me so that I can be pleasing God.

Let’s remember the ways Jesus has proved Himself in our lives, and continue to look to Him as our only source of righteousness before God.

Ethan C.