In this sermon, the preacher discusses the teachings of Jesus in John chapters 15 and 16. Jesus spoke these words to his disciples during the Passover meal and on their way to Gethsemane. The main theme of these teachings is to bring peace and joy to the followers of Jesus. Jesus emphasizes that if the world hates his disciples, it is because they are not of the world but chosen by him. He encourages them to rejoice and be glad, as their reward in heaven is great. The preacher also highlights the simplicity of Jesus' teachings, which have been unnecessarily complicated by theology.

John chapter 13, we see the Passover and disciples, they sat with him, Passover table and Jesus was washing the feet of his disciples. While he was in the Passover table, he taught John chapter 14 there. How do we know? It's an important chapter, John chapter 14. He taught while he was having the Passover. Please read John chapter 14, last one. The world may know that I love the father and as the father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. Arise and let us go. Let us go. To where? To Gethsemane. That means where they are sitting, Passover table, taught John chapter 14. Now they are all marching towards Gethsemane. On the way to Gethsemane, he taught John gospel 15 and 16. Then he entered into Gethsemane. John chapter 17 is the prayer of Jesus. 18 we see is agony, then is death and resurrection. So on the way to Gethsemane, chapter 15, he told them, 15 and 16, this topic I teach you so that you may have peace in your future, so that you may have joy in your life. With this two purpose, Jesus taught 15 and 16. Amen. You hear me? Ok. So please open with me chapter 15, verse 11. These things I have spoken unto you, so that my joy may remain in you. That means rest of your life, you will live a life of joyfully as I lived in this earth. Amen. Chapter 16, verse 33. These things I have spoken unto you that in me you might have peace. So this two purpose, Jesus was taught, he taught a powerful message in two chapters, 15 and 16, so that his followers might have peace and joy in their life. What was the theme in that subject? Chapter 15, verse 18 to 21. Jesus told them, if they hate you, remember, the world already hated me. It shows that because I have chosen you, your own people, friends, relatives, dear ones hated you because I have chosen you. Amen. If they persecute you, you have to remember, I have already persecuted before. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. So Jesus was giving injection. Amen. In Tamil we say, thadu poosi. Amen. Vaccination in advance. So when it happens, they will be prevented. Amen. Chapter 16, verse 1 and 2. These things I have spoken unto you that ye should not be offended. Then they shall put you out of the synagogues. The time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he towards God's service. They are doing service to God. So those who kill you, they will think they are doing a great service to God. With that motto, they will kill you. That means they will kill you. Amen. So when it happened, do not be surprised, I am telling you in advance. Amen. These ordinary fishermen, uneducated people understood this teaching very well. Now the problem, they have so much knowledge. So we do lot of research. Those people understood very clearly, either now or future, we will be put into death. So they prepared their mind for that. Amen. You hear me? Last year my wife and I, we were in Rome. We visited Colosseum where the early Christians were thrown into the lions and bears and the wild animals. Our heart was broken. How many blood was shed there. We saw the palace of Nero and lot of ancients, you know, old buildings. Then my wife and I, we went to the prison where Paul was chained. It is underneath the soil, the earth. You have to go down a small cell. There is a pillar, a stone. In that pillar, his hand was chained from that prison. He wrote 2 Timothy. Amen. I want to read a passage from 2 Timothy. Please stand with me, 2 Timothy. Amen. Anyone who desire to live godly life, I tell you, the life will never be easy. You will be persecuted one way or other. Do you want to live in godly life or no? Amen. Amen. Amen. Especially when Jesus taught sermon on the mount, he taught a particular subject repeatedly again and again. Matthew chapter 5 we see several times Jesus said, blessed are you, blessed are you, blessed are you, with one word. But only one point he used two times. Repeatedly, double time blessing. I want you to turn with me to that passage. Matthew chapter 6, read verse 10, 11 and 12. Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. Rejoicing and greatly be glad, not be glad, greatly be glad because your reward in heaven is so great. Do you understand? Is it simple? So simple, but theologians made it into so much complicated. Amen. All his teaching is so simple. Luke chapter 6, 20 to 23. He lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said, blessed be ye poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are ye that hunger now, for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now, for ye shall laugh. Blessed are ye when men shall hate you and when they shall separate you from their company and shall reproach you and cast out your name as evil for the son of man's sake. Do you want reward in heaven or not? There was a Sunday school teacher. He was teaching about hell and heaven and reward. Then he taught about rich man and Lazarus. Where the rich man went and where the Lazarus went. Then he asked a question to the students. Whom you like the best, rich man or Lazarus? One boy, his name is Johnny, he told, I like Lazarus. I want to be like Lazarus. No, no. He said, I like rich man. I want to be like rich man in the world. But when I go to heaven, I like Lazarus. I want to be like Lazarus in heaven. So in here he want to be like whom? Rich man. There he want to be like Lazarus. It works fine. But it doesn't works all the time. Amen. I remember coming for the full time ministry in 1966. Many of you, you have never been born. I don't know whether your father may be born. I am not too old. Okay, 1966. 1982, God has given me a new bicycle. Till the years, walking mountains, valleys, with bare foot, heat, carrying loads, hiring cycle. And those days I wear pants. So the Madhya Pradesh of my pant will thaw. This is Uttar Pradesh. This is Madhya Pradesh. So I put a big patch in the back side. And this is the same pant. Again the portion will thaw. Putting another patch on the top. Amen. I remember that once me team was walking from Thiruvallai to Mallapalli. I look back whether team is following with my speed. I saw a boy, not a boy, a man, plucked a banana skin, eaten the banana and thrown. He is just wiping and eating that banana skin. Then we pass through a party field. I look back whether the team is following. One man is plucking some grass, tender grass, so he can wash and eat it like animal. I cannot forget those days. But if there is no class, there will be a class. Amen. Amen. Don't look always the best, you know. If I have this, this, this, then only I will serve the Lord. If there is nothing, if God calls you, follow with what you have. Then he will add everything. Once I was in the States. You might be familiar with Parker Pen. It's a great name. They have not only making pen, also they drill oil wells. So the manager, he invited me to have a breakfast with him. So I went to the restaurant. I never been in such a restaurant. It's a buffet. It's a big restaurant. I decided I will count number one, two, three, how many items are there. Then I want to eat. I counted. I told the man who invited me, please wait for some time. I counted. It was 150 different varieties for my breakfast. Can you believe it? I don't know all the names. When I saw, my hungry ran away 100 miles. Amen. The same day, the assistant pastor of David Wilkerson, you might be familiar with Cross and Switchblade movie. His co-pastor invited me to have a lunch with him. It was a Chinese buffet. I like Chinese food. It was a nice food. Wonderful. So there also, big buffet. I thought I should count the number. But the one who taken, they are really big eaters. They use my name to eat, you see. And they counted more than 140 varieties. I remember old days, walking with empty stomach. I tell you, if there is no class, there will be a class. Amen. Amen. Now people say, yes, I have a calling. Can you provide rent for my home? Can you buy motorbike? Everything God will give you. You just follow. Money, fame, resources will follow you. But don't follow money or fame. Follow Him. Everything He will bring it to pass. Amen. Do you hear me? Amen. Amen. Amen. Many stories come into my mind, you see. Now I am really disturbed what to tell you. Amen. While Jesus was walking to Gethsemane, Peter, Jesus told about his agony and death on the cross. Peter gave private counseling to Jesus. No, this thing shouldn't happen to you, Jesus. The same person told that Jesus is the son of God. That time who used Peter? God used. Now the same person, Satan used him. Do you hear me? Jesus publicly told, get Satan, get out behind me, get behind me, get me out of me. If somebody, leader tells you, get Satan out of me, he called me Satan. I will never follow anymore. Even though Jesus called him Satan, get out behind me, he still followed. Amen. But he is the one who wrote 1st Peter to the scattered people. What he wrote is very interesting. Please read. 1st Peter chapter 2 verse 20 and 21. Amen. Chapter 4 verse 1. Verse 12 to 16. Do you get anything out of this? Yes or no? Yes. Amen. Philippians chapter 1 verse 29. Not only to believe, but also to suffer for his name sake. 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 verse 10. Amen. 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verse 7 to 12. Amen. Amen. So death works in us, but life works in others. Verse 16, the same chapter, 16, 17 and 18. Amen. Romans chapter 8 verse 18. Do you hear this? Yes or no? Yes. Amen. Jesus, in this ministry, he undergone persecution and suffering. That's not when he went to the cross. Before that, during the time of his ministry. Why? To show us an example. Amen. Please read Romans chapter 5 verse 3 to 4. But not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulations work at patience, and patience experience and experience hope. Pleasure in what are the things I take pleasure? What are the things you take pleasure? Halwa, Laddu, Mysore Pak, then what else? Jalebi, Bomos, Gumbo. Yes, Louisiana people, they like Gumbos. And then what else? Some of the favorites. Milky? Milk cake? McDonalds? Yes. Subway? Yes. Ice cream? Which ice cream? Vanilla? Ok, ok. Pleasure we get it? He got it plenty. Amen. Now Paul is giving a question with a question mark. Who is the servant of Christ? 2nd Corinthians chapter 6 verse 3 to 10. Giving no offense in anything that the ministry be not be blamed, but in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God in much patience. Ok, if he can count, count it. Ok, what are the things? It can be divided into three parts. One is fruit of the spirit. Another is suffering for Christ. Another is gift of the Holy Ghost. So this can be divided into three parts. Ok, there is a large variety of stuff he is telling. And turn with me 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 verse 23 to 29. Is there a question mark there? Yes? In all Bible? Yes? Then he is giving an answer to that question. What is that question? What is that answer? I speak as a fool. I am more in labors, more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in death oft. Continue, continue. Of the Jews, five times received I forty stripes, save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned. Thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep. In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in dead are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak. Ok, there also a number proves. Hey, these are the people finish their race. They are watching how we are running our race. These are the clouds of witness. Amen. Hebrews chapter 11 verse 24, 25 and 26. My faith, Moses, when he was come to yours, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He refused to be called Pharaoh's son of Pharaoh's daughter. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ, greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. For he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. Amen. Amen. It's a powerful word. You hear me? In early days, the Christians, the followers of God, even though people will give false accusation against them, they will be brought to the court. The magistrate knows them very well. They are very nice people, pious people. They won't do this sort of crime. So the magistrates will tell, we don't want to punish you, you go. You know what they used to tell? Please punish us and send us. They will ask, why? If we punish, we will be the first in the resurrection. Then they will be received the meeting. Then they will go. Others, till they won't go. Those sort of stuff in the Bible. But our eyes doesn't go there. Because our flesh wants more pleasure. Hebrews, chapter 11, read verse 35 onwards. I want this to go to your eyes. Through your eyes into the brain. Not only in the brain, into the heart. Amen. But don't leave away. Once, even the people gave case against us. They tried to arrest us. Even people came to shoot us. They tried to kidnap my wife. Things which happened were horrible. But we knew these are a time of affliction and suffering. We have to go through. Amen. But our Lord, because he has already undergone. He knows, he is a sympathetic high priest. To help us in the time of our need. Don't run away. Be there. He will give the mercy and grace to overcome. When we compare the glory to appear, these afflictions are light afflictions. One who is willing to deny ourself. Denying ourself. Please read. Matthew chapter 16 verse 24. We are going to see how he dealt with that problem. It's a very interesting subject. I really, when I studied this, it just blown my eyes. Okay. Very clearly he said, If you want to follow me, you must have a mind of denying yourself. Denying your identity. Denying your prestige. Denying yourself. Amen. When you become nobody, God can make you somebody. As long as you think that you are somebody, God cannot make you. There is nothing. Amen. And this particular word in all the gospels we can see. And Mark gospel chapter 8 verse 34. He must deny himself. There is no choice. He must. Is it clear? Yes? Amen. See, when we study the life of Jesus, First of all he showed an example. That he denied himself. That we can see very clearly in the book of Philippians. Philippians chapter 2. Read the words from 5 to 8. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross. Till he went to the cross and died, he humbled himself. So, father exalted him above all names. How the exaltation comes? If we humble, he will exalt us. If he exalt us, he will humiliate us. That's the principle. If you read all the gospel, we can find. And also please read Philippians chapter 3. When Paul found out, how Jesus denied himself, he denied himself, and put into a practice, like a model to Christ, to others people. Amen. So he was able to tell to his followers, so his brothers, as Christ follows me. Amen. Philippians chapter 3, verse 4 to 11. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh, if any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more. Circumcised the eighth day of the stalk of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law, a Pharisee, concerning zeal, persecuting the church, touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gained to me, those I counted laws for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but laws, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whom I have suffered the laws of all things, and do count them by dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God, by faith, that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his suffering, being made conformable unto his death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Everything which had to be boasted, everything, he counters, nothing. Amen. Yes? Ok. Matthew chapter 4, we see, Jesus doing the ministry, healing the sick, casting the demons, and preaching the kingdom of God, to the people. Chapter 5, 6, 7, we see, the people, those who have been set free, from their bondages, he taught them, how you have to live, not there, in heaven, but here on this earth, he gave the kingdom principle, how to live. And chapter 8, 9, also, again, we see that Jesus is walking through the beach, and doing the ministry. Chapter 10, he called the disciples, and delegated, his power and authority, to the disciples. Amen. After, these ordinary disciples, they received the power from the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, wherever they go, they see the sick people being healed, demon people being cast out, and there is a great deliverance, even sat and subjected to them. Now, there is a question arised, among the disciples. The question was, they want to know, who is greatest among us? Who is greatest among us? They want to know, either Peter, or John, or James, or Andrew, or Matthew, or Levi, whoever, they want to know the person. So, the disciples came, and asked this question, Lord, please tell us, who will be the greatest? Please stand with me to, Matthew Gospel, chapter 18, verse 1, through 3, 1 to 3. Okay, start again. At that time, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, Not one disciple, but disciples, plural. They came to Jesus, what did they ask? Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Who is? They want to know the person, who is the greatest, in the kingdom of heaven. Okay. He called a little child, and had him stand among them, and he said, I tell you the truth, unless you change, and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Okay. Unless you apostles, convert, change from this mindset of, who is greatest among us, you will never enter into, kingdom of God. You will never enter into God's kingdom. After entering into God's kingdom, then is first class, second class, or no class, or a class. Okay. Even to enter, you must change from this mindset up. This he never preached to, the unconverted people. He preached to the apostles. Why? After they received the power, they want to know, who is greatest among us. Then Jesus continued, to give the answer, and he explained, what kind of people, will be greatest, in his kingdom. They want to know who, but he gave, what kind of people. Answer was totally different. Okay. Suppose if he said, Peter will be the first, what will happen? When Jesus is away, all the 11 will gather together, and surely, somehow, what would happen? Would you kill him? Let's see whether he will become. This happened to Joseph. He saw two visions, and shared with his brothers. Then that's what they ate, brothers, and thrown him into the, not well, what sort of well? Into the, eh? Not in the pit, no. Into Pottakanar, Amen, that's right. Pallamalatakanar, Amen. Driver. Okay. So Jesus was very careful. Okay. Please continue. whoever humbles himself like this child, Jesus said, whoever humbles himself, like this child, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. He will be, greatest in his kingdom. Amen. So the way, to be the greatest in God's kingdom is humbling ourselves. Then one day, while he was talking to the disciples, he shared about, the future plan for the disciples. One of the disciples asked a question, Lord, we left everything, our job, and our future, our nest, and everything, family, everything followed you. What we will get? Jesus told, in the day of the son of man comes, you who left everything, you will sit with the throne, along with me, and judge the nations. Amen. Immediately, something clicked in their mind. Oh, there will be special throne for Jesus, another throne around. They want to know, who will be the right and left sitting. So, all of us will be sitting to judge. Then, immediately clicked. Somebody will be sitting, right and left. Who will be that person? Okay. Same question in different way. Mark chapter 9, verse 33 onwards. Once, these disciples, they are walking, going through to a city, going to a particular home. He might be invited for food, who doesn't know. Well, they all were walking. They will be sure, many people watching Jesus. He might be going little ahead. Disciple might be following little behind. There was an argument among the disciples. Among whom? Among the apostles. If it happened among the apostles, surely, among the team members, among the students, surely, this will be a great problem. Jesus did the problem very wisely. Okay. These disciples were arguing on the road. He asked, what the disciples knew were arguing? They should have given very clearly, Lord, this was a subject we are arguing. They thought, the subject which we are talking, arguing, shouting, fighting, Jesus won't care about us. He won't mind. We do our business. Let He do His business. His business was watching everything. Amen. Amen. Then, what was the reply? They kept quiet, pretending, we never argued anything. This is a problem everywhere. In the days of Jesus Christ. Also international problem. They were gathering together, discussing and talking even against the leader. Leader immediately entered the room. They all closed mouth. Pretending, we never talked anything about the leader. They immediately changed the mind. They are specialists. Specialists, super specialists specialists for this. Specially India, I tell you. I am an Indian. They know how to change immediately. Changing the plate. In the early days, we used tape recorder and all, like a gramophone recorder. We have to put the plate one side, then change the needle, then put other side and put it, it will run easy. So we know how to change it. Like dosa. You know why that particular cake has that name? Dosa. Do you know? When the flour or the flour, pouring in the hot vessel, in this case, the sound comes sha, sha, sha, sha, when that's the first time, ek baar, do baar, put it back, other side, sha. So do times sa means dosa. Yes? Dosa. Dosa. So simple. So easily we do it, the things. Then, please continue. Why? Because, why they were silent? Because on the way, they had argued about who was the greatest. They had argued about who was the greatest. This argument, if Jesus heard it, the people both side, roads, also heard it. Roman roads. We have seen Roman road. Not too big, not too wide. Maybe six feet wide. Because horses can run through the road. Those days, no cars, nothing. After horses running for years, then the road will become polished. Those road, like a stone, you know, arar stone, just keeping small stones, piece to piece, waiting jointly, so that horse can run fast. You see? Those are the roads those days they used. That's a road they used to walk. So the people are very close. If Jesus heard it, the argument, surely the public people also heard it. It was a shame to Jesus. The followers fighting, arguing, who is greatest among us? Apostles. Who heal sick, who cast out demons. But inside, there is a problem. A problem. Fighting for the position. Fighting for the power. Do you hear me? Okay. Then what did Jesus say? Sitting down, Jesus called the toll and said... Jesus called the toll. He is the one taught, if you correct somebody, correct one to one. If they don't listen, call two or three, then correct it. If they don't listen, then tell to the church, let the church correct it. The same Jesus, now, not correcting one to one, publicly, he is correcting. Some people, otherwise will never change. You know? It's true. Bible says, correct one to one. Some people may correct us privately, personally. Some may correct us publicly. There are occasions, Paul wrote to Timothy, correct people publicly, so others may not also do the same evil wrong thing. Amen. We have to be ready to be corrected either public or private. Amen. Okay? Amen. In my childhood, we lived in a small house. Roof is by coconut tree leaf. You know, every year, the leaf need to be removed. I'm putting a new ceiling. A small road in front of our house. Once in a while, an elephant, they bring a big elephant to a brook, a small river near our house to bring to wash. A small boy was thinking, I used Malabar glory soap in those days. It's a good smell, like peat soap. And I used to think, what kind of soap the man using for this elephant and how big that will be. So I want to know. So whenever they bring the elephant to the brook, you know, in a small river, I used to go immediately, pretending I want to take bath. I'm just simply going to see how the elephant take showering. I tell you, there I saw the shower. Pshhh! It sucked the water inside, you know. And pshhh! Good to see. Oh! Small boy, I like it. But this man, you know, not the owner, but the one who lead the elephant, never start putting the soap. So he will put, you know, some banana plant or something, just to cross the river, and so the water may come up, and we will also help, so they can do the duty fast and helping. Then the elephant will be simply and enjoying the water. Then he goes to get the soap. Where? From the river itself. What soap? Big, rough, stone. Not polished stone. Rough stone. This sort of mud will only go with the rough stony soap. Normal soap will never work. You hear me? Ah! Yeah! Yes! Some of Indian elephants have seen. See the polished soap, life boy soap, Chandrika soap, doesn't works. Only rough soap will work. Amen! Anyway it will work. Amen! You hear me? Yes! Yes! Anyway, that elephant was a female elephant. So the female elephant also need rough soap. Not only male elephant. What did Jesus say? Okay. If anyone wants to be first, he must... Jesus said, if anyone you wanted to be the first, he never condemn, it is wrong, no. He didn't say. It is good, good to say. Become a leader. Yes. If you want to be first, so next. He must be the very last. He must be not the last, the very last. And the servant of all. And servant of all. Not master of all. Servant of all. Very last means if there is a day, serving fish. Fish has tail and head. If you cut into two piece, one piece is head, one piece is tail. If it is a big fish, then we have center portion, Madhya Pradesh. Amen! Otherwise only bottom piece and head piece. If there is a fish, we live in a small island. So, our people like fish curry very much. Our people like fish curry very much. When they say to the boys, tomorrow's fish curry, we can see lion standing very clearly. If they come last, they think they will get only head. If they come first, they can get the center piece. Amen! Becoming last means not just keeping good piece away and serving the head and tail, but keeping the head piece for us, leaving the leg piece and the Madhya Pradesh to other people. Amen! Those who cook, I know they will keep the best portion after they all go. They will close the kitchen and sit inside and eat the best piece. You know what I mean? Okay? Okay?