Note 69 at Jn. 15:20: Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick." If a believer has the mistaken opinion that he will not suffer persecution, then his heart will be sick quite often. Jesus is preparing His disciples for the inevitable so that they will not be offended when it comes (Jn. 16:1-4).

Note 70 at Jn. 15:20: In the midst of persecution, Satan will try to convince us that this strife is all our fault. If he succeeds, then we back down and the pressure is off his followers. However, Jesus suffered continual rejection and persecution, and yet we know that the problem was not with Him but with those who rejected Him.

Jesus is making it clear that persecution is an inevitable part of a godly life (2 Tim. 3:12), so that we will not fall prey to introspection and self-condemnation when rejection comes. If our sinless Savior was rejected, then certainly we will be, too.