John 15:15 Meaning and Explanation
“Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus no longer calls his disciples servants but friends, for he has made known to them everything he heard from his Father.
What Does John 15:15 Mean?
Jesus marks the turning point himself: henceforth. A household servant carries out orders and is told nothing of the reasons; a friend is brought inside the counsel of the master. Jesus has held nothing back — all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. The whole farewell evening has been exactly that: the Son opening the heart of the Father to his own.
Here is the wonder of revelation: God does not only command; in his Son he confides. The apostles would still gladly call themselves servants of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1), for the title remains an honor — but beneath it now lies a deeper name, spoken by the Lord himself. And to read this Gospel is to be drawn into the same confidence, for what he made known to them, they have made known to us.
John 15:15 in the Original Language
doulos (δοῦλος), 'servant' -- a bondservant, one bound to the will of a master.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 15:15
What does John 15:15 mean?
Jesus no longer calls his disciples servants but friends, for he has made known to them everything he heard from his Father.