What does John 15:23 mean?

To see Jesus is to see God (John 14:9). The teachings of Jesus are the teachings of God (John 12:49–50). The actions of Jesus are the will of God (John 5:19). Jesus is, in fact, God (John 10:30). So, when a person hates Jesus, they hate God. The more a person turns away from the truths of who Jesus Christ is, and the message He brings, the more clearly that person is rejecting the Creator. No person can turn away from Christ and still find God (John 14:6).

This rejection can be expressed by persecuting those who speak and live as imitators of Christ (John 15:18–19). Hating Christians for acting like Christ is evidence of someone who doesn't know God (John 15:21). Ignorance is no excuse for persecution: by definition, it means rejecting an example provided by God (John 15:22).

Likewise, the more a person should know about Christ, the less tolerance they can claim for misunderstanding who He is. God does not expect us to have perfect theology in order to be saved (Mark 10:15). However, those who have an ability to better understand the Word, yet still present a false version of Christ, are acting in rebellion, not ignorance (John 5:39–40; 7:17; 9:39–41).