*John 15:1-16
Jesus uses the metaphor of the vine and the branches to illustrate the importance of abiding in him for fruitfulness and love.
- The True Vine:
- Jesus describes himself as the “true vine,” and his Father as the “gardener.”
- The Father removes every branch in Jesus that does not bear fruit and prunes every fruitful branch to make it more productive.
- Remaining in Jesus:
- Jesus emphasizes that his disciples are already clean because of the words he has spoken to them.
- He urges them to remain in him, as a branch cannot bear fruit if it is separated from the vine.
- Jesus explains that he is the vine, and his disciples are the branches. They will bear much fruit if they remain in him, but apart from him, they can do nothing.
- Consequences of Not Remaining:
- Jesus warns that branches not remaining in him will be discarded, withered, and thrown into the fire.
- Prayers and God’s Glory:
- He promises that if they remain in him and his words remain in them, they can ask whatever they wish, and it will be done for them.
- By bearing much fruit, they will show themselves to be Jesus’ disciples and glorify the Father.
- Love and Obedience:
- Jesus commands his disciples to remain in his love by keeping his commandments, just as he remains in the Father’s love by keeping his commandments.
- He shares these teachings so that their joy may be complete.
- Jesus gives a new commandment: “Love each other as I have loved you.”
- He describes the greatest love as laying down one’s life for one’s friends.
- Chosen Friends:
- Jesus calls his disciples friends, not servants, as he has shared everything he learned from the Father.
- He emphasizes that they did not choose him but that he chose them, appointing them to bear lasting fruit.
- He repeats that whatever they ask in his name, the Father will give them.
15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15:15 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.
15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.