< John 15 >

Jesus instructed his disciples concerning fruitfulness to God, using the vine as a metaphor. He himself was “the true vine” v.1Waiting for response for John 15:1 bringing forth good grapes representative of the righteousness God requires. The Father’s desire is that his people bring forth much fruit and thereby glorify him, and if they do this they will truly be Jesus’ disciples v.8.Waiting for response for John 15:8 They can only bring forth fruit if they are attached to Jesus, as branches to the vine v.4.Waiting for response for John 15:4 If, for any reason, they separate from him they will wither and be fit only to be burned v.6Waiting for response for John 15:6 and if any fail to bring forth fruit to God they will be cut off v.2.Waiting for response for John 15:2 However, those who are like fruitful branches will be purged to bring forth more fruit to God v.2.Waiting for response for John 15:2 The purging agent is the word of God spoken by Jesus v.3,Waiting for response for John 15:3 “purge” v.2Waiting for response for John 15:2 and “clean” v.3Waiting for response for John 15:3 being the same word in the original Greek. By heeding Jesus’ words and obeying them the disciples abide in Christ, and his Father listens to their prayers v.7.Waiting for response for John 15:7

The foremost fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22)Waiting for response for Galatians 5:22 and Jesus declared that his disciples can only show their love for him by keeping his commandments, even as he himself showed he loved his Father by keeping his commandments v.10.Waiting for response for John 15:10 It is not enough having sentimental feelings of love for Jesus: our love for him must have practical expression in the way he instructed, i.e. by keeping his commandments. Jesus manifested the greatest possible love for his disciples by giving his life for them v.13Waiting for response for John 15:13 and he commands his disciples to love one another, even as the Father loves Jesus and Jesus loves them.

Jesus also declared that the disciples were his friends only if they kept his commandments v.14.Waiting for response for John 15:14 How important it is therefore, if we wish him to count us as his friends, to learn his commandments and obey them. He was the Lord and they the servants but he exalted them to the status of friends in declaring to them the purpose of God in him v.15.Waiting for response for John 15:15 If we are the friends of Jesus we also will know this purpose and look forward to its fulfilment. That purpose involves choosing many men and women to be his friends, and these friends are required to bring forth much fruit to God v.16.Waiting for response for John 15:16 Being chosen by Jesus, however, may bring the hatred of the world v.19Waiting for response for John 15:19 and even persecution, just as Jesus v.20Waiting for response for John 15:20 and many disciples through the ages have suffered.

Jesus had given the people of his day overwhelming evidence that he came from the Father, but they hated him vs.22-25Waiting for response for John 15:22-25 and fulfilled the prophecy in the Psalms: “They hated me without a cause” Psalms 35:19.Waiting for response for Psalms 35:19 The apostles would not be left comfortless because the Father would send them the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, to teach them the truth concerning Jesus v.26.Waiting for response for John 15:26 Clearly none today have this Comforter for none can declare infallible truth except by expressing the words found in the scriptures.