< John 15 >

Jesus instructed his disciples concerning fruitfulness to God, using the vine as a metaphor. He himself was “the true vine” v.1John 15:1XWaiting for response 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.John 15:8XWaiting for response They can only bring forth fruit if they are attached to Jesus, as branches to the vine v.4.John 15:4XWaiting for response If, for any reason, they separate from him they will wither and be fit only to be burned v.6John 15:6XWaiting for response and if any fail to bring forth fruit to God they will be cut off v.2.John 15:2XWaiting for response However, those who are like fruitful branches will be purged to bring forth more fruit to God v.2.John 15:2XWaiting for response The purging agent is the word of God spoken by Jesus v.3,John 15:3XWaiting for response “purge” v.2John 15:2XWaiting for response and “clean” v.3John 15:3XWaiting for response 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.John 15:7XWaiting for response

The foremost fruit of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22)Galatians 5:22XWaiting for response 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.John 15:10XWaiting for response 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.13John 15:13XWaiting for response 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.John 15:14XWaiting for response 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.John 15:15XWaiting for response 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.John 15:16XWaiting for response Being chosen by Jesus, however, may bring the hatred of the world v.19John 15:19XWaiting for response and even persecution, just as Jesus v.20John 15:20XWaiting for response 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.22-25John 15:22-25XWaiting for response and fulfilled the prophecy in the Psalms: “They hated me without a cause” Psalms 35:19.Psalms 35:19XWaiting for response 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.John 15:26XWaiting for response Clearly none today have this Comforter for none can declare infallible truth except by expressing the words found in the scriptures.