“John 15:1-17”

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. This I command you, that you love one another.”

---End of Scripture verses---

At the end of chapter 14 Jesus and His apostles arose to leave the upper room and make their way to the Garden of Gethsemane (14:31). Maybe along the way Jesus noticed a grapevine and decided to use it as an illustration of what it means to be one of His true followers. Jesus, as the “true vine” (verse 1), is the ideal realization of what a vine is and does. As a vine supports all life and provides all nourishment and growth for the various branches that grow off of it, Jesus is the origin of spiritual life and the source of every vital spiritual resource available to the people dependent upon Him.

A branch that does not produce fruit is useless, and even counterproductive, to its owner (verse 2). As branches of the True Vine we are expected to obey His commandments (verse 10) and produce a “harvest of righteousness” (James 3:18). If we neglect to do His will and produce good fruit, we are “thrown away as a branch” (verse 6). I’m not sure where the doctrine of “once saved always saved” originated, but it certainly did not come from Jesus!

The heavenly Father prunes every branch that bears fruit so that we can even bear more fruit (verse 2). How does He do that? God prunes away the old carnal refuse by continual exposure to the Bible. Jesus told His apostles “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you” (verse 3). The cleansing process begins with and continues through the Spirit-inspired word of God. The Holy Spirit’s revelation trims off the dead weight to help maximize our spiritual potential and effectuate more growth. If Jesus’ words abide in us we will bear much fruit (verses 7-8).

“You are My friends if you do what I command you” (verse 14). How long would you keep a friend who told you that you had to do everything he told you to? I’m thinking maybe five minutes tops. But that’s exactly what Jesus is telling us here. We often sing the song “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”. We must be careful to understand that, as a true friend, Jesus is not our peer, our buddy or our pal. He is our friend because of all the good things He has done for us and what He promises to do for us if we obey His every command. Jesus is our friend, but He is also our Supreme Ruler.

"If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:31-32).

Please read John 16:1-15 for tomorrow – Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit.

Have a great day!

-Louie Taylor

Share