Post by foxjj on Jul 29, 2024 7:16:46 GMT
John Chapter 15 NIV.
In Chapter 15 of John’s Gospel, Jesus declared He is the one and only source by which all believers must attach themselves spiritually - if indeed they wish to live a Godly Christian life. Beginning with the familiar “ I am the true vine,” John records the words of Jesus as He explains how The Father takes our claim of following Jesus seriously:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”
The vineyard is used as a metaphor for Israel throughout the Old Testament. In many examples, Yahweh cultivates the vineyard only to receive a bad harvest from the vine - a metaphor of Israel’s unfaithfulness. Such examples were reminders to Israel of blessings received, and consequences for unfaithfulness to their benevolent God, such as found in Isaiah 5:3-5:
“Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
4 What more could have been done for my vineyard
than I have done for it?
When I looked for good grapes,
why did it yield only bad?
5 Now I will tell you
what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge,
and it will be destroyed;
I will break down its wall,
and it will be trampled.”
Jesus is declaring that He is the true spiritual vine connecting God and humanity. We must remember that seasonal pruning has a beneficial result for plants and trees - cutting off the dead branches encouraging new growth - as stated in verse 2:
“2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
Jesus is speaking to the disciples, who in turn displayed their fruit by proclaimed the Gospel throughout the world, which has reached down to you and I. This Gospel is life changing, and cleansing to all who receive it with a repentant heart:
“3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”
The Lord then proclaims that He is the one and only source of spiritual life, just as the vine is the source of natural life for its branches and fruit.
“4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
Previously Jesus had told the disciples: “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”- John 14:23. What a life changing promise!
Continuing, our Savior explained:
“5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
Repeating “I am the vine,” Jesus is enforcing the importance of this truth. Paul also wrote concerning the wonderful promise of Jesus dwelling in born again believers: “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”- Colossians 1:27.
Regeneration is the evidence of a convicted sinner turning to Jesus seeking forgiveness, thereby becoming spiritually born again. There are many who have religious experiences, but sadly, fail to go deeper seeking a genuine relationship with The Savior. Biblical salvation is not a religious experience, but a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who gave His life in order that we can receive redemption, as John 3:3 states: “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Verse 7 continues:
“7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
For all who abide in Jesus, prayer becomes second nature. Not a selfish ‘give me’ type of prayer, but prayer on behalf of the needs of others, especially for the life changing evidence of the Gospel in their lives.
“9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
All who have repented of their sins, accepting the forgiveness offered through the Atonement of Jesus’s sacrifice on Calvary, experience God’s love as part of the new life. In turn we reach out to others in love sharing our experiences.
“12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.”
Although Jesus is addressing the disciples, we can also associate ourselves with His promises of friendship. This experience is beyond expression. To know the One who came from Glory in order to lay down His life so that I can live in eternity with Him is unfathomable.
“15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”
The vine supporters and sustaines the branches. Without the sustenance that the vine supplies, the branches would wither and die. So it is with believers, unless we are attached to The One who is the source of our faith, our faith will be without spiritual sustenance - it will wither up and die. Without that personal relationship with Jesus as our Savior and Lord, our faith is merely a religious experience. Jesus offers you and I a living faith. Scripture states: "For in him we live and move and have our being."- Acts 17: 28.
The following verse’s describe the world’s reaction to the new Church that would preach peace and forgiveness. Because the world is spiritually blind, it failed to recognize The Savior when He came. Jesus now continues His discourse with a warning:
“18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
The Gospel of Jesus Christ divides because of the sinful nature of humanity. We who have accepted the Lordship of our Redeemer know Him as The Prince of Peace however, the world in general rejects Him. On another occasion Jesus addressed this when He said:
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law —
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’” - Matthew 10:34-36.
Jesus continues to instruct the disciples:
“20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.”
The people of Jesus’ time were privileged because The Son of God was among them. Unlike the rest of the world who have heard the stories about the ministry and sacrifice of Jesus, they witnessed it. Consequently, Jesus said they are guilty of the sin of rejecting Him. John 9:39-41 also speaks to this:
“Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
The Father sent His Son in accordance with previous prophecies consequently, by rejecting Jesus people also reject The Father who sent Him:
“23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’ (Psalm 69:4)
Previously in chapter 14, John had recorded where Jesus had promised He would send The Holy Spirit to aid and comfort the disciples. He now repeats this promise concerning the one who will stand beside them giving power to the new Church, from the time of Pentecost on down through the years:
“26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father —the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”
Today, let us continue to receive our spiritual sustenance from Jesus.
John Joseph Fox.
In Chapter 15 of John’s Gospel, Jesus declared He is the one and only source by which all believers must attach themselves spiritually - if indeed they wish to live a Godly Christian life. Beginning with the familiar “ I am the true vine,” John records the words of Jesus as He explains how The Father takes our claim of following Jesus seriously:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.”
The vineyard is used as a metaphor for Israel throughout the Old Testament. In many examples, Yahweh cultivates the vineyard only to receive a bad harvest from the vine - a metaphor of Israel’s unfaithfulness. Such examples were reminders to Israel of blessings received, and consequences for unfaithfulness to their benevolent God, such as found in Isaiah 5:3-5:
“Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah,
judge between me and my vineyard.
4 What more could have been done for my vineyard
than I have done for it?
When I looked for good grapes,
why did it yield only bad?
5 Now I will tell you
what I am going to do to my vineyard:
I will take away its hedge,
and it will be destroyed;
I will break down its wall,
and it will be trampled.”
Jesus is declaring that He is the true spiritual vine connecting God and humanity. We must remember that seasonal pruning has a beneficial result for plants and trees - cutting off the dead branches encouraging new growth - as stated in verse 2:
“2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
Jesus is speaking to the disciples, who in turn displayed their fruit by proclaimed the Gospel throughout the world, which has reached down to you and I. This Gospel is life changing, and cleansing to all who receive it with a repentant heart:
“3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”
The Lord then proclaims that He is the one and only source of spiritual life, just as the vine is the source of natural life for its branches and fruit.
“4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
Previously Jesus had told the disciples: “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”- John 14:23. What a life changing promise!
Continuing, our Savior explained:
“5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
Repeating “I am the vine,” Jesus is enforcing the importance of this truth. Paul also wrote concerning the wonderful promise of Jesus dwelling in born again believers: “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”- Colossians 1:27.
Regeneration is the evidence of a convicted sinner turning to Jesus seeking forgiveness, thereby becoming spiritually born again. There are many who have religious experiences, but sadly, fail to go deeper seeking a genuine relationship with The Savior. Biblical salvation is not a religious experience, but a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who gave His life in order that we can receive redemption, as John 3:3 states: “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
Verse 7 continues:
“7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
For all who abide in Jesus, prayer becomes second nature. Not a selfish ‘give me’ type of prayer, but prayer on behalf of the needs of others, especially for the life changing evidence of the Gospel in their lives.
“9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
All who have repented of their sins, accepting the forgiveness offered through the Atonement of Jesus’s sacrifice on Calvary, experience God’s love as part of the new life. In turn we reach out to others in love sharing our experiences.
“12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.”
Although Jesus is addressing the disciples, we can also associate ourselves with His promises of friendship. This experience is beyond expression. To know the One who came from Glory in order to lay down His life so that I can live in eternity with Him is unfathomable.
“15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit —fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.”
The vine supporters and sustaines the branches. Without the sustenance that the vine supplies, the branches would wither and die. So it is with believers, unless we are attached to The One who is the source of our faith, our faith will be without spiritual sustenance - it will wither up and die. Without that personal relationship with Jesus as our Savior and Lord, our faith is merely a religious experience. Jesus offers you and I a living faith. Scripture states: "For in him we live and move and have our being."- Acts 17: 28.
The following verse’s describe the world’s reaction to the new Church that would preach peace and forgiveness. Because the world is spiritually blind, it failed to recognize The Savior when He came. Jesus now continues His discourse with a warning:
“18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
The Gospel of Jesus Christ divides because of the sinful nature of humanity. We who have accepted the Lordship of our Redeemer know Him as The Prince of Peace however, the world in general rejects Him. On another occasion Jesus addressed this when He said:
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law —
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’” - Matthew 10:34-36.
Jesus continues to instruct the disciples:
“20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.”
The people of Jesus’ time were privileged because The Son of God was among them. Unlike the rest of the world who have heard the stories about the ministry and sacrifice of Jesus, they witnessed it. Consequently, Jesus said they are guilty of the sin of rejecting Him. John 9:39-41 also speaks to this:
“Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”
41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
The Father sent His Son in accordance with previous prophecies consequently, by rejecting Jesus people also reject The Father who sent Him:
“23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’ (Psalm 69:4)
Previously in chapter 14, John had recorded where Jesus had promised He would send The Holy Spirit to aid and comfort the disciples. He now repeats this promise concerning the one who will stand beside them giving power to the new Church, from the time of Pentecost on down through the years:
“26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father —the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”
Today, let us continue to receive our spiritual sustenance from Jesus.
John Joseph Fox.