Lesson 3 - John 15:1-17 - JESUS IS THE VINE; HIS FOLLOWERS ARE THE BRANCHES
INTRODUCTION: Last week in John 14:1-14, we heard Jesus give His disciples some very well known words of reassurance after he informed them of His betrayal and impending death. He them told not to let their "heart be troubled" (14:1), because He was going to His Father's house to "prepare a place" for them (14:2), and that "He would come again to receive" them (14:3). In response to their questions, Jesus told them that "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (14:5-6), and because they knew Him, they also knew His Father (14:7). We learned four points of application from this: (1) that faith in Christ will comfort a troubled heart; (2) that Jesus and the Father are One; (3) that Jesus is the only way to God; and (4) that Jesus is the unique revelation of God.
This week, in John 15:1-17, we'll study a well-known allegory (or metaphor) in which Jesus portrays God as the vinedresser, Himself as the vine, and His disciples as the branches. Jesus uses this allegory to explain how our spiritual life, as born-again believers in Him, we can move from barrenness to fruitfulness and spiritual abundance. We'll also hear Jesus reiterate His command that His disciples must demonstrate agapē love towards one another in no uncertain terms.
Read John 15:1-3 - I AM THE TRUE VINE
1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
v. 1: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." - These verses forms an allegory (or metaphor) in which the characters represent other things that symbolically express a deeper life lesson. There are four characters in this allegory: (1) God the "Father is the vinedresser" (or vine grower); (2) Jesus Christ, the Son, is the "vine"; and (3) His disciples are the "branches." It's also the seventh and final "I am" (Gk. ego eimi) statement in this gospel. It stems from God's announcement to Moses that "I Am Who I am" (Ex. 3:14) and identifies Jesus as God in the context of this verse.
v. 2a: "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." - The Father/vinedresser performs two functions to improve the productivity of the vine: (1) If a branch is completely unproductive, He uses a sharp knife to completely cut away the whole branch; and (2) if the branch is productive, he still uses His knife to prune away the parts-I.e., spiritual cleansing-that hinder growth. Even though the father spares the productive branch, the Father's loving care means being subject to His pruning knife.
v. 3: "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." - In this sense, pruning can be a metaphor for spiritual cleansing; and the more we are cleansed by the sanctifying power of Jesus' word, the less pruning we will required to endure from the Father.
Read John 15:4-8 - ABIDE IN ME, AND I IN YOU
4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
v. 4: "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." - Jesus makes it clear that our relationship-our abiding in Him-is vital to both our fruitfulness and our destiny. Abiding in Christ isn't a feeling or a belief but actions-things we decisively and purposely do, and the Christian will find strength and purpose through his or her abiding in Christ, and when grafted onto the Christ vine, the weaker person can become stronger, while by contrast the stronger person, when apart form the vine, becomes weak. So, what is fruit? Paul lists the fruits of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22). Examples of fruitfulness can be: (1) Service and giving to God through public worship and support of the church; (2) service and giving to others, especially those in need; and (3) service to self through personal prayer, devotions, and Bible study.
v. 5: "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." - Rather than simply becoming mediocre when we aren't abiding in Jesus, we become absolutely powerless. And the value of our work and witness isn't just diminished; it becomes completely worthless. Apart from Jesus, we can no more function spiritually than we can function physically when cut off from the air we breath. Being disconnected from Jesus is, in effect, being cut off from the source of life.
v. 6: "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." - In v. 5, Jesus does did not say I am a tree and you are the branches. Branches detached from a tree many have some use as lumber or firewood, but the branch of a vine is suitable for one of two things: to produce fruit or to be cast in the fire. Many say that genuine salvation is shown by some level of fruitfulness, no matter how little.
v. 7: "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." - It is only a person who abides in Christ who can expect to receive whatever he or she asks for. As Christians, we have great power, but only to the extent that we are connected to the source. Moreover, this connectedness shapes what we ask for. Therefore, if we abide in Christ and His words abide in us, whatever we ask for will be lined-up with His will. A person who truly abides in Christ will not ask for frivolous or sinful things.
v. 8: "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." - Fruit was an important source of food in Jesus' day and a good fruit-bearing tree or vine was a blessing to its owner. In this verse, "fruit" is a metaphor for discipled, Christ-like living. This kind of living gives glory to the Father, because Christ-like lives manifest themselves as faithful, hopeful, and loving. And people are drawn to individuals who demonstrate these qualities, which, in turn, gives the Christian a golden opportunity to witness for the Lord who makes that type of life possible.
Read John 14:9-11 - ABIDE IN MY LOVE
9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
v. 9: Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. - The message throughout this section is about the interrelationships between Father, Son, and disciples. So, what does it mean to "abide" (Gk. menó [men'-o], lit. to stay, remain). It gives the idea of the peace and stability one feels in his own home or that of a trusted friend. In terms of relationships, as used here, abide suggests a devoted relationship with unity of heart and soul. When Jesus says to "abide in My love," He doesn't only mean to simply rest securely in the knowledge that He loves us (Heb. 4:15-16), but to actively demonstrate that love by applying His teachings to the way we live-being Christ-like.
v. 10: "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." - This verse continues the emphasis on "love." Love begins with the Father and flows through the Son to the disciples. The phrase "keep My commandments" tells us that abiding in Jesus' love is contingent upon obedience, with Jesus providing the model for obedience-a very high bar, yes? The Father loves Jesus because He laid down His life in obedience to the Father's command (10:17-18); and Jesus promises to love His disciples if they obey His commands. In our churches today, we rightly emphasize the importance of grace; however, we will neglect those who depend on us for spiritual wisdom if we fail to likewise emphasize the importance of obedience God's commandments. Job 28:28 states: 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding."
v. 11: "These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full." - Jesus isn't calling us to oppressive, lock-step obedience, but to joy. The joy experienced in a disciplined Christian life can be compared to the joy of an athlete who rejoices after conquering the difficult challenges needed to win an important race. The athlete might come away with blistered feet and strained muscles, but those things matter little compared to the joy of victory.
Read John 15:12-15 - LOVE ONE ANOTHER JUST AS I LOVED YOU
12 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 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.
v. 12: "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you." - The verb form of the word "love" (Gk. Agapeo) means unconditional, unselfish love. This type of love is more than a feeling; it is a conscious choice to love someone even when they don't deserve it or return it. The real thrust of agapē love is giving rather than getting. This is the opposite of our culture that too often understands love as satisfying one's own needs rather the satisfying the needs of others.
v. 13: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." - At this point, the disciples don't understand that Jesus will soon die for them (and indeed, for the whole world). Jesus' commandment to "love one another" can also require us, short of death, to make a serious sacrifice, most often in our case our self respect and dignity rather our life. This is love in action; love that pays the price. Are you prepared to give it? What would Jesus do?
v. 14: "You are My friends if you do what I command you." - The word here for "friends" (Gk. philos [fee'-los]) means a beloved, dear friend. The disciples would later pay the price of being Jesus' "friends" and doing as He commanded: James (the brother of John) was beheaded by Herod and Peter was jailed and only escaped execution when he was rescued by an angel (Acts 12:2-10).
v. 15: "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.´ - The disciples are still servants in the sense that they remain duty-bound to obey Jesus' commands, but at the same time are close "friends" who enjoy a high level of intimacy and trust with Him. They have a privileged level of access to Jesus in which He has made known to them "all things that I have heard from My Father." And in the same way, we Christians are servants and friends of Jesus because we have an intimate relationship with Him, a very complete knowledge (i.e., the entire NT) of who He is, and are likewise obligated to obey all of His commands.
Read John 15:16-17 - GO AND BEAR FRUIT
16 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. 17 This I command you, that you love one another.
v. 16a: "You did not choose Me but I chose you," - We might wonder that Jesus chose a very ordinary group of men of no particular distinction to be His disciples. And yet, the growth of the First Century church shows that Jesus chose well. These disciples will do great things, not because they are great, but because the One who empowers them is great. There is an important lesson here: God chooses whom God chooses and God empowers who God empowers-a mystery.
v. 16b: "and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain," - The purpose of the appointment is not to honor the person being chosen but to give them the mission "to go and bear fruit." If we, as Christians, are to "bear fruit" for Christ,' it's essential that we seek His will in our lives and allow Him to direct our path.
v. 16c: "so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you." - The person who abides in Christ and becomes one with the Son and the Father, will become so in sync with God's will that God will give Him or Her whatever he or she asks and needs in Jesus' name.
v. 17: "This I command you, that you love one another." - This is almost a restatement of v. 12, but with a different twist: This verse simply commands them to "love one another." They are commanded to practice the same Agapeo love towards each other that is shown by Jesus' love for them as His 'friends'-unconditional, unselfish love that seeks to benefit others. Therefore, anyone who claims to be a Christian should be humble and loving towards other people (John 13:34-35), and above all, impart a loving model towards his or her fellow Christians (1 John 4:20-21).
APPLICATION-Fulfilling Your Purpose in the Christian Life
1. True followers of Jesus Christ abide in Him as branches of the True Vine. In today's text, Jesus gives the disciples a detailed allegory that reveals God's purpose in saving them: Jesus makes it clear that our relationship-our abiding in Him-is vital to both our fruitfulness and our destiny. Abiding in Christ isn't a feeling or a belief but actions-things we decisively and purposely do, and the Christian will find strength and purpose through his or her abiding in Christ.
2. Christian believers who truly abide in Christ will produce much fruit. Jesus expects all His Christian followers to bear much fruit. Jesus pictures Himself as the true vine, the Father as the vinedresser, and the disciples as the branches. A man plants a vineyard for a different reason than he plants a flower garden. We plant flower gardens so that we can enjoy the beauty of flowers, but if you plant a vineyard, your purpose is to harvest grapes and your goal is to bear a lots and lots of fruit.
3. If we keep Christ's commandments, we are abiding in His love. The verb form of the word "love" (Gk. Agapeo) means unconditional, unselfish love. This type of love is more than a feeling; it is a conscious choice to love someone even when they don't deserve it or return it. The real thrust of agapē love is giving rather than getting. It is the opposite of our secular human culture that often sees love as satisfying one's own needs rather the satisfying the needs of others. Jesus' command to "love one another" can also require us, short of death, to make serious sacrifices, most often in our case our self respect and dignity rather than our life. This is love in action; love that pays the price. Are you prepared to give it? What would Jesus do?
4. We can consider ourselves as friends of Jesus when we do what His word commands to do. The word here for "friends" (Gk. philos [fee'-los]) means a beloved, dear friend. Like Jesus' original disciples, we modern Christians are disciples and friends of Jesus because we have an intimate relationship with Him, a very complete knowledge (i.e., the entire NT) of who He is, and likewise understand that we are obligated to obey all of His commands.
