Scripture: “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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I 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, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all 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 should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
John 15:1-17 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Friday’s Daily Focus, Jesus focuses on the forthcoming gift of the Holy Spirit, whom he also calls the Helper. The Holy Spirit will indwell them and be their means to obey Jesus’ commands—the natural response to their love for him. Jesus presents further assurances that his disciples will be well-equipped to continue the mission, promising that he will:
- return and spend time with his disciples alone (referring to the forty days between his resurrection and ascension),
- indwell them,
- love them and reveal himself to them in tangible ways, and
- instill his peace in them, a peace the world does not know.
Jesus then exhorts his disciples not to be afraid but to rejoice that he is returning to his Father, and he assures them the devil has no claim on him because he acts according to the Father’s commands and the Father is supreme. Lastly, Jesus revisits the confluence between love and obedience as it applies to his relationship with his Father.
Today’s reading presents Jesus’ seventh and final “I am” statement: I am the true vine (using the metaphor of a grapevine). Jesus employs the analogy to emphasize that it is paramount for his disciples to abide (remain connected) to him. Building on this imagery, he adds that his Father, the vinedresser, prunes the dead wood to promote more fruit. Then, referring to all would-be disciples, Jesus warns that those who resist pursuing an intimate relationship with him will be severed and cast into the fire (alluding to hell). But if they abide in him by receiving his love and obeying his commandments, they will be fruitful and glorify God—proving to be Jesus’ disciples and receiving his joy in full.
Then, reiterating the confluence of love and obedience, Jesus adds that the most significant expression of love is to offer one’s life to save a friend, and those who obey his commands are his friends. And now that the Eleven are fully informed of all the Father made known to his Son, they are no longer apprentices but apostles who will bear much fruit by receiving whatever they ask for in Jesus’ name (i.e., in accord with his will). So, love one another.
Takeaway: Like a drill sergeant without all the bluster, Jesus repeats his core themes for victory (i.e., how to bear much fruit) to his Eleven, who will soon engage in a spiritual war against the forces of evil (who work through the pagan, self-seeking authorities of the Greco-Roman world). With spiritual warfare in mind, Jesus reviews three primary weapons: love, obedience, and prayer. The disciples are to receive Jesus’ love and then pass it on to one another: unite in love. They are to obey his commands: unify the process. Lastly, they must make their requests known in his name—coalesce the means. These three insurmountable resources will fuel productivity and much joy, satisfying their deepest longings. But if they stray from the plan and drift from abiding in Jesus, disaster will await them.
Our takeaway? It is no different: abide with Christ. But what does it mean to “abide”? The Greek word meno, translated as “abide” in our text, also means “to remain.” Both carry a similar contextual meaning: develop an intimate, loving, and joyful relationship with Jesus so that he becomes our supreme passion. That sounds great, but it’s a process—sometimes lengthy—and always requiring pruning. But if we submit to our Helper, the Holy Spirit, who does the work of pruning on behalf of the Father, he will trim away those selfish aspects of our personalities that place us at the center of our universe. And even if we run away, the Helper will wait until we are breathless and ready to receive the Son’s love, which will spark an epiphany: that obedience to him is our best life plan.
Indeed, obedience produces the sustaining fruit of supernatural joy and peace independent of our circumstances because they are the natural outflow of a maturing relationship with Jesus. (Click Friday’s Daily Focus link to read more about his gift of peace.) So, our best life plan? Abide with Christ. Our families, friends, and employers will take note and know that we are Christ’s disciples.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who supremely demonstrated his love for us by calling us his friends and laying down his life in our stead. Still, often, we take his friendship and love for granted and pursue our interests without regard for his commands. So would you please help us abide with your Son by submitting to the help of your Holy Spirit so that we might witness that we are Christ’s disciples? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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