John 15
John 15 Focus: Jesus says: 5 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.
JOHN 15: Insights, Highlights and Points to Ponder:
1. QUESTION: How are we connected to Christ?
ANSWER: Through the wonderful Divine gifts of God’s Word and Sacraments.
2. Why are we taking time to study God’s Word? It is because we are connected to Christ. When we are connected to Christ, we yearn to “read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest” His Word! When we abide in Jesus our faith grows and bears fruit.
3. Pandemics stink! Isolation. Separation. Quarantines. No handshakes. Masks. Elbow bumps (kinda dumb if you ask me.) Hugs are rare. Yes, pandemics stink! One of the BIGGEST challenges over the past 10 or so months has been figuring out how to STAY CONNECTED safely with loved ones (friends and family) - especially those with risk factors, health issues, and/or who are in protective lock-downs in Senior living centers. We strive to remain connected through phone calls, snail mail, window visits, ZOOM, YouTube, etc., etc.
4. We are part of the body of Christ. We need one another. We are not islands. We live and thrive in community. It was a JOY seeing and being with my beloved Mother-in-law IN-PERSON on Christmas for two days. We “broke her out of prison” from her nice Senior center. Sadly, she returned to her “prison” (aka lockdown) Christmas Day night to go into mandatory 2 week isolation as the “payment/penalty” for being exposed to outsiders (aka family). It all may be necessary, but it also ALL stinks! Nevertheless, we WERE very THANKFUL to be able to be with her for a short time in person. She is healthy and joyful and sharp and faith-filled in her 90s, because she abides in the love of Jesus. I’m sure many of you could share similar stories.
5. THANKFULLY, NOTHING can separate us from the inseparable love of Christ! (Romans 8:31-38) for we are connected to Christ! As Jesus states with Divine authority in His pronouncement: “I AM the vine. You are the branches.”
We now read: John 15 (interspersed with commentary and insights)
I Am the True Vine
Jesus says: 15 “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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 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. 5 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.
NOTE: Faith and salvation are 100% GIFTS from God. What does this really mean? Jesus makes radical statements in John 15 about the nature of our faith and salvation. Apart from Jesus we can do NOTHING.
6 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.
We Hear Jesus speak LAW and GOSPEL: Those who do not abide in Jesus separate themselves from God’s gifts and will be punished. Those branches who cut themselves off from the true vine of Christ will wither and die spiritually and be thrown into the fire and burned. These are harsh words of LAW! (not from me--but from Jesus.)
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I 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, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may full.
Sweet GOSPEL: Jesus loves us as His Father loves Him! Those who abide in Jesus the Vine experience His love and grow in His grace as healthy branches who bear the fruits of faith, obey His commandments, and are filled with Christ’s joy.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone 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 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. 16 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. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
IMPORTANT: In the original Greek New Testament verses of 12-17 the word for LOVE (both the NOUN and the VERB forms are the term AGAPE (“Ah-gah-pay”). Agape is defined as the unconditional, sacrificial, undeserved LOVE of God demonstrated and experienced in Christ. Jesus also stresses we do NOT choose Him; He CHOSE us.
The Hatred of the World
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
YIKES! ASK Yourself: Am I prepared to be hated by the world for being faithful to Christ and His Word/commandments? How many things from Jesus and God’s Word do we believe as Christians that are rejected by many in the world? Let’s seriously ponder the seriousness of what Jesus says to us! If we obey His commandments (Jn. 15:10), some may oppose us, reject us, persecute us (see Mt. 5:10-12), or even hate us for remaining faithful to Him. This is not exaggeration or fear mongering; this is simply and seriously what Jesus says.
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Jesus Promises his disciples (then and now) He will send us a “Helper” (Paraclete)--His Holy Spirit. With His promise and prediction of Divine power Jesus is pointing us to Pentecost. We will hear Jesus speak more about the Holy Spirit in the next chapters of John…
+We Pray: Dear Jesus, You are the vine and we are the branches. Thank You for connecting us to Your love and Truth. Keep our faith in You growing through the gifts of Your Word and Sacraments. Help our faith to bear fruit as we love our neighbor even as we love ourselves. We love, because You first loved us. Thank You, Jesus! In Your loving and saving Name we pray. Amen.
