By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher
Text: John
15:1-17
John
15:1-2
“I
am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every
branch in Me that does not bear fruit He [a]takes
away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may
bear more fruit.”
(NKJV)
Jesus uses the image of a
grapevine with His disciples as an illustration of how they are to live once he
goes to His Father. This is an illustration they would have been familiar with,
seeing vineyards all around them. The fruit of the grapevine is on the branches,
with the branches receiving their nourishment from the vine. If the vine is a
good vine providing nourishment, the branches will bear much fruit, but if the vine
is not good and provides little nourishment, the branches will not bear much
fruit. Jesus wants His Church to remain connected to the nourishing words of
the truth from the word of God so the Church can be fruitful.
Jesus begins this
teaching by saying He is the true vine with His Father the vinedresser (John
15:1). The vine dresser takes away any branch that does not bear fruit and prunes
those that bear fruit, so they can bear more fruit (John
15:2). Jesus declares the disciples with whom he speaks as clean because
Jesus has spoken to them with instructions to abide in Him so they can bear
fruit (John
15:3-4).
Jesus is the true vine
with us the branches, with those abiding in Jesus the ones that bear fruit with
those not abiding in Christ unfruitful because they are apart from the true
vine, Jesus Christ, and can do nothing (John
15:5). God the Father, the vinedresser will cast out the branches not
abiding in Christ since they are unfruitful (John
15:6). Those abiding in Christ, having His words abiding in them will ask
whatever they desire, and it shall be done for them with the Father glorified
because they bear fruit and are Jesus’ disciples (John
15:7-8).
Jesus loves his disciples
just as the Father loves them so we must abide in the Love of Jesus (John
15:9). To abide in the love of Christ we must keep His commandments just
like Jesus keeps the commandments of His Father (John
15:10). The reason for Jesus saying these things is so His joy may remain
in us and be full (John
15:11). Jesus’ commandment to his disciples is that they love one another
just like He has loved us, demonstrating the greatest love one can express, the
giving of His life for us (John
15:12-13). Those that keep Jesus’ commandments are His friends (John
15:14). Jesus’ disciples are not servants unaware of what the master is
doing, but friends to whom He has revealed what the Father has made known to
Him (John
15:15). We did not choose Jesus, but He chose and appointed us so we can
bear fruit that remains with whatever we ask of the Father in Jesus’ name given
to us (John
15:16). Jesus concludes with another reminder to love one another (John
15:17).
The disciples have spent
three and a half years with Jesus, who is about to be crucified. He is then
going to ascend to the Father and wants His disciples to continue in His words
and to love one another. Jesus probably recalls the time when the disciples
bickered among themselves over which of them would be the greatest (Mark
9:33-37). In response to this dispute, Jesus teaches them that the greatest
is the one who is the servant of all. However, Jesus does not call His
disciples servants but friends, friends he loves so much he would lay down His
life for them (John
15:13-15). Christ commands that His disciples love each other with the same
love He shows to us, His friends.
Jesus' words to His
disciples apply to the Church today, but the Church is failing miserably in
obedience to Jesus’ command to love one another. Throughout church history,
there have been divisions or schisms, often over nonessential doctrines,
leading to many different denominations that compete instead of having love for
one another. This projects an image of competitiveness and even hatred for the
world, which does not differ from what they see in the world. Why would one
want to come to Christ and be part of a church that is competitive and filled
with hate when they can just remain in the competitive and hate-filled world
they are in?
Jesus taught that the
world would know we are followers of Christ by our love for one another (John
13:35). There is no need for churches of differing denominations to compete
over people or contributions because Jesus said if the Church lifts Him up, He
will draw all men to him (John
12:32). The Church must lift up Christ who loved us so much, He died for us
and stop being in competition with each other over nonessential matters.
I now want to invite
anyone reading this who has not prayed to accept Jesus as his or her savior to
pray with me now. I understand this may involve putting past hurts from those
in the Church who are competitive or even hateful because Jesus does not
condone such behavior and loves you so much, he died for you.
Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans
3:23)
and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans
6:23). I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse
me as you promise in your Word (1
John 1:9). I believe
you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now
declare you Lord of my life.
May God convict,
challenge, and encourage everyone reading this post.
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