John 15:1-17
[Jesus said], “I am the Vine, and My Father is the Gardener.”
“He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”
“You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you.”
“Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from Me.”
“Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.”
“Anyone who parts from Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile and burned.”
“But if you stay joined to Me and My words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!”
“My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to My Father.”
I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in My love.”
“When you obey Me, you remain in My love, just as I obey My Father and remain in His love.”
“I have told you this so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”
I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you.”
“And here is how to measure it – the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.”
“You are My friends if you obey Me.”
“I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn’t confide in His servants. Now you are My friends, since I have told you everything the Father told Me.”
“You didn’t choose Me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using My name.”
“I command you to love each other.”
Jesus’ words to His disciples are so plain. He speaks in such a way that even a child can understand. Jesus desires even for all to come to Him, even the children can know eternal life through Jesus. The relationship we can have with Jesus frees us from the guilt and shame of our sin. This gives us a deep joy. We are free to love by the love God gives to us. We want to obey God and extend His love to others because of the love He’s given us. The greatest relationship we can ever have is to be one with Jesus and the Father. This is the greatest friendship ever known to man. It’s well worth what we must give up to follow Jesus. There is nothing more valuable that this world offers that can compare to knowing Jesus and to be forgiven of our sin. Jesus offers us life, but abundantly here and eternally in Heaven. When we walk with Jesus we are changed from the inside out. The fruit our lives produces come from being with Him. The deep, abiding joy we have in Christ is one example of the fruit we will experience. Other fruit is found in Galatians 5:22-23 – Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Self Control. We will see more of the attributes of Christ in us as we walk with Him. We will be humble and obedient to the Father like Jesus. We will hate sin and be bold against it. We will not be controlled by our feelings, by fear or by doubt, but by His word, by love for God and others by the power of the Holy Spirit. These are all gifts of grace and mercy extended to all who will walk with Jesus. Though we will sin, we will hate to sin and we will sin less and less, as we come to God for His help to change in those areas where we used to sin without care. In Christ we will not want to sin, and we will follow the principles of 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sin to God, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This is not just a one-time event, but a life-long practice as we learn to walk with Christ in obedience.
Tags: Friends with Jesus, Holy Spirit help, Jesus in you - the hope of glory, knowing the love of God, One with the Lord, The Mind of Christ, Unity in Fellowship, walking in the love of God
