John (27)

Introduction:

Approach: Walk through these 17 verse asking questions that emerge from the flow of the text in order to know what Jesus is saying, and meaning. Then.. by Holy Spirit’s help, make applications as go along.

Jesus identifies Himself , His Father, and His disciples by using the illustration of the Vine. (vs 1-2)

True Vine: In reference to the vine parable of Isaiah 5 , and Psalm 8: Jesus has accomplished everything that Israel has failed. He is the TRUE vine, because He is everything that God was bringing to pass through His people. Jesus is the conduit of God’s redemption. The only way to enjoy the blessing of fruitfulness and everlasting life.. is to remain/abide/ be attached to Christ through faith.

Sour grapes, or wild grapes. The vineyard went wild and the fruit was soured. IE. Like when I was a boy bailing hay and eating wild grapes compared to my grandparents vine of seedless grapes.

The Vine dresser: Cuts and prunes. Examples: Judas, cut off. Peter:pruned.

Transition: If bearing fruit is so important, then we must know what it means to bear fruit! so…

2. Jesus goes on to explain how His disciples must bear fruit. (vs 3-7)

Cleansed by His word (Vs 3)

As we learned from chapter 14.. the Holy Spirit indwells Jesus’ disciples. He brings new spiritual life and sustains that life.

Abide in Him (Vs 4-5)

How is this organic relationship with Jesus to be nurtured so that we might bear fruit?

Negative consequence (Vs 6)

Fire is a symbol of divine judgement.

Positive consequence (Vs 7)

Ask and it will be done.

3. Jesus reveals the significance of bearing fruit. (vs 8-10)

a. Glory to the Father. (vs 8)

b. Flow of divine love (vs 9) Cannot get this backwards!

c. Abiding and obeying are the same. Cannot say we love Him if we do not obey him. Cannot obey Him if we do not abide in Him.

4. Jesus reveals the result of abiding in His love. (vs 11)

a. My joy in you, and your joy may be full.

b. Jesus disciples are responsible to abide in Christ and obey Him in love. Jesus is responsible to fill up our joy tank! (Obedience is not gloomy. We are not missing out on anything good when we deprive the flesh and nurture the Spirit. Must be careful of the same temptation that was used to lure Eve in the garden… that God must be holding something good from you by telling you not to eat of a particular tree. That is a lie from the fires of Hell. Christians need not sulk around with gloomy faces and wrinkles up foreheads as if we are missing out on life. No, to obey Jesus is fulness of Joy!!!!

5. Jesus repeats the command to love one another with the continued emphasis of doing so like He has loved. (13:34-35)

Transition: How has He loved us?

6. Jesus reveals how He is going to love them. (vs13-15)

a. Like dying for a friend. (13)

b. You are my friend if you obey me. (14)

c. Not servants but friends. (15a)

Friends are treated different that servants. We obey friends with a different motive than we do a boss or employer. Example: of working for a farmer growing up.

d. “All” I've heard from Father I've made known to you..!! (15b)

Transition: How did this friendship come to pass???

7. Jesus chose them, they did not choose him.

a. Observation: Jesus did something in contrast to the normal rabbinic method in 1st century Judaism. Usually, disciples would choose their rabbi. Jesus chose His disciples. Why is this significant? Because they were also “appointed” to go and bear abiding fruit. Fruit that would continue and remains! This is a future reference to the apostolic role in establishing Jesus’ church. His church will remain.. hell will not prevail against it. This is also a similar “commission” that we find Jesus giving His apostles after His resurrection.

b. Notice the reason he reminds them of their selection and appointment is so that they will ask the Father in Jesus name and receive what they ask for.

c. Key: all of the choosiness, appointment, asking and receiving, abiding and bearing fruit is in direct connection to the mission of God to save sinners. What would these disciples need in the days ahead to accomplish their assignment? What would they be asking God for?

8. Jesus repeats the command again, to love one another. (vs17)

a. Consider what He is telling them to do. Men who are very unalike. Have various backgrounds. Some are related. All who currently more concerned about their own position and power than those around them. Yet, Jesus has chosen and appointed them for a responsibility that we all are beneficiaries of. The expansion of the gospel to the world.

b. This reminds us of the mission we have as those called out by Christ. The church’s responsibility is to abide and obey. To remain connected to the vine so that the love of Christ might flow through us to one another and witness to the world the glory of God.