TRUST, FAITH AND LIVE IT

GOD WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF US AND GIVE US THE GOOD LIFE

NOW THE GOOD LIFE IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK BUT IT IS AN ENJOYABLE PLACE TO BE

JOHN 15:1-10 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my …” even as I have kept

my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

The Holy Bible: King James Version (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Jn 15:10). (2009). Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Make your dwelling in me, and I in you,” simply means to accept and embrace that relationship VERSE 15:4

Michaels, J. R. (2010). The Gospel of John (p. 804). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

a. The person who dwells in me, and I in him, he bears much fruit, b. so that apart from me you cannot do anything (v. 5). b′. Unless someone dwells in me, he is thrown outside like the branch, and withered, and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned up (v. 6). a′. If you make your dwelling in me, and my words dwell in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples (vv. 7–8).

Michaels, J. R. (2010). The Gospel of John (p. 805). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

The Father’s love for the Son is the basis of the Son’s love for the disciples, which in turn is the basis of their love for each other. But instead of coming immediately to the “new command” of mutual love (see vv. 12, 17), Jesus simply tells them, “Make your dwelling in my love” (v. 9b), that is, make my love for you your very identity.

Michaels, J. R. (2010). The Gospel of John (p. 810). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

If the Son is “the beloved Son” (in the other Gospels), or “the One and Only” (in this Gospel), by virtue of being loved and chosen by the Father, so the disciples will find their identity as “his own” (13:1) or as “friends” of the Son (see vv. 14–15) by virtue of the Son’s (and consequently the Father’s) love for them (see 16:27; 17:23, 26). VERSE 9

Michaels, J. R. (2010). The Gospel of John (p. 810). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Jesus’ obedience to the Father (4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 8:29), and more explicitly the Father’s “command,” has been evident all along (see 10:18, 12:49–50, 14:31). Here he makes it the model for the disciples’ obedience to his “commands,” above all (as we will quickly see) the one command to “love each other” (v. 12). This will define their identity (see 13:35, “By this they all will come to know that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other”).

Michaels, J. R. (2010). The Gospel of John (p. 810). William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. VERSE 10