How Does Your Garden Grow?

Intro:

I’m a terrible gardener!

When done correctly a garden can be an amazing thing.

Jesus uses the idea of a garden to teach his disciples about the kinds of relationships present in the Godhead and the kind of relationship he has with his people.

Read Text: John 15:1-17

1. Using a gardening metaphor, Jesus explains one important aspect of his relationship with the Father. (1-4)

I am (Jesus) the True Vine—The last of Jesus’ I Am statements

Vine is a common symbol for Israel, God’s covenant people in the OT.

In John’s gospel Jesus has already demonstrated that he supersedes the temple, the Jewish feasts, Moses...

Think about what that means now that Jesus is saying I am the true vine!

For us today that’s good news because it means that we can be part of God’s people without being in Israel.

He (God) is the Gardner

He cuts off branches that bear no fruit and prunes those that do…(explain)

Only way for any of us bear good fruit is to remain (abide) in Christ

2. Jesus also explains an important aspect of his relationship with his followers. (5-8)

Again Jesus is the Vine

His followers (the Church) are the branches

There is a distinction here between vine and branch

Being in Christ, and keeping his word results in Jesus “doing” for us.

Be careful, not a genie and lamp thing.

Jesus points out that remaining in him and his word in us can not be separated.

Knowing the word of God, hiding it in our hearts, leads to understanding and knowing the will of God.

We want and desire the things that God wants and desires.

When we bear fruit it brings glory to God and reveals that you are a disciple

3. Love is at the center of each of these relationships. (9-13)

Jesus loves us as the Father has loves him

This theme of abiding is once again associated with love for God.

Jesus explains that obedience is what keeps us in his love. The same is true for he and the Father

The greatest expression of love is demonstrated in self-sacrifice.

John 15:13 NIV

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Can you say foreshadowing?

4. By calling them friends, Jesus redefines the relationship between God and man. (14-17)

Jesus says he no longer calls his followers servants but rather friends.

philos-friend

Deeper than Facebook friend. Jesus calls us friend.

This concept of being called a friend of God applied to Moses and Abraham in the OT.

Never said the other way. That is God is of mine.

John 12–21 (2) The Friends of Jesus and the Love Command: Thesis Statements on Discipleship (15:12–17)

But neither in the Old Testament nor the New Testament is God or Jesus referred to as the friend of humans in the manner of the Gospel song “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Such a thought probably would be regarded by the biblical writers as too debasing of God or Jesus

In choosing us there is a guarantee of fruit that will last and blessings from God.

Perhaps Jesus is trying to keep the disciples humble, I chose you, you didn’t figure this out on your own.

But the the choosing was with purpose, to bear fruit. Good fruit. Eternal fruit.

APPLICATION/IMPLICATION

1. Intentional Relationships

There are defined roles; vine, branches, gardener

The purpose in all of this is that the people of God will bear fruit that is eternal.

Jesus chooses and appoints

2. Interpersonal Relationships

Jesus loves, The Father loves, We love (one another)

Friends and not servants

3. Intertwined Relationships

Remain in me; I will remain in you

The role that obedience plays in remaining in Jesus and receiving blessings for God. (Father and Son cannot be separated)