John 15

Metaphor of the vine and the branches

Overview:

This chapter is a continuation of the closing moments of the Last Supper when Jesus and the apostles were departing and saying their good byes.

We can see in John 14:31 that Jesus gives a signal to conclude, but He see’s their reluctance to move after they heard that Jesus was going to return to the Father and give them the Comforter/Holy Spirit.

The stress of “true” focuses attention on Jeremiah 2:21. That passage shows the corruption/degeneracy of Israel.

Christ means that he is the true Israel of God

Reference Jeremiah 2:21 ““Yet I planted you a choice vine, A completely faithful seed. How then have you turned yourself before Me Into the degenerate shoots of a foreign vine?”

2. God will reject the fruitless vine, but at the same time, He will give the utmost attention to the true vine. This is extended to mean not just Christ, but all of the church as well.

Pruning: That very night Jesus revealed that Judas, as a branch, would be taken away. And Peter, as a branch, would be pruned.

3. Christ here is saying that the apostles do not at the moment need any more pruning, since they had already been pruned enough by the devastating teachings and revelations earlier in the evening.

4. “Abide in me” is the plan of redemption. Salvation depends on us being in Christ, and abiding in Him until we pass away.

Question: How do we abide in Him? See - (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27)

5. We can’t save ourselves.

6. Question: Can a Christian sin as to be lost? Example: Judas, who at first was a true apostle, did not abide in Christ and was cast forth as a branch. Salvation for every man rests upon two questions. 1-is he “in Christ” and 2-does he remain “in Christ”

7. It’s important to point out that if we are truly “in Christ” anything we ask God that is in harmony with the Father’s will will be answered. This doesn’t mean that anything we ask will be done.

8. The purpose of Jesus coming into our world was to save the entire human race if possible. The great duty of the church is to evangelize to the whole world. Jesus’ passion here is much fruit.

9. “abide in My love” implies that the believer has free will to abide or to not abide. It has nothing to do with election or predestination. The unbiblical doctrine of Calvinism teaches that man is either elect or a reprobate, and it is predestined before the beginning of time.

10. The relationship between Christians and Christ is the same as that between Christ and the Father.

11. Reference Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”

Jesus puts tremendous emphasis on the fruits of the Holy Spirit throughout this discussion.

13. Christ died for men while they were yet sinners. Christ’s love for us far exceeds any love that men might have for one another.

14. God manifested itself in the person of his Son. He had every right to command, but instead He asked us as a friend to do His will.

15. Let us not use “no longer slaves” as an excuse to abandon the concept of ourselves as bond-slaves of Christ. The teaching here is that the Lord treats Christians much better than any servant deserves to be treated.

16. “But I chose you” We can see here the supernatural power of the call of the apostles. The power of the office of the apostles was the fact that it was not self chosen. Also see John 6:70 and John 13:18

Verse 16 also strongly suggests the great commission.

Reference Matthew 28:18–20 “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””

18-25 Preview: Jesus warns the eleven of the attitude of the world toward them and their purpose/mission. The world would be hostile and show animosity towards them.

19. It’s inherent that if the world hates Christ, then they would also hate the apostles and the message that they delivered to men.

22. This reminds me of the people today that I come across that hate the truth. They just want to be left alone! It is upsetting to have an aroused conscience, and evil men want to avoid disturbing their conscience. But if Jesus hadn’t confronted men with the fact of their wickedness, they would have had an excuse to continue in it.

Reference Mark 1:24 “saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!””

25. “to fulfill the word” Jesus is reassuring them that nothing strange is happening, and all was going according to God’s plan. The scriptures had foretold all that would happen in the dark hours ahead.