John 15:1-11 Abide in the Vine

Passage

English Standard Version Chapter 15

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Introduction

Point #1 - Abide in Jesus

{scripture reading}

All right guys, pretty straight forward, abide in Jesus. Yeah that’s it, sermon over. Hah! All jokes aside, it is pretty clear what Jesus is trying to tell us here. Abide in Jesus, the true vine.

What is abide?

In the English language, the word “Abide” can mean a few different things. The original greek word used here is meno which means to remain, stay, or dwell.

John uses the word meno several times not just to describe a spiritual dwelling but a physical dwelling as well.

John 1:32–33 “And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’”

John 1:38–39 “Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.”

In the way John is using the word meno, it could be simplified to “in union with” or “in community with”.

What is the Vine?

When we think of a plant of any kind, in this case he’s using the metaphor of a grape vine, it has roots, a vine, branches, leaves, and fruit.

Jesus says John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches.”

The vine is the central part of the plant that ALL branches are connected to. It is the nutrient superhighway to all parts of the plant to continue to grow its branches and produce fruit.

Jesus is saying “I am that vine, I am THE vine, I am the ultimate source of life.” He says that we are the branches. The branches are nothing without the vine and are at the mercy to whatever nutrients the vine provides to the branches.

If the vine provides faulty nutrients the branches produce poisonous fruit.

If the vine falls away and dies, so do the branches.

What are you abiding in? Where are you choosing to dwell? Where have you built your house? Where is it’s foundation?

Is it your morning coffee? What if you woke up too late and didn’t have time?

Is it your job? What if you lost that today?

Is it your wife, father, mother, sister, brother? What if they passed away today?

There is no argument that every vine of this world is temporary, including the things that we hold most dear. So then why do we continue to stick our branches to them and try to bear fruit? Jesus is THE VINE, abiding in the father so that we may abide in him.

Jesus says John 15:5 “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Not only does Jesus call us to abide in him but he promises to abide in us through his holy spirit. Jesus knows that a helper is coming. That he is about to be crucified on a cross. That he is about to conquer sin and death. That the spirit is going to be in unity with anyone who believes in him.

Jesus says this equal partnership of dwelling with one another will “bear much fruit”. Galatians 5:22–23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;…”

He’s not talking about the natural goodness bestowed to us by being made in God’s image. He’s talking about a divine transformation of the heart and a renewed posture oriented towards God’s glory. This type of supernatural fruit can only come from a unity with the Holy Spirit.

Guys this fruit only comes when we abide in Jesus. There is no other way. He says John 15:4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

How do I abide?

Abiding is an action, not passive. So how do we actively abide in Jesus?

I had a friend a few years ago that I was very very close with. We did everything together. We talked almost every day. We told each other all the stories of our lives. He was the Best Man at my wedding.

Life got in the way and we stopped doing things as much together. Speaking every day turned into once a week, then once a month, then every once in a while. While he’s still a very dear friend of mine, we aren’t in active community with one another anymore.

How often are you in the word? How often are you reading or listening about the stories of King and the things he’s done.

How often are you in prayer? How often are you spending time with and speaking to the creator of the universe?

How often are you in community with Jesus? How often are you abiding in the vine?

Guys, I’m not saying these things as angry mother whose child hasn’t done their chores. These aren’t to-dos on your checklist. These are the ways that we dwell with the Lord. Constant and consistent community with him, or else we start to drift away.

Point #2 - Fruit is a byproduct

Conclusion

Questions

What vines are you abiding in? What needs to be done to give those to the Lord and abide in him?

Are you in active community with Jesus?