The Vine and the Branches (2)

HOOK

Yesterday right here at “The Message” we started chapter 15— and the first article in this chapter was the parable/metaphor [talinghaga] of the Lord about the Vine and the Branches— from the first part of the parable we learned:

I RECEIVED SALVATION THROUGH CHRIST, AND SANCTIFICATION THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT

I CAN DO NOTHING WITHOUT JESUS

I WILL REMAIN IN HIM AND HIS WORDS

Today let’s continue and see how the Lord explained this parable further— Open your Bible to JOHN 15:8-17

CHARACTER, COMMAND, PROMISES, CONVICTIONS, EXAMPLES, CHALLENGES AND ENCOURAGEMENT

Read JOHN 15:8-17

BOOK

John 15:8–17 NIV

8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

What— Still part of the Lord’s farewell teachings

Where— On the way to the Mount Olives

When— Still during the night when he was betrayed

Who— Jesus and his disciples

Why— Teaching them about bearing fruits

How— Be remaining in Him, and His remaining in us

KEYWORDS: FRUIT, LOVE, JOY, FRIENDS CHOOSE [show image]

LOOK

YOU BEAR MUCH FRUIT, SHOWING YOURSELF TO BE MY DISCIPLES

Jesus wants his disciples to make God’s greatness known

IF YOU KEEP MY COMMANDS, YOU WILL REMAIN IN MY LOVE

The way how Jesus said it this time was different, but what he meant was the same— Again, He equates LOVE & OBEDIENCE [Keep my commands]

Illustration: You obey your employer because you’re paid to do so— you obey your dad because you love him

I HAVE TOLD THIS SO THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU AND THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE COMPLETE

Jesus wants us to have his joy complete in us— later on he will say this again when he prays for his disciples in the garden of Gethsemane [JOHN 17:13]

MY COMMAND IS THIS: LOVE EACH OTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU

No greater love than laying one’s life for one’s friends— Jesus was referring to his upcoming death

Earlier he also told them this [JOHN 13:34]

YOU ARE MY FRIENDS IF YOU DO WHAT I COMMAND

Whenever you encounter the words or phrases like “IF”, “THEREFORE”, “SO THAT”— in other words “Conjunction Words” [connecting words or sentences | 2 types— coordinating & subordinating]

Slow down and think harder

Here Jesus said, if you consider yourself to be his friend, you must do what he commanded

YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME, BUT I CHOSE YOU AND APPOINTED YOU

We already this previously that we are “chosen”— Doctrine of Election

SO THAT YOU MIGHT GO AND BEAR FRUIT— FRUIT THAT WILL LAST

Here you see that phrase “so that”— Jesus chose us so that we might “go” and bear fruit

Jesus said GO not come— The reason why he chose us— so that we might go & bear fruit

He added to clarify what kind of fruit— “fruit that will last”— he’s definitely not talking about ‘money’ or any earthly wealth because they don’t last

SO THAT WHATEVER YOU ASK IN MY NAME THE FATHER WILL GIVE YOU

Again you see the phrase “so that”— asking for whatever is subordinate to going and bearing fruit

TOOK

MY FRUITS IS PROOF OF BEING THE LORD’S DISCIPLE

IT IS MY JOY TO KEEP THE LORD’S COMMANDS

I AM CHOSEN TO GO AND BEAR FRUIT