John 15
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Hello everyone…
We are continuing our Bible Reading this week, and we are in the gospel according to John, chapter 15.
In the previous chapters, we have seen Jesus and the disciples in the upper room.
· In 13, they share the last supper, and Jesus washes their feet.
· In 14, Jesus gives them extended teachings in order to prepare them for his departure.
· At the end of chapter 14, the disciples leave the upper room, but the conversation continues.
That brings us to where we are today. Jesus and the disciples are on their way to the garden, and he continues to teach them in order to prepare them for his departure.
15:1-11 I AM the vine.
15:1-11 I AM the vine.
This chapter opens with Jesus telling the disciples that he is the true vine. Why do you think that Jesus calls himself the vine?
This chapter opens with Jesus telling the disciples that he is the true vine. Why do you think that Jesus calls himself the vine?
In the OT, the vine is a common symbol for the Israelites and their failure to bear fruit. This is seen in a lot of places, but let’s just take a look at one.
Psalm 80:7-8, 14-17.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved!
8 You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
14 Turn again, O God of hosts!
Look down from heaven, and see;
have regard for this vine,
15 the stock that your right hand planted,
and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.
16 They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down;
may they perish at the rebuke of your face!
17 But let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!
So, in this psalm we see that the Israelites are described as the vine that God brought out of Egypt. We also see that the Israelites are the vine that is destroyed because of their failure.
So the reason why Jesus calls himself the true vine is because he’s comparing himself to the Israelites. They were God’s vine, but they failed to bear fruit. Jesus is the true vine because he truly bears fruit for God.
Jesus is like the new Israel, but Jesus does it right. This is what I mean when I say that the OT is fulfilled in Jesus. Even the nation of Israel is fulfilled in Jesus. Jesus fulfills Israel’s true purpose to bear fruit.
Another possible reason why Jesus uses vine imagery is because they have left the upper room and started their walk to the garden, and while on the way to the garden, they walk past a vineyard.
In verse 2, we see that the branch that does not bear fruit is removed while the branch that does bear fruit is pruned. What does this mean? How does this apply to people?
In verse 2, we see that the branch that does not bear fruit is removed while the branch that does bear fruit is pruned. What does this mean? How does this apply to people?
This is saying that Christians who don’t fruit will be removed. This is an important lesson because it teaches us that Christians must bear fruit. We must actually work in God’s kingdom, and if we aren’t working – if we aren’t doing good – then we will be removed.
This also teaches us something about those of us who do bear fruit. Jesus tells the apostles that Christians who bear fruit will be pruned. What is pruning? When a branch is pruned, it is trimmed or cut so that it can be more fruitful.
I think that there is a lesson for us here. If we are going to be Christians who bear fruit, then we must understand that we are going to be pruned. This isn’t always easy. It’s not easy to be trimmed, cut, and pruned. Sometimes it’s painful.
This is an important lesson for us. God’s wants us to grow, and sometimes this involves pain.
So, bearing fruit is vitally important for disciples. How do we do this? How are we to bear fruit?
So, bearing fruit is vitally important for disciples. How do we do this? How are we to bear fruit?
The text is clear. John 15:4.
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.
If we are going to bear fruit, then we must abide in the vine. We must rely on Jesus.
So, in some sense, we are told to GO… Go into all the world.
But in another sense, we are told to ABIDE… Abide in Jesus.
What this means is that we wholly dependent on Jesus. There are many people who try to bear fruit their own way. There are Christians who try to bear fruit their own way.
· There are Christians who think that they need to change Christianity in order to appeal to unbelievers.
· Some believe that they need to change worship. Some believe that they need to change the teachings of Jesus.
Jesus teaches us that the only way to bear fruit is to abide in Jesus. Like sheep are dependent on the shepherd, we are dependent on Jesus. If the branch isn’t attached to the vine, then what happens? It dies. Similarly, our spiritual life is dependent on us abiding in Jesus.
In verse 5, Jesus says that those who do not abide in him can do nothing. What does this mean? Does this mean that we can’t do anything?
In verse 5, Jesus says that those who do not abide in him can do nothing. What does this mean? Does this mean that we can’t do anything?
No, of course not. There are definitely things that we can do without Jesus, but the point is that those things ultimately don’t matter.
The things that truly matter are only done in Jesus.
In John 3, we see that God loved the world by sending his son. How are we to abide in that love?
In John 3, we see that God loved the world by sending his son. How are we to abide in that love?
We have to keep the commandments.
It seems like popular Christianity believes in simple mental assent. If you believe in Jesus, then you are good… You don’t need to do anything else.
If we are going to abide in Jesus’ love, then we need to obey his commands. There is a way that we are supposed to live.
15:12-17 Love one another.
15:12-17 Love one another.
Why and how are we to love one another?
Why and how are we to love one another?
We love one another by mimicking Jesus’ love for us.
We must show the same humble, sacrificial love that was shown by Jesus.
We typically say that Jesus died for the world. This is true, but there is a better way of saying this. Who did Jesus die for?
We typically say that Jesus died for the world. This is true, but there is a better way of saying this. Who did Jesus die for?
It is true that Jesus died for the world. Every single one of us has access to Jesus death if we want it.
But in order to truly have access to Jesus’ death, we must be his friend. How do we do this? It’s by keeping his commandments.
This reinforces what we’ve said already. Salvation is more than just mental assent. It’s about living the way that Jesus wants us to live.
In some sense, we are servants of God – but in another sense, we are friends. What’s the difference here between these two? What makes us more than servants?
In some sense, we are servants of God – but in another sense, we are friends. What’s the difference here between these two? What makes us more than servants?
The text tells us that servants don’t know what the master is doing, but friends are different.
Friends are informed. The friends of Jesus know what he’s doing.
This is certainly true of the apostles, isn’t it? The apostles were informed of what Jesus was doing.
· He constantly reminded them that his kingdom is a different kingdom.
This is true of us too. We are Jesus’ friends because we are informed. We aren’t left in the dark. We know that Jesus is coming back, so that we can dwell with our God.
We are friends of Jesus because he hasn’t left us in the dark.
(15:16) This is the second time that we’ve seen the idea of asking the father anything. What does this mean?
(15:16) This is the second time that we’ve seen the idea of asking the father anything. What does this mean?
It certainly doesn’t mean that the apostles would get everything that they prayed for. We know that they didn’t.
There was a thorn in Paul’s flesh, and what was his prayer?
2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul asked for something, but he didn’t get it. So, this verse isn’t saying that the apostles, or any Christian, is going to get everything that they ask for.
· I think that the point is that if we truly abide in Jesus, then we will ask the type of things that God wants us to ask.
· If we ask God, “will you help us bear fruit.” Of course, God will give that to us.
If we truly abide in Jesus, then we will ask the right things.
15:18-27 You will be hated.
15:18-27 You will be hated.
In this section, Jesus tells the disciples that the world is going to hate them. Why does he tell them this?
In this section, Jesus tells the disciples that the world is going to hate them. Why does he tell them this?
This is something that they need to know. They need to be prepared for the hatred that the world will direct towards them.
Now the disciples won’t be surprised by any persecution that they encounter.
Why is the world going to hate the disciples of Jesus?
Why is the world going to hate the disciples of Jesus?
The text says that it’s because disciples are not a part of the world, and if we are like Jesus, then we will be hated like Jesus.
John 7:7.
7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.
Here, we see that the world hates Jesus because Jesus testifies about its evil deeds. As Christians, we also testify about the world’s deeds, so the world hates us.
And the text says that Jesus called us out of the world. We used to be a part of the world, but we aren’t any longer.
We left the rebellion to join the kingdom, so the other members of the rebellion aren’t going to be happy.
When did Jesus tell them that a servant is not greater than his master? How does that context relate to this context.
When did Jesus tell them that a servant is not greater than his master? How does that context relate to this context.
Jesus told them this in John 13:12-17.
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
So, after Jesus washed their feet, he tells them a servant is not greater than his master. The point there was humility and putting others first.
In John 15, the point is persecution, and I think that these points are connected. It takes humility to go through persecution for Jesus. It requires self-sacrifice to be persecuted for Jesus.
In the same way, that we see both humility and persecution on the cross, we should see humility and persecution in our own lives.
In verse 20, Jesus says if they persecuted me, they will persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep your word… What does this mean?
In verse 20, Jesus says if they persecuted me, they will persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep your word… What does this mean?
The idea here is that the world will treat us like they treated Jesus.
Did some people persecute Jesus? Yes, so some people will persecute us.
Did some people listen to Jesus’ words? Yes, so some people will listen to our words.
Did some people ignore Jesus’ words? Yes, so some people will ignore our words as well.
In verse 22, Jesus says if he had not come, then they wouldn’t be guilty of sin. What does he mean by this?
In verse 22, Jesus says if he had not come, then they wouldn’t be guilty of sin. What does he mean by this?
It doesn’t mean that they would all be sinless if Jesus, didn’t come.
This simply means that they are guilty of denying Jesus because Jesus came. If Jesus never came, then they couldn’t deny him.
What is Jesus referencing in verse 25?
What is Jesus referencing in verse 25?
This is from Psalm 69:4.
4 More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
mighty are those who would destroy me,
those who attack me with lies.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?
David is talking about the enemies who hate him without cause.
Notice the language that David uses in Psalm 69:21.
21 They gave me poison for food,
and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.
Here, David talks about how his enemies give him sour wine to drink. So, this is something that obviously applies to Jesus.
So, again, we see that Jesus is a fulfillment of the OT… Jesus is the new David who sits on the throne and saves his people.
It’s interesting that Psalm 69 also talks about God’s salvation Psalm 69:34-36.
34 Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and everything that moves in them.
35 For God will save Zion
and build up the cities of Judah,
and people shall dwell there and possess it;
36 the offspring of his servants shall inherit it,
and those who love his name shall dwell in it.
So, this Psalm finds it’s fulfilment in Jesus, and that’s why he references it.
Verses 26-27 seem out of place. Why are they mentioned here?
Verses 26-27 seem out of place. Why are they mentioned here?
I see this as the apostle’s response to persecution. How should God’s people respond to persecution?
We should continue to rely on God, and teach people about the gospel.
Invitation – Max