John 15:4-5

Context

Who is John?

John, an Apostle of Jesus

Why did John write his book?

English Standard Version Chapter 21

24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

25 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

What does he mean in verse 25?

Jesus accomplished a lot. Not only salvation for us but other works on earth as well.

John did his best to document as much as possible.

Abide in Me

When we get to this point, Jesus is giving some of his last words to his disciples before he is arrested and ultimately crucified.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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.

PRAY

He starts by using the plant illustration.

He does this to show us that He is he source of life.

So if you cut a branch off of a plant, what happens to the branch?

Dies

What happens to the plant?

Keeps living. Why?

The branch isn’t the source of life, the vine/plant is.

What is Jesus trying to tell us when he says that he is the vine and we are the branches?

He is the source of life. We are dead without him.

James/Romans

English Standard Version Chapter 6

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What does he do with the dead?

He opens by saying that the He cuts away the branches that don’t bear fruit.

This is a common agricultural practice. The dying branches will take nutrients away from the branches receiving life.

James uses the word abide 10 times.

Why?

It’s important.

to remain; continue; stay: - Dictionary.com

I’ll give you some words, and you tell me what you associate them with.

Wildcats - UK

Cardinals - U of L

Bengals - Cincinatti

Apple - iPhone

Chewbacca - Han Solo

Batman - Robin

We could go on but you’re starting to see the point.

We associate things that are together with one another. Whether that’s location, people that spend time together, or other ways, we associate things and people with what the spend their time around.

What are we abiding in?

What are some things that you abide in? (associated with)

Schools - Virginia Tech & Southern

Teams - Atlanta Braves

Hobbies - Golf

Town - Bardstown/Nelson County

Sin - Laziness, Lying, Disobedience, Anger, etc.

What happens when we abide in sin?

English Standard Version Chapter 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.

What happens to the branches that don’t bear fruit?

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,

English Standard Version Chapter 15

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.

Ezekiel says the same thing.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

15 And the word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? 3 Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? 4 Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel. When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is it useful for anything? 5 Behold, when it was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything!

Ezekiel is talking about Israel and how they are living wickedly and not producing fruit. He says that the branches who aren’t producing should be thrown into the fire and burned.

What are they talking about when they are talking about being thrown into the fire?

Fire was a common jewish symbol for divine judgement. If the branches who aren’t producing fruit are burned in the fire, we believe that those branches represent unbelievers who will spend eternity in hell.

What is the alternative to be cut off and burned?

John 15:2 ESV

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.

What is pruning? Why is it good? (Forged in fire?)

“to cut or lop off (twigs, branches, or roots).”

Thats doesn’t sound like a good thing.

Pruned branches grow back stronger.

Apart from me you can do nothing.

Obviously we see people who aren’t believers doing things.

Only God can do things of eternal value.

At some point, everything we have ever done will waste away and be gone.

Our clothes, our jobs, our schools, even our bodies.

Why do we abide?

Ephesians 3:14–19 ESV

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

So that you will love one another.

John 15:12–17 ESV

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Now that we’ve talked about what Jesus commanded about the vine, he says he commanded it ‘that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.’

The Disciples

Jesus loved these men, they were his friends.

Jesus is referencing the time he lays down his life for his friends and for so many more through time: the crucifixion.

He even says

John 15:14–15 ESV

You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

What is the difference between a servant and a friend?

Table

Servants make up the table and put food on the table.

Friends sit at the table and dine with the master.

Bed

The servants make the master’s bed.

Friends sleep in a bed made by the servants.

Errands

Servants run errand, go and get things for the house.

Friends stay at the house and enjoy fellowship with the master.

How do we abide?

John 15:14–15 ESV

You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.

How do we abide in/be in Jesus?

When Jesus talks about laying down his life for his friends, he isn’t just providing us a metaphor for live, he’s telling us why he’s going to do what he is going to do.

Jesus laid down his life at the crucifixion because he loved us.

John 15:16 ESV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Jesus also uses the fruit illustration in Matthew 7:15-20

Matthew 7:15–20 ESV

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

What happens when we abide in Jesus?

John 15:7–8 ESV

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

v16 ‘Whatever you ask in the Father’s name he will give you.’

v8 ‘We will prove to be his disciples.’

We often read the Bible the wrong way.

We are looking for self-help, not the person of God.

Just as Jesus’ disciples were following him, seeking to serve follow in his footsteps in any way possible, we should be doing the same.

We may feel:

Distant: No connection at all.

Bad Listeners: Always feel like there some reason to not hear what God is saying.

Every So Often: I do have time with God and it’s great, but it rarely happens.

Regular: Speak formally and informally with God many times/day.

When we pray, lets pray that God will help us accurately evaluate our relationship with him.

Lets pray to thirst for God’s presence and power just as David did in Psalm 63.

David’s Thirst for God

English Standard Version Psalm 63

1  O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you;

my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

2  So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory.

3  Because your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

4  So I will bless you as long as I live;

in your name I will lift up my hands.

5  My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food,

and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

6  when I remember you upon my bed,

and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

7  for you have been my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

8  My soul clings to you;

your right hand upholds me.

PRAY