John 15 - The Vine and the Branches

Click Here to Listen to or Read John 15

The Vine and the Branches

Jesus uses the metaphor of a vine and its branches to illustrate what a relationship with him looks like and the results. Being an amateur gardener, I know the value of pruning. Once the flowers on my rose bushes have bloomed, at some point I need to prune the branches in order to bring another bloom of beautiful roses. At the time it is hard to do but once the bush starts to grow again, it is worth it. 

Jesus says that the only way we can bear fruit as Jesus' followers is if we stay connected to him. Without Jesus in our lives, we can do nothing of eternal value. But as we grow in faith, God prunes us so that we can be even more fruitful. Though it may seem painful at the time, as God prunes away old attitudes, habits, and behaviors, we see new fruit being borne through the process. 

The scary thing about the passage is the branches that don't abide in the Vine and don't bear fruit are eventually cut down and thrown into the fire. There are various interpretations as to what this means. 

This passage is interpreted at least three ways regarding the security of the professed disciple’s position in Jesus.

· The first view believes cast out branches are ones who, though once true believers, end up in hell for lack of abiding and fruit. They were once disciples, but are now cast out.

· The second view is that the cast out branches are ones who only appeared to be disciples, and who never really abided in Jesus, and therefore go to hell (like Judas).

· The third view sees the cast out branches as fruitless disciples who live wasted lives that are in effect burnt up, and this passage doesn’t refer to their eternal destiny (like Lot, Abraham’s nephew).

iii. The emphasis seems plain: there are no true disciples who do not abide. The branch must remain connected to the vine or it has no life and is of no lasting good. - Guzik

Out of the these interpretations I would stay with #3. I don't believe someone who is a Christian can "lose their salvation". I believe in "once saved always saved". Once someone is born again and becomes a child of God, I don't believe they can be "unborn again". Just like my son may disappoint me and wander far away from me, he will always be my son. But point of the story is that unless we abide in Jesus, we will not live the life we were intended to live. 

Are you a fruit bearing Christian? Is there evidence of Jesus working in your life to spread his love? Does your life bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, and self control?

We see in these verses what Jesus means by abiding in him. 

f 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.  

The key is obedience to do what Jesus commanded us to do. And what is the number one thing he has commanded us to do? To love one another, as he loved us by laying down his life for us. As we obey Jesus by loving others, his joy will remain in us, which will bring us complete joy. Many people experience NO joy in their life, because their life is spent serving themselves instead of giving their lives for the sake of others like Jesus did. 

Are you experiencing the joy Jesus came to bring you? Are you loving others as Jesus loved you, laying down his life for you?

The World Hates the Disciples

By abiding in Him, we will bear much fruit and experience his joy. But Jesus also warns us that we will not necessarily be loved by those in the world, especially those who have rejected him. Though Jesus treated people with kindness and compassion, he also convicted those who were living in sin. They didn't need Jesus, because they were self sufficient. Jesus told them the truth of and they rejected him, because he exposed their darkness. When people see Jesus in us, if they are walking away from God, they will not want to be around us. 

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Though many people are blinded to the truth about themselves and about Jesus, the Holy Spirit will come and testify the truth. He will reveal to them their need for what Jesus did for them on the cross. It is the Holy Spirit that lead us to Christ. He shows us our need for a Savior and lead us to true faith. 

Everything the Holy Spirit does is consistent with the testimony of the nature of Jesus. His job is to tell us, and to show us, who Jesus is. If spiritual things happen that are not consistent with the nature of Jesus, it isn’t the Holy Spirit doing it. He is the One who will testify of Jesus in all that He does. - Guzik 


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