Enduring Word John 15 (2024)

FAQs

What is the main point of John chapter 15? ›

Chapter Context

He presents the analogy of a vine and branches, then repeats His command for believers to love each other. Jesus also warns about how the unbelieving world will hate and persecute Christians. This leads into the teachings of chapter 16, which focus on perseverance in the face of trials.

ABIDING IN JESUS IS A COMMITMENT

When we abide in Jesus, we are no longer living for ourselves, we are living to glorify God and serve others. When we abide in Jesus, His commands and teachings will shape all that we do! Jesus does not want us to be wishy-washy, or to call on Him only when we need something.

John 15:22 indicates that because Jesus has come into the world and has done mighty signs that testify to who He is as the incarnate Son of God, the world has no excuse for rejecting Him or His followers.

John 15 tells us that when a believer is in fellowship with Christ but is not bearing fruit due to immaturity or injury, our Lord lovingly lifts him up so that he can bear fruit. The believer who is in fellowship with Christ and who is bearing fruit is pruned [or cleaned] so that he can produce more fruit…

Jesus' role as the vine is twice identified, in verse 1 as “the true vine” and in verse 5 as “the vine.” This is the life source of the branches. It is God who tends to the flourishing of the branches, and likewise will “remove[s] every branch” (John 15:2) that gives no yield.

So in the context of John 15, the fruit Jesus is referring to is the disciples being His witnesses and the making of new disciples. It is producing the "seed" of new believers which glorifies the Father: By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ( John 15:8)

Remain in Christ. v Abide in his word – (John 15:3, 17:17), Jesus calls us to spend time in his word so that we can be sanctified, cleansed and transformed for his work. We attain sanctification through God's word. As we spend time with God in his word, he reveals many things about ourselves, Himself and others.

The first part of John 15:4-5 reads, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.” This passage refers to the constant union that believers should have with Christ. This union is not just a passive relationship, but it requires active participation.

He wants us to love one another even as he has loved us. As Jesus gave up his life for us, he wants us to do the same for one another. True love is not a cheap, shallow sentiment; it is costly. When we love others the way Christ loved us, we will need to sacrifice some things or even many things.

The sovereign choice of Jesus in John 15:16 is not a choice of some out of the mass of humanity to receive eternal life, but rather, the choice of some out of all His followers and disciples to have a deeper fellowship with Him so that they might serve Him and become more productive followers.

What can we learn from John 15 13? ›

Christ's statement in John 15:13 demonstrates His boundless love for us. Jesus literally laid down His own life for His friends, those who obey Him (verse 14). He exhibited the most remarkable display of love when He died for our sins, showing what true, selfless love looks like.

Jesus wants us to know that we are branches who cannot stand alone. Jesus himself is our gardener who continuously nourishes our spirit. If we remain faithful to Him, our life will prosper and bear much fruit. If we remain loyal to our belief, the hard work we did will result into more than we ever expected.

In this passage, we see ourselves as branches with the potential to bear fruit, Christ as the vine on which we depend, and God as our vinedresser. John 15:2 shows us God's active work in our hearts, “every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit.” In other words, you abide in me and I will bear my fruit through you. And you don't have to worry about fruit bearing if you are abiding. The problem is when you're not abiding apart for me, you can do nothing.

“I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. ( John 15:11) Reflection: There is great joy in abiding in Christ. True joy does not originate from us nor is it generated by the circ*mstances of our lives.

Just as the branches can't grow fruit unless they are connected to the vine, we can't do anything useful unless we are following closely after Jesus. He is the key to our relationship with God.

The Gospel of John presents Christ as the longed for Messiah and Son of God, who comes to earth as a Jew to restore God's covenant people.