Year 2, Week 38, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 38, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of John 15-16.

Today’s reading continues a segment of John’s Gospel account that contains an extended conversation that Jesus had with His disciples on the eve of His arrest and crucifixion. John’s Gospel account provides an extended record of the conversation that Jesus had with His disciples somewhere between the meal that He had with them and their departure to Gethsemane. This extended account is John 14-17, and is often labeled the Upper Room Discourse. The previous day’s reading considered John 13-14 and tomorrow’s reading will include John 17. John 15 opens with a focus on the vital relationship that Jesus’ disciples will need to experience with Him in order to be fruitful followers: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1). John 15 also provides the realistic picture of the hatred that Jesus’ followers will face from the world: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19). John 16 continues exploring the theme of the world’s hatred of Christ’s disciples, but revisits the promise of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit: “But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:6-7). In the midst of persecution, Christ wished to instill in His disciples a word of peace and hope: “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the description that Christ provided to His disciples to instruct them on their need to abide in Him: “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” (John 15:4). The meaning of what it means to abide in Jesus is best understood by first grasping the significance of the symbolism that frames the notion of abiding: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 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” (John 15:1-2). Jesus likens Himself to a vine—the true vine—as He likens His followers as branches coming out of the vine. Jesus expands the imagery describing the vital relationship between Himself and His followers by adding the Father as the vinedresser, that is, the gardener who tends to and prunes the branches. The Father and the Son focus their operational roles on supplying what the branches need in order to bear fruit. The imagery suggests the Son’s internal work in relationship to the branch, while the Father’s work is external. Whereas branches need sunlight, pollination, water, and soil, the people of God need the Father and the Son.

The meaning of abiding in Jesus is the same thing as branches abiding to a vine: “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. 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” (John 15:5-6). Those who abide in Jesus will bear much fruit, while apart from Him His followers can do nothing. If the connection between branch and vine severed, there will be no fruit. Thus, if the connection between the Christian and Christ severed, there will be no Christlikeness. Therefore, Jesus goes on to explain what happens to those who begin to follow Him but do not abide in Him: they are like branches severed from the vine. They wither; they are gathered; and they are burned. This description from verse 6 revisits the first part of verse 2, where Jesus spoke of the Father’s taking away branches that do not bear fruit. Given the audience Jesus was addressing at this point, it would seem we should think of Judas as a branch that did not abide in the vine. Given the way Jesus refers to Judas (see John 17:12), Judas was never vitally connected to the vine. He was attracted to Jesus, but he was never cleansed (see John13:10). If a person who says they are a Christian is not bearing fruit, it is because they are not abiding in Christ. A person who is not abiding in Christ, has no grounds for confidence that he truly belongs to Jesus. If a person has been genuinely born again, they are a branch that enjoys a living connection to the vine: “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31b-32).

As Jesus commands His disciples to abide in Him, we should carefully notice the relationship between abiding in Jesus and His Word abiding us: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). Practically speaking, abiding in Jesus consists of living with a conscious sense of our constant need for Jesus’ presence in our lives. Out of this sense of continued need, we consistently expose ourselves to the Scriptures. When our hearts are shaped by the Scriptures we are inclined to pray and informed as to how we should pray. It is in these means of abiding that we glorify the Father through the life we express: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:8).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe