John 15:1-17

Fourth Sunday in LentMarch 22, 2020Pastor Tyler Williams

Abide & Go! The Gospel of John, Part 2

Abide Abide

Abide in the Vine (15:1-8)

Abide in Love (15:9-17)

Abide in the Vine (15:1-8)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He takes away every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me, as I also abide in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must abide in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in me.

Abide in the Vine (15:1-8)

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you abide in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If you do not abide in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Abide in the Vine (15:1-8)

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Abide in the Vine (15:1-8)

In this first section, there are two parallel, yet overlapping, images (vv. 1-4 and 5-8) that explore the identity and relationship between the vine, the vinedresser, and the branches

The Vine

The image of the vine is one of the most pervasive symbols used for ancient Israel (Hosea 10:1-2; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:1-5; Psalm 80:8-18)

Virtually all highlight that Israel is not producing good fruit:

“I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?” (Jeremiah 2:21)

The Vine

Jesus as the “True” Vine

He is the real, genuine, authentic, real embodiment/representative of faithful Israel

While Jesus’ role is central in this passage, the Father also has a role…

The Vinedresser

The Father is the gardener/vine dresser, and his job is to trim and prune the branches…

“He cleans away [vb. airei, αἴρει] every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he cleans up [vb. kath-airei, καθαίρει], i.e., prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

The Vinedresser

Every branch that is dry and withered and bears no fruit is cleaned away [airei, αἴρει], typically in the winter

Every branch that bears no fruit is cleaned up [kath-airei, καθαίρει], i.e., cut back/pruned, typically in the spring to remove the useless growth from the branches

The Vinedresser

Both acts ensure continuing fruitfulness for the vine

Some he cleans up, others he clears out

Pruning may be painful, yet it is motivated by God’s love and “for our own good, that we may share in his holiness” (Hebrew 12:10; see 12:4-11)

The Branches

The Disciples are the Branches,

We have one job: Abide in the vine!

With one result: Bear fruit!

The Branches

Meno (μένω) – to remain, continue, abide, persist

Describes the closest possible relationship between Father and Son (John 14:10; see also 10:38).

Describes the closest possible relationship between Christ and the believer (John 6:56, 14:4, 5, 7, 9, 10; see also 14:20)

The Branches

This is the mutual indwelling of the Triune God and Jesus’ disciples such that disciples participate in the divine love and life, and therefore in the life-giving mission of God

This connection between abiding and fruitfulness is made explicit in the next section…

Abide in Love (15:9-17)

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now [abide] in my love. 10If you keep my commands, you will [abide] in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and [abide] in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you….

Abide in Love (15:9-17)

16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that [abides]—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17This is my command: Love each other” (15:9-17).

Fruitfulness

The mutual indwelling of Jesus and his followers is not an end in itself. The point is to bear fruit.

The fruit is not something that belongs to his followers, it is the fruit of the vine.

It is the life of Jesus reproduced in the lives of the disciples in the midst of the life of the world

Fruitfulness

Love & Obedience (cf. 1John 2:6)

“John is speaking of the union of believers with Christ, apart from whom they can do nothing. This union, originating in his initiative and sealed by his death on their behalf, is completed by the believers’ responsive love and obedience, and is the essence of Christianity” (CK Barrett)

Like the relationship between faith & good deeds in James 2

Fruitfulness

Effective Prayer (vv. 7, 16)

The more we abide in Christ, the more we are transformed into his image, the more we will live like Jesus, the more Jesus’ priorities will shape our prayers

This is what it means to “ask in Jesus’ name”

Fruitfulness

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (15:8)

Demonstrating Discipleship (13:34-35)

Bringing Glory to God!

Conclusions

Abide in the true Vine, Jesus Christ

Abide in his life

Abide in his love

Abide in his peace

If we do this, we will bring Glory to God, and the fruit will take care of itself!

Conclusions

“The gracious indwelling of God with his people is not an invitation to settle down and forget the rest of the world; it is a summons to mission, for the Lord who dwells with his people is the one who goes before them in the pillar of fire and cloud…. He does not send us out alone: he leads the way and brings [us] with him. We abide with him only as we go with him. For he is the one in whom the calling of Israel is fulfilled. He is the true vine” (Leslie Newbigin, The Light has Come, 196).

Questions for Discussion

1. What does the picture Jesus paints of the vine, vinedresser, and the branches in the vine suggest to you? Can you relate to the image?

2. God graciously tends and cares for his vineyard, yet he still will prune it to ensure fruitfulness. Have you experienced the pruning work of the Father in your life?

3. How do we “abide” in Jesus? What does John 15:10 suggest? What does this mutual indwelling look like in practice?

Questions for Discussion

4. How do you understand the relationship between abiding and fruitfulness? Between love and obedience?

5. How can we ensure our prayers are truly prayed “in the name of Jesus”?