College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
John 15 - Introduction
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
This chapter contains one of the many rhetorical masterpieces of Jesus found in the gospels. Speakers strive for a lifetime to attain the profoundity, simplicity, beauty and practicalness expressed in the allegory of the Vine and the branches (John 15:1-11), and find that simply to quote what Jesus said is better than all their own eloquence. Had Jesus never uttered these beautiful words the world would have been much poorer in literary genius, let alone divine wisdom.
The main theme of this chapter is the Living Union of Christ and His Disciples. There are, of course, a few specific promises and instructions which apply strictly to the eleven apostles. But most of the instructions are ageless in their application and they are for the edification of all Christians.
The relationship between Christ and the Christian is not organizational but organic, vivifical, living. Even the societal relationship between Christian and Christian is dependent first and foremost upon the living union between Christ and the individual Christian. There is no life, no beauty and no fruitfulness except in living union with Christ. Apart from Him, even though an organizational status be maintained, there is only withering, decay and death.
We commend every Christian who is interested in knowing and feeling the reality of a closer walk with God to this fifteenth chapter of John. To every Christian who desires joy and satisfaction and fruitfulness we say, put the teaching of this chapter to practice. To every preacher and teacher who desires to communicate more effectively we say, imitate the simplicity and earnestness of the Master in John 15:1-27!
This fifteenth chapter lends itself to excellent continuity when being outlined. We continue our outline of the third main division of the Gospel according to John:
III.
The Word Manifested to The Disciples and Their Acceptance of Him. John 13:1, John 20:31
A.
Private Instructions and Encouragements, John 13:1, John 17:26 (continued)
3.
The Living Union of Christ and His Disciples, John 15:1-27
a.
Vital Union of Vine and Branches, John 15:1-11
(1)
The Vine the source of vitality
(2)
Pruning needed to produce
(3)
Reward of the relationship
b.
Frank Union of Friends, John 15:12-17
(1)
Unlimited Love
(2)
Communion of Confidants
(3)
Access to Abundance
c.
Persevering Union of the Persecuted, John 15:18-27
(1)
Participation brings persecution
(2)
Greater revelationgreater responsibility
(3)
Comforter will come
EXPOSITORY SERMON FIFTEEN
THE LIVING UNION OF CHRIST AND HIS DISCIPLES
Introduction
I.
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID BEFORE LEADS UP TO THIS
A.
Chapter 14 speaks of the beginning or birth of the union between Christ and His disciples.
1.
If they love Him and keep His word He will manifest Himself to them, John 14:21.
2.
If they love Him and keep His commandments, He will be in them. He will dwell in them, John 14:16-17; John 14:23.
B.
He must go away, but He will return to dwell within each disciple who by faith and love keeps His word.
II.
NOW INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN ON HOW THIS LIVING UNION IS MAINTAINED
A.
There is that which the disciple must do to maintain the union.
B.
There is that which the Lord does to maintain the union,
C.
In each relationship of the Lord and the disciple in this 15th chapter we find that the actions of both are necessary to maintain the union.
Discussion
I.
VITAL UNION OF VINE AND BRANCHES, John 15:1-11
A.
Pruning needed to produce, John 15:1-3.
1.
This pruning comes from the Lord and is to the end that the branch may produce even more fruit than it is producing.
2.
The chastening of the Lord yields peaceful fruit and assures us that we are His beloved children (cf. Hebrews 12:3-11).
3.
The Lord does this by two different methods: He cleanses us of extraneous habits and luxuries by pricking our conscience through the Word. we put to death the deeds of the body by the leading of the Spirit in His Word; He also chastens us by His providential operations upon our lives in the events of history and nature.
4.
IT IS OUR PART TO COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN WE ARE TESTED (Cf. James 1:2-4, James 1:12-15). IT IS OUR PART TO LET THE TESTING BEAR FRUIT IN OUR LIVES.
B.
The Vine the source of Vitality, John 15:4-6.
1.
Apart from the Vine is the source of Life, the branch cannot bear fruit.
a.
There is no power in our testimony unless we are preaching the power unto salvation the gospel.
b.
There is no power in our witness of life unless we are living with the personality of the Spirit in us.
c.
In Isaiah 55:10-11 the Word of God is depicted as a source of life just as the rain which comes down from heaven.
d.
In John 6:1-71, the words of Christ (John 6:63) are said to be the living bread come down out of heaven which give life. THE REASON SO MANY BRANCHES DO NOT BEAR FRUIT IS THAT THEY ARE SO LOOSELY CONNECTED TO THE VINE THEY ARE NOT RECEIVING ANY OF THE VITAL NUTRIENTS NECESSARY TO FRUIT-BEARING!
WHEN MEN AND WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE EAT THE BREAD OF LIFE, AND DRINK THE WATER OF LIFE ONLY ONCE A WEEK, HOW CAN THEY BEAR FRUIT?
2.
Apart from a living union with the vine, the branch dies.
a.
The branch not only ceases to bear fruit if it does not partake of the life that is in the Vine.
b.
It withers and dies and is cast into the fire (cf. Matthew 3:8-12; Matthew 7:19; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 25:41) see also our comments on page
c.
THERE ARE NO INACTIVE CHRISTIANS. NO FRUITLESS BRANCHES. CHRISTIANS CANNOT STAND STILL, THEY EITHER GO FORWARD AND BEAR FRUIT, OR GO BACKWARD WITHERING AND DYING AND BEING BURNED.
C.
Reward of the Relationship, John 15:7-11.
1.
Notice that in John 15:7 Jesus tells us very plainly just how this Vine-branch relationship may be maintained: If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you.
2.
One of the rewards is that if our wills are in harmony with Christ's will, then we shall have an answer to every prayer we make. WHAT A POWER THERE IS IN PRAYER.
3.
One of the rewards is that our Heavenly Father is glorified when we bear much fruit. This is our purpose. this is our calling. when we glorify Him, He will glorify us in Himself.
4.
Another of the rewards is that we shall dwell in love. LIVING IN HIS LOVE. OVERSHADOWED BY HIS MIGHTY LOVE (cf. Romans 8:31-39).
5.
The crowning reward is in John 15:11: WE SHALL BE FILLED WITH THE SAME JOY WHICH OUR SAVIOUR KNEW. JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY. A JOY, NOT AS THE WORLD THINKS OF JOY, BUT JOY IN THAT WHICH IS ETERNALLY SATISFYING, BEARING FRUIT UNTO HIS KINGDOM!
II.
FRANK UNION OF FRIENDS, John 15:12-17
A.
First Jesus gives the one great basic precept: His disciples are to maintain unity among themselves on the basis of lovethe same LOVE WHICH HE HAD FOR THEM.
1.
The world over, men recognize as the supreme evidence of love that a man will voluntarily give up his own life for the sake of his friends.
2.
This Jesus was about to do. They would be His friends if they were willing to let their love for one another rise to such self-sacrifice and thus keep His precept.
3.
Such a love is unlimited. It has no bounds. Such love is God like love for it loves first (cf. 1 John 4:7-12).
B.
Next Jesus promises to take His disciples into a communion that is enjoyed only by friends and confidants.
1.
Those who believe and trust Jesus and keep His commandments find that their relationship to Him grows into one of fellowship and friendship rather than the drudgery of slavish and unintelligent oppression.
2.
A slave is given orders and is never taken into the confidence of his master concerning the master's plans and purposes.
3.
But Jesus tells His friends (reveals to them) everything He can concerning the plans and purposes of the Father. Thus we know things which the Prophets did not knowthings which angels desire to look into.
4.
But there are things which even friends cannot understand and do not need to know (cf. John 16:12; Isaiah 55:8-11). A good friend exercises reticence as well as frankness, when reticence is to the loved one's profit. So does Jesus in our case. But, of that which we most certainly need to know, He is very frank to say, If it were not so, I would have told you.
C.
Friends have access to one another's abundance. Jesus makes the abundant power and resources of the Heavenly Father's storehouse.
1.
If we ask anything according to His will we know that all the resources of Heaven will be sent to fulfill that request.
2.
What a grand and glorious promise that is!
3.
(cf. 1 John 5:14-15.)
4.
GREATER THINGS FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD COULD BE WROUGHT THAN ARE BEING ACCOMPLISHED NOW. IF CHRISTIAN PEOPLE WOULD JUST BELIEVE AND AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THIS PROMISE FOR THE ONGOING OF THE KINGDOM! BUT WHAT IS THE SMALLEST SERVICE OF THE CHURCH? PRAYER MEETING! THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH DOES NOT BELIEVE IN PRAYER!!! BUT GOD DOES!!
III.
PERSEVERING UNION OF THE PERSECUTED, John 15:18-27
A.
Participation with Christ in this living union will bring persecution, John 15:18 to John 21:1. If we are united with Christ and stand for what He stands
1.
for; if we are against what He is against; if we live as He lived; WE WILL BE PERSECUTED BY THE WORLD.
2.
Much of what the Christian regards to be wrong, the world regards as right; what the Christian believes and teaches to be precious, the world regards as valueless. THE CHRISTIAN AND THE WORLD ARE DISAGREED AND IN OPPOSITION AS TO WHAT IS GOOD, VALUABLE, RIGHT!!
3.
The righteous living of the Christian is a constant rebuke and judgment upon the unrighteous living of the worldling.
4.
Men of the world walk by sight and not by faith. They are out of harmony with God's will for their lives. If a man loves darkness, he will hate the light (cf. John 3:18-21).
5.
The servant is not greater than his Lord. The world persecuted Jesus and if we live like Him, the world will persecute us (cf. 2 Timothy 3:12).
B.
Greater Revelation, Greater Responsibility, John 15:22-25.
1.
Jesus does not mean to say that if He had not come they would not have had any sin at all.
a.
All men have sinned against some law of God. They either sin against a revealed law on tables of stone, or against a law revealed to them in nature and on their consciences (cf. Romans 1:1-32; Romans 2:1-29).
2.
What He is saying is, compared with the sin of riot listening to His words, inasmuch as He came with sufficient proof of His Messiahship, all other sins dwindle into nothing.
a.
As black as some sins are, none are so black as rejecting the claims of Jesus, because His claims are backed and founded on overwhelmingly sufficient evidence!!
b.
The works that He did offer evidence which cannot be reasonably and rationally denied.
3.
As light comes to man and increases, so does his responsibility to follow and live in the light (cf. Luke 12:47-48).
a.
The proof is so clear that men cannot plead ignorance.
b.
The gospel has been declared to most men so many times that they cannot plead lack of opportunity.
c.
Thus there is no excuse for their sin of rejecting Him.
4.
The terribleness of this sin is that it is irrational, unreasonable and, as Jesus says, without cause.
a.
Who has Jesus ever injured?
b.
What law has He ever violated, what evil has He ever done?
c.
To the contrary, He and His true church has sought only the good of man, always!
d.
TO HATE JESUS IS TO HATE HIM WITHOUT CAUSE! TO REJECT JESUS AND HIS MESSAGE IS TO REJECT SOMETHING WITHOUT REASON AND CAUSE!
C.
But the Comforter will come to aid the persecuted disciples of Jesus Christ, John 15:26-27.
1.
He will come as Helper.
2.
In their witnessing to the world they will have the help of the Divine Personality, the Holy Spirit.
3.
He would guide them infallibly (and us today if we will adhere to His word, the Bible).
4.
The Holy Spirit helped the first disciples of Jesus by the miraculous works which He did through them in order to verify their message.
Conclusion
IF THEN GOD BE FOR US, IN SUCH A LIVING UNION OF FELLOWSHIP, FRIENDSHIP AND DIVINE ASSISTANCE, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US (cf. Romans 8:35-39)?
EXAMINATION, Chapter S 13, 14, and 15
True or False?
1.
Jesus established foot washing as a practice to be perpetuated in the church.
2.
Jesus was sometimes troubled.
3.
To love one another as Jesus loved was a new commandment.
4.
Heaven is not a place.
5.
Those who believe in Jesus will do greater works than He did.
6.
There is no need to keep every little thing Jesus commands, just so long as we love Him.
7.
The dwelling of the Holy Spirit within the Christian is known only when felt.
8.
The Holy Spirit comes to us unconditionally.
9.
One may be a Christian and never convert anyone else.
10.
People of the world do not hate Christians.
Who said this and Why?
1.
Thou shalt never wash my feet.
2.
If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
3.
Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
4.
He that is bathed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
5.
Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way?
6.
Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
7.
No longer do I call you servants. but I have called you friends.
8.
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin.
9.
They hated me without a cause.
10.
Arise, let us go hence.
Multiple choice
1.
Jesus took the basin and began to wash the disciples feet because:
a.
It was a religious rite of the church;
b.
They were arguing about their places around the table and He wanted to teach them humility;
c.
It was a custom of courtesy for the host to wash the feet of the guests.
2.
When Jesus said to Judas, What thou doest, do quickly:
a.
No one knew why He said this to Judas;
b.
Everyone understood by this sign that Judas was the betrayer of whom Jesus had spoken;
c.
Peter and John knew, but the rest of the disciples did not know that Judas was the betrayer.
3.
When the people of the era of Jesus and His disciples came about a table to eat they:
a.
Sat in chairs or on benches as artists have depicted the Last Supper;
b.
Sat on mats or pillows on the floor in cross-legged fashion like the Arabs do;
c.
Reclined on couches as the Romans did.
4.
Jesus promised joy to His disciples in:
a.
Bearing fruit; keeping His commandments; glorifying the Father;
b.
Abiding in His love; being cleansed by the husbandman (the Father);
c.
None of the above;
d.
All of the above.
5.
Jesus said:
a.
The world loves the church and wants it to prosper;
b.
The church should love the world and be as accommodating to the people of the world as possible;
c.
The church should be separate from the world and be glad to suffer persecution;
d.
The world hates the church but will not do anything to harm the church.
6.
The Lord said of the branch that does not bear fruit:
a.
It is pruned that it may bear more fruit.
b.
It is cut off and cast into the fire.
c.
It remains on the vine but does not bear fruit.
7.
When Jesus said He would return, after His going away, to manifest Himself to the disciples, He meant:
a,
He would return and dwell in them by the Holy Spirit;
b.
He would return and appear to all disciples at the Second Coming;
c.
He would appear to the disciples after His death (going away) at His resurrection (coming again).
8.
Chapter 13 is an incident which took place:
a.
During the Passover and Last Supper;
b.
On another night after the Passover and Last Supper;
c.
One night before the Passover and Last Supper.
Make a List
1.
Of five things said of the Holy Spirit in these three Chapter s.
2.
Of three relationships which the disciples have in their union with Christ.
3.
Of five things that result from the love which Jesus taught in these three Chapter s.
4.
Of five ways in which Jesus spoke of His relationship to God the Father in these three Chapter s.
5.
Of three figures of speech which Jesus used in these three Chapter s.
Quote or Paraphrase
1.
2.
3.