I AM THE REAL VINE. They have gotten up from the table, on which was
the wine [fruit of the grape vine], and Jesus has said he will never
drink it again on this earth. As they are still standing there, Jesus
begins this lesson. Christ has been planted by the Father as the Real
Vine.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE BREAKS OFF EVERY BRANCH IN ME. Individual believers are the
branches (see John 15:7). Vines have two kinds of branches: the
fruitless, which the gardener cuts off and discards; the fruitful,
which he prunes [trims] to make it bear more fruit. Judas had just
been cut away from the group.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU HAVE BEEN MADE CLEAN ALREADY. The message [all Jesus had taught
them] had made them clean, given them spiritual life, and prepared
them to _bear fruit._ [The message tells us how to reach out to seize
Christ's cleansing and saving ACT.]... [ Continue Reading ]
REMAIN UNITED TO ME. _Luther_ says: "Faith is a _living, daring
confidence in the grace of God,_ of such assurance that it would risk
a thousand deaths." Faith, then, is expected to be a continuous
action. Compare Philippians 3:12 and note. UNLESS YOU REMAIN IN ME. We
are dead branches, without frui... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. He is the Real Vine (John 15:1). Now he declares
that each disciple is a branch on the Real Vine.... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THROWN OUT. Faith can be lost (Hebrews 6:4-6), and with it the
ability to bear fruit. This whole parable shows us the relationship of
Christ to: (1) _The Father -_ gardener and vine; (_2) Man -_ vine and
branches; (3) _actions -_ vine, branches and fruit; (4) _negative
action -_ vine, branches cu... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN YOU WILL ASK FOR ANYTHING. The contingency is _"if you remain in
me."_ This implies both possibility and action. THIS IS HOW MY
FATHER'S GLORY IS SHOWN. This shows the role of "works." See what
Jesus said in Matthew 5:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YOU OBEY MY COMMANDS. Obeying his commands gives you the right to
claim his love. [He loved us in our rebellious condition (Romans
5:8).] We cannot love him and be rebellious at the same time.... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THAT MY JOY MAY BE IN YOU. He says this as he faces the Cross!!! It
gives him great joy to obey the Father's commands. They also will find
great joy in obeying his commands. So will we!... [ Continue Reading ]
12-14. JUST AS I LOVE YOU. All of Christ's commands are contained in
this, and grow out of this seed! They may have expected detailed
instructions, but instead, his love was to be their guide. IS TO GIVE
HIS LIFE FOR THEM. This is the EXAMPLE. AND YOU ARE MY FRIENDS. All
are to obey his commands, no... [ Continue Reading ]
15. INSTEAD, I CALL YOU FRIENDS. Compare James 2:21-24.... [ Continue Reading ]
YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME; I CHOSE YOU. Each of the Eleven [Judas is _cut
away_] had been chosen from the group of disciples. The King has
chosen his ambassadors! [APOSTLE = one sent, ambassador.]... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Love is the _mortar_ which builds _living stones_
into the _church of Christ!_... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THE WORLD HATES YOU. The _world_ is "natural man," unbelieving, who
have Satan as their ruler.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WILL PERSECUTE YOU TOO. They hated Christ and killed him. You
must expect the same treatment.... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE YOU ARE MINE. Compare Revelation 1:9. [_For my name's sake_
means _because you are mine._ A _Christian_ is one who has been
_bought far God by Christ._]... [ Continue Reading ]
If I HAD NOT come. Opportunity _equals_ responsibility. Those who
reject Christ will die in their sins, because they refuse to escape
from them.... [ Continue Reading ]
HATES MY FATHER ALSO. It is impossible to love God and hate Christ!!!... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY HATED ME FOR NO REASON AT ALL. The "sin of sins" is to reject
Jesus. Because he came, he could be rejected. Those who rejected
Christ would find no way to escape from the guilt of their rejection.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HELPER WILL COME. The Holy Spirit. See _chapter 14._ HE WILL SPEAK
ABOUT ME. [He will not speak about himself!] This is explained in John
16:13-15.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND YOU, TOO, WILL SPEAK ABOUT ME. As _eyewitnesses,_ they would speak
about Christ and tell the Good News of what God had done through him.
Compare 1 John 1:1-4; 1 Corinthians 2:6-12.... [ Continue Reading ]