John 15:1-17

1. 15:1-17.

After the words: “Let us go hence,” Jesus and the disciples left the room which had just been to them, as it were, the vestibule of the Father's house. Whither do they go? According to Westcott: to the temple, which was open during the nights of the Passover feast. There was suspended the well- known golden vine which suggests to Jesus to represent Himself in the figure developed at the beginning of the following discourse. There is nothing less probable, as it seems to me, than this hypothesis. Why should not John have indicated this locality as he has always done, and how in a place like this could Jesus have found a sufficiently solitary spot for His last conversations and His last prayer?

We imagine Jesus and the apostles rather as silently traversing the streets of Jerusalem, and soon finding on the slope which descends into the valley of Cedron a retired spot where they stop. Surrounded by this little circle of disciples, in view of Jerusalem and the Jewish people now assembled in that city, Jesus contemplates the immense task which awaits His disciples as those who are to continue His work. Transporting Himself in thought to the moment when His spiritual return will be consummated, He endeavors first of all to make them comprehend the nature of this situation which is so new for them, and the obligations which will spring from it. And first, the position, John 15:1-3 (in me); then the duty of this position, John 15:4 (to abide in me); finally, the consequences of this duty fulfilled or not fulfilled, John 15:5-8 (to bear fruit or to burn).

ADDITIONAL NOTES BY THE AMERICAN EDITOR.

Vv. 1-11.

1. The fifteenth and sixteenth Chapter s evidently belong together and form one continuous discourse. This discourse consists of four parts: first, the relation of the disciples to Jesus (John 15:1-11); secondly, their relation to one another (John 15:12-17); thirdly, their relation to the world (John 15:18 - John 16:4); fourthly, the coming and work of the Spirit (John 16:5-24). The closing verses of ch. John 16:25-33 are of the nature of a conclusion, though closely connected in thought, at the beginning, with the verses which precede.

2. The main thought of the first part is that of the abiding of the disciple in Jesus. To set this forth, the figure of the vine and the branches is introduced.

3. On the words of these verses a few suggestions may be made:

(a) The adjective ἀληθινή, here as elsewhere in this Gospel, has the meaning: which answers to the true idea.

(b) The cleansing of the fruitful branches is accomplished by the word which Christ has spoken. This word has already effected its result in the hearts of the eleven faithful disciples, and the final exhortation which Jesus gives to them is to continue in the union with Him which is already begun.

(c) The words without me you can do nothing (John 15:5) are to be interpreted in connection with the idea of fruit-bearing, which is the idea of the verse. The fruit-bearing power depends wholly on the abiding in the vine. In a similar way the words of John 15:6 are to be explained as belonging to the figure, and the spiritual application of them is not to be carried into the individual expressions, but connected with the entire expression as a whole.

(d) It will be observed that the reference to the answers to prayer in John 15:7 is to such answers as are connected with results in the spiritual life.

(e) The words my love (John 15:9), like my peace (John 14:27) and my joy (John 15:11), are to be explained of love going forth from Jesus, and not love to Him. They were to continue in such a state that His love could abide with them as His friends.

(f) The end in view of the whole presentation of the relation of the disciples to Christ is declared, in John 15:11, to be that their joy may be made complete by having the joy which He Himself has, as abiding in the Father's love, dwelling in their souls.