The Gospel of John Lesson 61 (01-26-14) John 15:6-10

The Gospel of John Lesson 61 (01-26-14)

Lesson 61 – John 15:6-10

As we begin our study this week I think that it would be good to weave in some of last week’s study because it is difficult to apply correctly what Jesus will say here unless we lay what He says on the previous week’s study as a foundation.

Last week we saw that Jesus placed Himself essentially in the nation Israel’s most prominent position referring to Himself as the True Vine. In last week’s lesson we made reference to Isaiah chapter 5, verses 1-7, making mention that Jesus’ reference to the True Vine and the vineyard would have connected directly with His audience here in John chapter 15. They would have understood the reference to the vineyard as Jesus referring directly to the nation Israel.

It would have been clear to His disciples that in saying that He was the True Vine He was placing Himself as the intermediary between the nation Israel and God the Father. His reference to being the True Vine would have connected with His disciples as they would have understood the position that He took in being the connection for the people of Israel to God the Father who was referred to as the husbandman or owner of the vineyard in the Isaiah chapter 5 passage. In doing so and saying this He made the statement that He, and not the religious leaders of Israel at that time, was the path to the Father and He made it plain that they, His disciples and His followers, needed to find their connection and home in Him if they wanted to know God the Father.

In the first 6 verses of chapter 15 Jesus made some interesting statements to them that may have challenged their thinking, challenging their thinking concerning their commitment and relationship to God. At that time in the hierarchy of their society every part of their society funneled through the activities of Israel’s religious practices and perspectives as dictated by the priests.

This was not supposed to be a bad thing. When done right this system was suppose to point to God. However, nothing could have been further from the truth. Israel at the time was under Roman rule so oppression and oversight of these religious practices were influential on how they were carried out and performed.

The original laws and practices that Israel had been given by God to observe were bold and God honoring. However, the priests had changed them and their intent, selfishly manipulating them and their intent for their own benefit. Add to this the fear of over stepping the line with their Roman captors, the priests would omit or water down practices that might offend or get too much of what they would call the wrong attention from their captures.

If you think of it the picture found here in John 15 has an amazing similarity to the picture that Isaiah paints in Isaiah chapter 5 of not resembling God’s vineyard at all. Jesus rightfully placing Himself into the position of the True, and, One and only Vine offered His disciples and followers hope. But, they would have to make some changes. Their focus and practices would have to be focused on Jesus and not the religious leaders and their practices, and, on Jesus’ teachings and example and not on the formality of their religion. But, isn’t that the way it should have been?

Jesus’ message in John 15 was one of division, one of separating out, separating out the bad from the good that was found in Israel, God’s vineyard. It is interesting that Jesus does the separating out, being the Judge of the vines and branches. However, He does tell us His standard or measure for this judgment or evaluation and His standard may surprise some.

It is true that at first glance it appears that this division that He makes is one of those bearing fruit or not bearing fruit. However, in reality it is more than that. His standard for pruning the dead or unproductive out was one of whether or not one was abiding in or not abiding in the True Vine. In other words, it was based on whether you were abiding in Jesus or not. Bearing fruit was the end result of those truly abiding in the Vine. Those of Israel who were not found abiding in the precepts and message of the Law and O.T. which clearly pointed to Jesus were found withering and in need of being cast off even though they were part of Israel as a nation.

It is safe to say that most of Israel did not pass the test of abiding at this point. It is true that many, especially of those of the common folk, were considering following Jesus, committing to Him and His teachings, but there was still too much controversy surrounding Him to make an abiding commitment.

It could be said that even His closest friends, His disciples, were at this point not fully abiding in Him either…the reason for this conversation with them. This was indeed a call to them for a deeper relationship and commitment to Him. The vast majority of His disciples would not make this type of abiding commitment until after Jesus’ resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

But, in referring to the branches that were to be pruned away Jesus was in all probability more referring to the religious leaders and their dead ways and practices. It is ironic that in a short time all of what His disciples saw with their eyes that looked so ominous at the time would crumble and fall, eventually leaving Jesus in clearer view. Even the Temple as amazing as it was would be brought down, eventually not leaving one stone upon another.

But, another branch had been excised or pruned out that may also have been what Jesus was referring to. Judas, who at the time looked so good that he even fooled those that were close to him, was revealed and had been pruned out of those who had been chosen by Jesus. As you remember Judas was indeed that unprofitable servant that like the priests of the Temple selfishly served himself. Having the way of perdition, Judas left Jesus and the other disciples performing his selfish acts and as such was pruned away from the others. Jesus goes on in v. 3 reassuring the other disciples that they were indeed abiding in Him calling them clean because His teachings and ways were abiding in them.

Jesus goes on in vs. 4-6 not giving them a list of things that they need to do to stay clean, but instead shares with them what will be the secret to their success. In doing so He tells them that they will have to get their strength and life by abiding in Jesus the Vine. He tells them that this abiding is not only the source to their life or being alive in Him, but He tells them that it is also the source of their being productive and bearing fruit. Jesus makes it clear just how important this abiding is.

At the end of v. 5 Jesus essentially tells them that all of their grand plans and self efforts will be for naught, making a clear statement that without His direction and involvement in what we are doing it will not produce the fruit that He spoke of in these verses. (Read Scofield 15:4 footnote on abiding)

In v. 7 Jesus comes back to a discussion and a promise He gave them that occurred in the upper room. In John 14:12-4 Jesus had given them a new privilege and promise. In those verses He had promised that they would do great and mighty works honoring Him doing them for His glory, telling them that anything that they would ask ‘in His name’, that He would honor their request and do it.

However, His offer did not come without stipulations or some conditions. Actually, it did not come with condition(s) or stipulation(s), in reality came with only one condition. That was, that the request would be made with Christ and His will in mind, making the request in Jesus’ name.

He will make this offer and promise to them several times in this section of John, once in John 14:13-4, here in v. 7 of chapter 15 and again at the end of v. 16 in this same chapter. Here in v. 7 of chapter 15 He makes it clear what He was referring too when He told them in Jn. 14:14 to ask in His name. He makes it clear here that what He was referring to when making requests in His name was to abide in Him and His ways, making requests as He would do with others and not with ourselves in mind. In doing so it says in v. 8 that we will bear much fruit glorifying the Father in the process.

In the next few verses Jesus gets pretty mushy, especially for guys. He keeps talking about this love thing and He actually tells this group of guys, I mean telling them verbally, that He…loves them. What’s up with that? But, somehow in watching their response it appears that they weren’t offended. They had actually felt and experienced Jesus’ love and compassion for them before this and actually had grown accustom to it.

He tells them that the treatment and love that He has shown or demonstrated to them is the same love that He had received from His Father. Jesus knowing the Father’s love had no choice but to pass it on, giving it to those whom He loved. Now, at the end of v. 9, He says to them ‘It is your turn…pass it on’.

We know that His disciples took these words to heart because we read at a later time what the
Apostle John wrote to the then newly established Church that they too, John’s disciples, had received the love that Jesus had passed onto them from the Father sending Jesus’ commandment further on down the line, commanding those in the newly formed Church to do the same.

John repeats this commandment to ‘love one another as Jesus did numerous times in I John, and at least once in II John:

I John 3:23-4…23This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

I John 4:10-1…10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.12No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.…

I John 4:19, 21…We love because he first loved us….And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

I John 5:1-3…1Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.…

II John v. 5…And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

It appears that the entire book of I John is built on the trio principle as found here in the first part of John chapter 15, namely love one another as Christ loved us, ask anything in Christ’s Name while abiding in His commandments and the promise of the coming Holy Spirit who will witness that Jesus is indeed the Christ. John chapter 16 will give further detail of the powerful work of the Holy Spirit in identifying that Jesus is indeed the One and only Messiah or Christ.