#23 – Knowing God Better – John 15

What do you know about growing grapes?

I’m from Chicago. I know zip about farming, or gardening.

Yet, John 15 is all about growing grapes. It was a familiar picture for the disciples, so Jesus used it to teach them about his love. And also the importance of staying connected to him.

Ok, so grapes. I had to do some hunting on the Internet. Here’s a great picture I found. Please take a look at it:

You’ll notice that there are three parts:
– the vine is the thick stalk that connects to the ground
– the branches are skinnier and up on the trellis
– the grapes are attached to the branches

What is the goal of someone who runs a vineyard? To produce the most grapes possible, with his land. And he/she probably cares about the quality of the grapes.

Jesus gives this directive:

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

What kind of fruit is Jesus looking for?

What have we been hearing him say? “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another.” “If you love me, obey my commands.” “By this will all men know that you are my disciples, that you have love for one another.” Right?

Picture a branch that is broken or cut away from the vine. It’s lying alone on the ground. Can it produce grapes? Why not? Because it’s dead and has no life in it.

In John 14 we learned that the Holy Spirit will live in us, and never leave us. Jesus said, “Because I live, you will live also.”

Look at verse 5 again:

5 Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

Jesus is showing them that they need to rely on the vine for life. The branches can do nothing on their own. They can only produce fruit because of the vine.

I’m pretty sure that the nutrients come from the vine which is in the ground. The water they need also comes through the vine.

The branches simply are “there” to let the vine produce grapes, produce fruit. Their main job is to stay attached!

Here then is Jesus speaking – verses 9-12

9 I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

Q – According to the next verse, why is Jesus telling them this?
A –

11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

Doesn’t it seem a little ironic that Jesus would be talking about them being joyful, when he’s heading toward the cross?

Q – What will bring them joy? (see verse 9, repeated below)
A –

9 I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.

And again, Jesus talks about the grapes, the fruit he wants to produce in us:

12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

Q – Do you think loving others is also what will bring joy to our lives?
A –

16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.
17 This is my command: Love each other.

Conclusion.
What does Jesus offer us? (verse 9)
What does he want us to do? (verse 9)
What will he produce in us, if we remain in his love? (verse 16 and 17).

Our main job…rely on the vine, and let him produce the fruit. Let him love others through us. That is his desire.

Next lesson we’ll finish up John 15 where he talks about real opposition.

If you want to offer this study of John to anyone else, it is available for them here:
https://www.everystudent.com/knowingGod.html

Sincerely,

Marilyn Adamson
director of EveryStudent.com
and StartingwithGod.com