Meditation

Hi there,

The passage known as the "Vine and the branches" concludes with a now familiar, specific command; "Love each other."

Jesus knows that after he is gone, his disciples face persecution and hardship on account of him.

Indeed, he has chosen them for and appointed them to a life of bearing fruit for the gospel. Which is a ticket to the same hardship, privation, and loss he himself experienced.

But as we have seen all week, he not only chose them for this but has been nurturing and preparing them for it. He is not leaving them alone; they have each other, hence the importance of "Love." They have prayer ("Whatever you ask in my name, the Father will give you," he says), and they will have the Holy Spirit.

They may not know it yet, but they have everything they need to ensure they will not fall away.

Today's text is John 15:16-17 and is shown in black. I've added the full passage for context in grey.

The Vine and the Branches

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

17 This is my command: Love each other.

Encouragement

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

Andy

God’s word in your hand

Join Our Facebook Group to Give and Receive Encouragement

Why not post a picture of your completed page to our Facebook Group today?

Join over 500 club members doing the same. Your pictures will be a great encouragement to everyone else in the club

...and don't worry about your handwriting.

It is as unique as you are, and God's word looks beautiful in it.

P.S. BCC is even better when shared

If you know someone who would also benefit from Bible Copy Club's daily prompts to copy out scripture by hand, please forward them this ​link​.​