Meditation

Hi there,

These verses mark a radical shift in the tone of the passage.

Up to this point, the passage has been driven by the metaphor of the vine, the branches, and the gardener and it's exhortation to remain in relationship to Jesus and to embody his love.​

But now Jesus redefines the status of his followers. They (we) are no longer servants but friends. And yet at the same time Jesus has chosen us and not the other way around.

We've been co-opted into the same mission as co-workers in the field. So "remaining" is an invitation into a shared purpose rather than only being a means for spiritual survival.​

The success of that mission is ultimately dependent on how we treat each other. Remaining in Jesus requires us to remain in community with each other.​

Today's text is John 15:15-17. Previous days are provided in grey for context.

The Vine and the Branches

15 “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

¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

Andy​

God's Word In Your Hand

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