John 15.

The Chapters 13 to 17 are part of the Upper Room discourse.

Here in Chapter 15 Jesus is giving guidance to his people.

The Chapter opens with the parable of the Vine. In this parable, the vinedresser refers to God, the vine Jesus,te branches are Christians,

The vine was grown across Palestine and needed a lot of attention.  When it is pruned in either December or January, there are two branches, one fruit bearing and the  other not bearing fruit. 

The vine has to be drastically pruned in order to bear fruit, and the wasted branches would be of soft wood, only used for fires and perhaps taken to the Temple, for it to be used as altar fires for sacrifice.

Jesus portrayed Christians as the branches of the vine, some bearing fruit, others like the soft wood not of much use. He was thinking of the Jews who had been taught by the prophets, but not taking notice nor action. They just withered away.

Jesus was also thinking of Christians who heard his  message but fell away and abandoned their faith. Others would bear fruit by abounding faith, and remaining close to Jesus, keeping daily contact with him, and as fruit bearing were bringing glory to God

The Chapter opens with the parable of the Vine. In this parable, the vinedresser refers to God, the vine Jesus, the branches are Christians,

The vine was grown across Palestine and needed a lot of attention.  When it is pruned in either December or January, there are two branches, one fruit bearing and the  other not bearing fruit. 

 Jesus portrayed Christians as the branches of the vine, some bearing fruit, others like the soft wood not of much use. He was thinking of the Jews who had been taught by the prophets but not taking notice nor action. They just withered away.

Jesus was also thinking of Christians who heard his  message but fell away and abandoned their faith. Others would bear fruit by abounding faith and remaining close to Jesus, keeping daily contact with him, and as fruit bearing were bringing glory to God

 

Jesus is setting down how his people should  follow. He points out the disciples did not choose him, he chose them. He told them how God loved him, and he passed his love to his disciples and wants the to love one another so that joy will be among them. He gave the commandment that as he had loved them they were to maintain such love that  they may be full

Similarly, God calls people in his grace. and calls us to accept Jesus into our lives, out of his love for us.  However hard the Christian way may be, it is a way of joy, for we are being led to a proper  way of living.  Christianity is a faith that inspires people. Sometimes, people fall into a state which is too prim and proper and appears severe.

I was on holiday  and went into a Church at the holiday town, where all the ladies were wearing bright coloured dresses, which obviously upset the regulars.  But our faith is not dull and miserable, it is one which motivates joy and people are happy to be following Jesus.

 Christianity is a way of love to share with other Christians, and to welcome new people.  This is a spiritual love, clean and pure. We are to show care and interest in other people.  This too often spoiled by division, caused by false preaching, but if preachers   would do what is expected by our Lord, and follow the Word of God, the Bible. This needs to be enforced to enable all quarrelling to end.

Jesus called us to be his friend, and a friend of  God.  He came to serve, and laid down his life for us on the Cross.  Othe great men led a life of serving, and creating friends. Abraham. Moses, Joshua, James and John.  Jesus offers a friendship with God which was impossible before he came.

Jesus calls us to be his  partner. He said you are not my slave, you are my partner. It is a choice put to us, to enter into a partnership in leading men to God (and women)

 Jesus chose us to be his ambassadors. To send us out into the real  world.  I recognize those who are men and women of much devotion who shut themselves off from the world in closed houses, but just as a lifeboat  should be out on the high seas and not be standing all polished up in a station, so a Christian will need to be in the middle of a troubled world.  Jesus never wanted us to retire from the world, but to represent him in the country in which we live.

Jesus wanted us to be an advertisement.  The only way to promote Christianity is to act like a Christian, behave in public, and follow Christ’s orders.

Jesus even invites us to ne privileged members in the family of God.  To ask for things which we want, but we must be careful about doing so. Preachers of large Churches too often mislead. They gaily tell people to  pray for whatever they want. and God will answer.

I saw a service in a large prestigious Church in the United States and the preacher actually used those words, adding that if you were not answered, you were not praying right.  I thought how irresponsible and stupid a thing to be said on a televised service. What damage and distress he was risking in a demonstrative manner.

I was on one occasion approached by a woman, furious that her mother was nearly killed, because a local preacher, who told a similar statement to her mother, to throw away her medication and pray, and God would cure her. The mother threw away the tablets prescribed by a doctor, and her condition became much worse. As members of his family, we are expected to take things to God, and just as an earthly father acts for what he knows is best for his child, so our heavenly Father acts for our benefit.

 

John, like his fellow Apostle Paul, saw things as either black or white, and did so  regarding the Church and the world. John did not see compromise or half-way settlement.

The Church was facing persecution, and Christianity became illegal, and John wanted to record that Jesus was quite explicit in his teaching.  He warned how Christians would betray, and people would hate you.

The Roman government hated Christians, as they were thought to be disloyal, for people were expected to worship Caesar. People responded, and so made it more important than Rome expected.  Rome was actually tolerant, and as long as a person conformed, and said Caesar is Lord, they could then follow what they pleased.

The usual mob of people hated Christians, accusing them of being wild activists.  When people are different, they become suspects, and they dislike people who live differently than themselves, and expect all to conform to one fashion.

Jesus exposed sin, and told what upset God, telling how God expected people to act.  He provided a remedy for sin, and opened them to forgiveness.

Today, in most countries there is often a ruler who sees Christianity as a threat to his dictatorship, or a faith not Christian, and who do not favour Christianity; or there are activists who want no  alternative religion of any kind.  They set out their own agenda and attract a following.  We have it here in the United Kingdom where activists effectively promote an agenda, and give it to adopt some policy, and have protection against any opposition to its activities.

John had clearly to his heart, the witness to the Holy Spirit. This is a subject for another day.

It is our privilege and task to be witnesses for Christ in the world, and to do so properly, we need to have personal intimacy and the full conviction.

 

May God bless His Word to our hearts and may His Holy Name be glorified