To set the stage before we dive into John 15, let me remind us of the value of the Word of God, the Book! In his book, "The Gift of the Jews," author Thomas Cahill asks the question, "How did a tribe of desert nomads not only survive but change the very way the world thought, felt, and acted?" What distinguished it from all the other nations that no longer even exist? The answer, Cahill suggests is The Book. Israel had a Book. They called it the Tenakh the sacred writings. They were a people of The Book. Sometimes we wonder about the first disciple's willingness to drop everything and follow Jesus. It's because He was a rabbi and they were a people of The Book.
And then John comes along and in essence, he describes Jesus as The Book come alive. The Word became human and lived among us and we behold the glory of God, full of grace and truth. (John 1) In other words, the Word of God is the Son of God. Jesus is the Word of God. It's not just about a book; it's about a person. See John calls us to be...A People of the Book...In Love with the Word. Keep that in mind as we dive into John 15 and Jesus' challenge to "remain in His words."
