John, Chapter 15
Jesus Is the Vine—Followers Are Branches
15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.
- I am the true vine (Jesus said “I am” the true vine); all others are not true
- And My Father is the vinedresser (the job of the vinedresser is to prune to maximize fruit)
- Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away (tossed out and burned)
- And every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit
o Are you feeling pruned?
o It may be that the vinedresser is pruning you
o Why? So that it may bear more fruit (trouble and difficulty force us to our knees and intensify our prayers and reliance upon God; this is when miracles happen)
o Feeling the pain of pruning? Get ready for blessings – more fruit!
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.
- You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you (how did we become clean? By repenting of our sins and faith in Jesus Christ to wash away the sin)
- Remain in Me, and I in you (stay connected, stay in the Word, stay in constant prayer)
- Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine (fruit happens all by itself when its connected to the vine; trusting in the Sun; we must do the same trusting in the Son, staying in faith)
- Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself but must remain in the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me (you cannot and will not bear fruit unless you remain in the vine; stay connected to the root which is a deep connection, a continual connection, a daily pulse of nutrients and living water; for us this connection is from reading the word, speaking the word, praying the word, trusting the word, trusting in the cross)
5 I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
- Jesus said “I am vine” (it is His position to provide nutrients & living water)
- “you are the branches” (this is our position; the vine expects us to produce fruit)
- “the one who remains in Me, and I in Him bears much fruit (remain continually connected)
- “he is thrown away like a branch and dries up; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned (it’s a picture of hell; you will get burned if you don’t stay connected to Jesus every day)
7 If you remain in Me, and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
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