John 15 - The True Vine and Branches

Joh 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Christ is the true vine, and the Heavenly Father is the gardener. The vine speaks of Israel's temporal and spiritual blessings (Psalm 80, Isaiah 5). That vine failed. Henceforth there is no blessing for Israel as such till He comes Who is the true Israel (Isaiah 49:3), as He is the true vine. Then shall (Isaiah 27:6), be fulfilled. The interpretation of this passage is for Israel alone, though many blessed lessons may be drawn from it, by way of application. 

Joh 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. He cuts off every branch of Mine that does not produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that bear fruit so that they will produce even more. i.e. if you do not learn anything, or care about the Word, you will be cut off like the branch that does not bear fruit. If you study the Word and care enough to learn the truth, God will teach you more, and give you better understanding of the Word, so you will produce more good fruit, just like the pruned branch. 

Joh 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Jesus is saying here that the disciples have already been pruned from the things they have learned from Him. Pruned with the Word of truth, right from Christ.

Joh 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. Remain in Me and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit if it has been severed from the vine. So, you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. i.e. You must stay in Christ and follow His teachings if you want to produce good fruit.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. Christ is saying here, "I am the vine; you are the branches." Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. Apart from Me, you can do nothing. (Colossians 1:10). Honor the Lord in the way you live, always doing good and kind things for others. Learning from God the truth in the Word so that we can share it with others.  

Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. Anyone who does not remain in Me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. (These branches are gathered in a pile to be burned). Referring to the second death: (Revelation 20:15, Revelation 21:8). It is the second death to those who enter the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:14, Matthew 10:28). "Only God can destroy your soul." Your soul is yourself. The spirit is the intellect of the soul. (Destroy #622 in the Strong's is to perish). God can blot you out as though you never existed, just as Satan is sentenced to perish. Once the anointed cherub that guarded the mercy seat of God; "He will perish forever." (Ezekiel 28:14-19).

Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Here comes the condition. "If you remain in Jesus and His Words remain in you, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be granted." (Galatians 5:16, 1 John 3:22, 1 John 5:14). We can be sure that God will listen to us whenever we ask for anything in line with His will. (Ask for things of the spirit, or wisdom to help you in teaching His Word). "God loves that."

Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. When we produce good fruit, we are true disciples of Christ. This brings great joy and glory to the Heavenly Father. Good fruit can be many different things according to one's ability, and the gifts that God has given you. (1 Peter 4:11). If you have the gift of speaking, speak as if God were speaking through you. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring Glory to God through Jesus Christ, all the Glory and power to Him forever and ever. Amen.

Joh 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. Christ is telling us here that He has loved us as the Father has loved Him. He wants us to remain in His love. (Ephesians 3:17-19). Able to comprehend how great His love really is towards us.

Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. Here is another condition: Obey His commandments and you remain in His love. What commandments? The ten commandments! They still apply to us today. (1 John 5:3). Loving God means doing what He tells us to do. His commandments are the truth and the truth shall set you free. Never let anyone put you in bondage with their rules, regulations, and traditions of men.

Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with joy. Follow Christ, the "Living Word of God," and your life will be overflowed with Joy.

Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. One of Christ's greatest commandments: "Love one another like Christ loves us." (1 John 3:23, 1 John 4:21). Probably one of the hardest commandments to keep in this world today. The love for fellow man is slowly fading away.

Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friend. Christ laid down His life for us, because we are His friend. (John 10:11, John 10:15, Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 5:2, 1 John 4:7-11). The key here is to treat others like you would like to be treated.

Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Keep the commandments of God and it shows that you are a friend of Jesus. (1 John 5:3, James 2:23).  

Joh 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. This word Servant is "doulos" Strong's #G1401 meaning "a slave" and would read: I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in His slaves. Now you are My friend, since I confide in you by telling you everything the Father told Me. Now, In (Mark 10:43), Jesus encourages us to embrace the role of a servant. But here, Jesus shows us that our relationship with Him goes beyond servant. "He calls us friend." Just as Abraham was called the friend of God. (James 2:23). It happened just as the scripture said. Abraham trusted God, and God called him His friend. (Isaiah 41:8). 

Joh 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. You didn't choose Me Jesus says; I chose you. I appointed you to produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, in My name. (It was the Jewish custom for a disciple to choose his own teacher). But, the disciples didn't pick Jesus, He picked them. i.e. we as Christians can choose whom we want to listen to and learn from, but when it comes to being called to the ministry, Christ does the calling. Therefore, when you want to further something in the ministry, ask in "Jesus name" and the Heavenly Father will supply what you need.

Joh 15:17 These things I command you, that ye love one another. One of the most important commandments of God. Love one another as God loves you. Especially your brothers and sisters in Christ. (1 Peter 2:17, 1 John 3:14-17). "Remember the many member body of Christ are all part of your spiritual family."

Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. Don't worry if the world hates you, it hated Jesus first. When you teach the truth of the Word as Christ did, the world in general will not like you. So, do not love the ways of the world. (1 John 2:15-16). Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you. (The rudiments and elements of the world). If you are involved and love the things of this world, this shows that you do not really love God. "Always thinking of money, fame, and material things." (Trying to stay ahead of the other guy no matter what the cost). Watch your priorities. The day of the Lord is coming. (2 Peter 3:10). All the worldly things, evil desires, craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance. These things are not of God, but rather from this evil world itself. Remember that the world hated Christ; What are they going to think of you as a true Christian?

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. The world would love you if you belonged to the world. (If you live for the things of the world). But, you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. "It's your choice." You can be a friend of the world and the enemy of God. (James 4:4). Making friends with the enemies of God and the pleasures of the world makes you an enemy of God. (Genesis 6:5, Romans 1:28-31). However, you can be a friend of God and an enemy to the world. (1 John 3:13). Don't be surprised if the world hates you for teaching the truth. They hated Christ because they could not take the truth, just as so many today. Popular doctrine and traditions of men have nothing to do with God's world. "Only the truth will set you free."

Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. Do you remember what I told you that a slave is not greater than the master? (Matthew 10:24, John 13:16). Since they persecute Me, naturally they will persecute you. (1 Thessalonians 2:15). It was the work of the Kenites who killed Jesus and the prophets. (John 8:44, Revelations 2:9). If they had listened to Me, they would listen to you. (Ezekiel 3:7).

Joh 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. They will do all this to you because of Me, for they have rejected the One who sent Me.

Joh 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. No excuse! If they never heard the truth from Jesus they would not be guilty. "But, they heard the truth (from God Himself), and just ignored it."

Joh 15:23 He that hateth me hateth my Father also. Anyone who hates Jesus, hates the Heavenly Father also.

Joh 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. They seen all the miracles that no one else could do, yet they still hated Jesus, and the Father who sent Him.

Joh 15:25 But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. This fulfills what is written in the scriptures. "They hated Me without cause." (Psalm 35:19, Psalm 69:4, Psalm 109:3).

Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: Christ will send us the "Holy Spirit" of truth. He will come from the Father and will testify all about Christ. (Acts 5:32). The Holy Spirit is given to all who obey Him.

Joh 15:27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. You must testify about Me because you have been with Me form the beginning of My ministry. (1 John 1:1-2). They have seen and touched the Word of Life (Jesus Christ), who was from the beginning. Christ was the Word in the beginning. (John 1:1).

Keep the faith,
Barton