An Expository Study of John’s Gospel
CHAPTER 15
Scripture Reading: John 15 (KJV)
THE REVELATION OF THE SON OF GOD TO THE DISCIPLES
Read vs. 1-10
Jesus was the master teacher. In this portion of Scripture, He draws pictures and ideas from the religious heritage of the Jews. Isaiah refers to the house of Israel as the vineyard of the Lord (Is. 5:1-7). God speaks of Israel as “a noble vine,” and, when in rebellion, “an empty vine” (Jer. 2:21; Ezek. 19:10). Even the Psalmist sang, “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt” (Ps. 80:8). The vine was symbolic of the nation of Israel.
Vital instruction
Jesus now gives vital instruction to His disciples, in three areas: their relationship to Christ (vs. 1-10); their relationship to one another (vs. 11-17); and their relationship to the world around them (vs. 18-16:4). They were to “hold fast” to love above faith, and witness to a gainsaying world.
Israel, a vine
As a vine, Israel had become barren and fruitless. This “I Am” is the last of seven such sayings of Christ. Jesus, the Anointed of God, was the “true vine” – His Father the Garden Keeper. “Fruit” is the key word and desire of the husbandman. Fruit is another word for “works” – of the Spirit of God – in each Christian (Gal. 5:22-24). As we grow, the progress is recorded in the words “fruit”, “more fruitful”, and “much fruit” (vs. 2, 5, and 8).
Vineyard cleansing
Each year, active gardeners prune or cleanse their vineyard of unfruitful (dead) branches. Individuals are represented as branches (v. 6), and if lifeless, are gathered together and burned. This wood of the vine is good for nothing. It is too crooked for use and too soft for carving. It was not even usable for burnt offerings at the temple altar.
Illustration
The vital connection was to be “in Christ” (vs. 4, 5, 6, and 7). Yet those “on the vine” who were fruitless would be “cut off”. An old preacher wrote: “I remember a Gospel meeting in Florida; I was privileged to stay in a home surrounded by acres of orange trees. My hostess said, ‘You can have all the oranges you can eat.’ I came upon a young tree, replacing one that had outgrown its production years. On an impulse, I put my hands around its trunk, and said, ‘You’re an orange tree; you have to bear oranges.’ In my imagination I could feel and see the tree react in hearty laughter. The 19 oranges it had hanging from its branches were bobbing up and down with laughter, as was each leaf. I could hear the young tree say, ‘You silly man. That’s my nature.’”
Orange trees bear oranges, grape vines bear grapes. Do orange trees eat their own oranges? Would a grape vine still produce grapes if no one ate them? Did you answer, “No” to the first question and “Yes” to the second? What is the point? One who has received the Christ as Savior and Lord, will grow and produce spiritual fruit whether alone on a barren island or on Manhattan Island with millions of people. Why? Because it is not the place or circumstance, but the “nature of God in a man”. Attending the assembling of saints is not an independent work, but it is the natural fruit of a Christian. Praying, singing, serving, all are natural fruits of a believer. Peter said, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (1 Pet. 1:4). Fruit is the natural purpose and crowning result of the tree; picking it, selling it, eating it, though a blessing has little to do with the process of the tree itself. Orange trees produce oranges, no matter if you pick them, sell them, or eat them. A believer produces fruit because of the power within the Seed, not because of the need without. We are not saying that the fruit of a Christian life is not a blessing to others, it is, but it should be noted that a life of love and sincerity will be lived by a child of God, even if isolated on a lonely Isle (Rev. 1:9).
True Disciple
The true disciple is fixed in the vine, and the vine’s input gives the power for productive fruit. “All blessings are in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). God has “chosen us in Christ” (Eph.1:4); we are the adopted of God “in Christ” (Eph. 1:5). We are accepted “in Christ” (Eph. 1:6). “In Christ” we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7). “That in the dispensation of the fullness of time he might gather together in one, all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him” (Eph. 1:10). The vine (true) and branches have but one conclusion. There is no spiritual life outside of the vital connection “in Christ.
Read vs. 11-17
Jesus speaks now of “joy.” The last supper is over. The last sermon has begun. The garden gate lay open and the agony of the Cross was shadowed in the soon coming hours. Yet, Jesus speaks of joy. The Hebrew writer must have reflected this spirit when he wrote, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2). Throughout the Holy Scripture, the word, “joy”, is often accompanied with pain, sorrow, suffering, trials and afflictions.1 Jesus found great joy in serving His Father and living a fruitful life.
One another
Jesus had given His disciples a new commandment. “A new commandment I give to you that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34). This was, and should be today, the “I.D.” of every believer. This was the over-riding power of identification. Loving each other as Christ loved His disciples; His life was love; His words were love; His example was of the highest love, laying down His life for every man (Heb. 2:9). Abraham Abraham was called, “The friend of God”. Now Jesus calls His disciples by the close and intimate term, “friends.” There were “chosen” friends, special in the plans of God. There were “ordained friends” who carried the Gospel to the known world at that time. The fruits of their labor have lasted to this present day. Slaves do not know the master’s business. Now they will not only know the mind of God, but will reveal it to others. And, whatever they ask of the Father (in the name of Jesus) will be done. What a blessing, what assurance, what a future.
Read vs. 18-27
Being a friend of Jesus brings responsibly; it made them and should make us hostile to the world (“present order”). There is a sense in which the natural world of God belongs to the Christian (1 Cor. 3:21-23). Yet, the one who rules this world is no friend to God. Paul would write, “wherein in time past ye walked, according to the curse of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2). John says, “Love not the world [present order] neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him . . . and the world passeth away, and the lusts thereof, but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever” (1 John 2:15-17; emphasis added). James exhorts, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (Jas. 4:4).
World hates the different
The world always hates the one who is different. Jesus taught, “Blessed [happy] are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake” (Matt. 5:10; emphasis added). They hated Jesus; they killed the Holy One of God. They still hate those who follow Jesus. All of the apostles, save one, would be martyred. Following Jesus Christ will be religious war, and that is the most dangerous kind (v. 21). The 21st Century has seen the continuing of worldwide religious war. We should watch out for and be very careful of those who kill in the name of God. Jesus does not make mean men.
Conclusion
Many Jews had a knowledge of God, but refused the Christ of God (John 1:11). This overpowering zeal led Saul (later called Paul) to persecute the church (Acts 9). Jesus knew His disciples would soon be scattered, yet He knew the Holy Spirit would come and give them power and unity.2 While Jesus was with them He was their shield and strength. “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” (v 26). Then they will be equipped to “witness” Christ to others (v. 27).
