"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 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." (John 15:1-2)

           Jesus continued His discourse with the parable of the vine. In the Gospels only John records this illustration in which Jesus refers to Himself as the true vine. Psalm 80:8 state that God brought a vine out of Egypt. "Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it." (Psalms 80:8) The metaphor symbolizes Israel as the vine that God delivered from Egypt. Moses led the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt to bring them to the land He has promised to Abraham and his descendants in Canaan. (See Gen. 17:7-9)

           The in this metaphor emphasizes the He is the true vine, which contrasts Himself with the false vine or religion of Israel. The Jews were not worshiping Jehovah God, the false legalistic religion of the scribes and Pharisees. Theirs was a religion of works, of self-righteousness that God had no part. Jesus plainly condemned and exposed them as not knowing God. Jesus said, "And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape." (John 5:37) Note that He said they had not known the Father at any time. Further Jesus rebuked them saying, ". . . Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." (John 8:19) Therefore, using the analogy of a husbandman or vineyard owner, Jesus made the distinction that God the Father is the owner or master of the vineyard and He is the master's vine.

           Jesus' followed His declaration with both a prophecy and spiritual truth. The branch of the vine that did not bear fruit, being worthless, was taken away, meaning pruned and destroyed. Israel through attached to the vine, being God's chosen nation was not producing fruit. The nation did not honor God nor fulfill His will for them and therefore were of no value in God's plan. Israel rejected their Messiah showing they were not truly God's children and that the nation would be destroyed. God was longsuffering toward the Jews, but they continued in their unbelief and rejection of the Lord. Thus twenty-seven years later in 70 AD God destroyed the nation and scattered them to the wind.

           However, in Israel not every branch was fruitless. Some in Israel trusted in God and by faith served Him. Jesus was speaking and commissioning eleven of these believing Jews. It is the beginning of Spring here in northern Utah and the farmers are out in their orchards pruning the apple trees by cutting off the runners that have grown since last year. The reason is that once a tree is pruned of these runners it produces more apples. The illustration the Lord was using is to show that pruning involves cutting away from the tree things that would hinder it from producing fruit. In the life of the believer there are many things that need to be pruned and removed. The list would be different for every child of God, but the jest of it would be anything that takes away or takes the place of our service for the Lord should be pruned. A clear example would be things in a believer's life that would harm his testimony or cause the Lord not to have the first place in his life. (Col. 1:18b) Christ said earlier, "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour." (John 12:26)

"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 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. 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." (John 15:3-5)

           Jesus assures the disciples that they are pruned, meaning cleaned of the deadness of false Judaism. They had heard His message proclaiming, ". . . I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) It was His word, the very word of God that purged them of the deadness of a false faith and religion. Jesus said He was the source of true faith and being able to accomplish God's will. He would empower them to serve the Lord as He indwelled them. The words "abide" means to continue or dwell in the Lord which speaks them being faithful to the Lord in their lives. Only what the Lord directs and empowers the believer to do has any worth. A believer cannot please or serve God apart from faith which longs to be used of the Savior. Anything done in the flesh is dead work and does not honor the Lord. The metaphor makes it clear that to produce fruit the branch must be attached and growing with the vine that is its source of nourishment and strength. Whatever that would starve off that vital nourishment would hinder the branch's health and it could produce knowing. The child of God has a will and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He can choose to allow the Spirit to control his life or can ignore God's will and satisfy the flesh. What a challenge the Lord gives us in letting Him work through us that we might produce much fruit.

"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. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." (John 15:6-8)

           Some have tried to use this verse six to teach a Christian can lose their salvation which is a false teaching not supported by this verse or any other in God's word. Note what Jesus literally said. He said that if a man did not abide in Him, as a withered and dead branch it would cast into the fire and burned. Jesus did not say this was a believer who had trusted in Christ as His Savior and thus was abiding in the Lord. To the contrary, Jesus said this branch was not attached to Him and did not abide in Him which is the state of the unsaved. The Lord simply made it clear that those who did not believe and abide in Him were lost and would be condemned to the Lake of Fire.

           God's answering of prayer is qualified by the one who prays being in Jesus Christ, and being saved and obedient to God's word. God will answer prayers that in accordance with His word. If a person truly believes and the word abides in him then he will be living in God's will and seeking to accomplish His purposes for their life. Jesus' statement certainly means that the believer will only ask and receive those things he knows are pleasing to and in harmony with the Lord. Further the context is of bearing fruit and the request of their prayer would be that God would enable them produce fruit. God will surely answer the prayer and His blessing will abide on the one who is seeking to produce spiritual fruit. The Father desires to bless His faithful children who produce much fruit.

"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 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. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." (John 15:9-11)

           Jesus commends the disciple that as the Father had loved Him, and He loved His disciples they should continue in His love. This verse addresses the assurance of salvation. As God the Father and Son faithfully love the believer, they too should faithfully live in that love. The Lord presents Himself as their example in that He fully obeyed the Father keeping His commandments. The fruit of living in obedience and love of Christ would be that his disciple would know the full joy of their salvation. Joy means having gladness and delight. The child of God who loves the Lord and seeks to please and serve Him lives to accomplish God's will. There is no greater satisfaction or joy a child of God can have than to honor the Lord. Knowing their Savior is pleased with them brings gladness to their hearts. God when He made man, commissioned him to be fruitful, and work in administering what God had given him. (Gen. 1:28) This means a man is only truly content when he is fulfilling God purpose for life. True joy, peace, and contentment can only be found in a faithful relationship with our Lord and Creator.

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:12-13)

           Earlier Jesus had given them this commandment. (See John 13:34-35) Here in verse twelve and seventeen the Lord again reminds them of this most vital trait. Grammatically the verse says the disciples were to keep on loving one another. Biblical love is not a casual or sensual love, but the same love that Jesus had for the world in unselfishly giving Himself for mankind. The great love that Jesus is commending is a sacrificial, unselfish, and charitable love. It is the same as grace that is also "unmerited favor." People can become annoyed with each other for many reasons. Emotionally one might feel it difficult to be caring for those who offend and hurt them. But God's love transcends emotion or physical attraction. God's love is based in His character and benevolence. God's love sees the need, ignoring whether the needy are desiring, but instead choosing to help those in need. The motivation for the believer's love is in that as Christ loved us unconditionally, we in return as His children, so unconditional love to others and especially our brethren in Christ Jesus. This love is without limitation in that biblical love would make the supreme sacrifice for another, as Christ gave His life for us.

"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 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. 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. These things I command you, that ye love one another." (John 15:14-17)

           Jesus explained to them that if they continued to obey Him they would show themselves to be His close and dear friends (Philos.). Being a Christian means is more than having a causal or partly obedient relationship with the Lord . As Colossians 1:18b says " . . . that in all things he might have the preeminence." A true friend's relationship will be given first place and the proof will be seen one's submissiveness to Him. A true faith will produce true obedience because our beliefs determine our actions. If a person who professes Christ as their Savior does not obey Him, it means they have only the knowledge of the Lord. Instead of living by God's word, other things are more important to them than doing His will. That means they in reality do not believe Jesus. Jesus said, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46) A true servant of the Lord will obey his master.

           A servant is not told why he is commanded to do his master's will. The word "servant" refers to a bondsman or slave. In either case the slave simply does what he is told because he has no choice. However, Jesus calls His disciples His friends because they obey their Lord willingly without coercion or force. Paul often referred to himself as a slave, because he willingly submitted himself to the Lord. He expressed this attitude writing to the Corinthians, "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more." (1 Corinthians 9:19) Paul said he literally enslaved (douloo) himself so he would have a greater ministry and service for the Lord. Plainly, Jesus was referring to their personal attitude that directed their life. The believer can do no better than to completely, willingly and with thanksgiving give Christ first place in his life.

           The disciple's were greatly privileged to know the Lord Jesus who told them God's very word. They had heard the truth from the Savior Himself. In mere hours after this discourse, the Lord would be standing before Pilate who asked Him was He a king. Jesus proclaimed, ". . . To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth." (John 18:37b)

           Verse 16 is often misused by the Calvinists to teach their belief that God has elected or chosen who He would give or deny His grace. However, in interpreting God's word, one must always consider the context of the statement regarding who is being addressed and the situation. Jesus was speaking to His disciples whom He had chosen to serve Him. (John 6:70, 13:18, 15:19). He was not making a general statement as to their salvation. They were saved, except for Judas as John 6:70 states. Jesus was expressing His choosing them that they would "go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain." Further, He promised to fulfill their requests in prayer for help in fulfilling His commission to them. The text states the choosing was to service, it not to salvation. One of the most serious mistakes made by those who misinterpret God's word is to ignore biblical hermeneutical principles of interpretation. The context, grammar, analogy of the faith, historical and cultural details are vital to making a proper interpretation. Ignoring these principles, is the foundation of false doctrines such as Calvinism.

"These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 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. 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." (John 15:17-20)

           Jesus had early told the disciples they were to love one another and He restates this principle in the context of their coming persecution as followers of Christ. Loving a bother involves sharing His burdens and caring for the other's welfare. The Lord was giving them one of the great strengths in bearing the trials they would soon face. Their love for each other would be a comfort and source of encouragement for them. All of His disciples except for John would be martyred. There are those around the world today whose very lives are in constant danger simply because Jesus Christ is their Savior. At best the world shuns true Christians who live godly lives, seeking to win the lost and have an outgoing testimony for Christ. "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12) Note the verse says those who "live godly" are the ones who are persecuted. It is often easy to spot one who loves the Lord Jesus because he will stand out in the evil, perverse, and sinful world.

           It is difficult for a Christian who has experienced the love of Christ, to understand the vehement hatred the world has for their Savior. The biblical account of Christ's, life, of being constantly being threatening by the Jewish rulers, His illegal trial, and crucifixion shows how pitifully and cruelly Jesus was treated. Yet, one cannot fully understand why the Lord was so hated without looking at what motivated the Jewish leaders. The behavior of the chief priests, scribes. Pharisees who were the prestigious religious elite of Israel revealed their wicked hearts. They went about teaching the people about God, yet they rejected God Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ. In spite of His miracles and completely benevolent behavior they were obsessed by their hatred. He never hurt any man, but rather went about healing and helping many people. What set them on edge was that He exposed their secret, which was they did not know or even serve God. They used religion to feed their pride and line their pockets. They were the epitomes of raw hypocrisy and men driven and consumed by their pride and greed they hid under a mask of a religious facade. Such men then and now are dangerous, who will go to all ends to destroy those who oppose or expose them. Jesus taught that the Jewish leaders were not following the Torah (Old Testament Scriptures), but rather the Talmud that was the written tradition of their rabbi. Judaism was actually a cult, a false legalistic religion in which a man would by self-righteous rituals and works and thereby earn his stating with God. The religious leaders presented themselves at the example of righteousness, however, in Matthew 5:17-20 Jesus told the people that if they followed them they would not enter the kingdom of Heaven. Every attempt they used to trick Jesus to publicly denounce Him had failed. Just before His betrayal, as Matthew 23 records, the Lord pointedly condemned the scribes and Pharisee publicly telling the people what they were truly. After Jesus was brutally beaten and Pilate stood Him before the Jews they had no sympathy or compassion and cried "Crucify Him, Crucify Him." Jesus knew what these eleven disciples in the coming years suffer and He commanded them to love one another and in their common bond to stand against the "wiles of the devil." (Eph. 6:10-24) Satan since deceiving Eve in the Garden of Eden has at every occasion tried to destroy God's work and plan. Part of his strategy is try and defeat believers. Satan hates God and he hates God's children also.

"But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 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." (John 15:21-24)

           Paul, quoting Psalm 44:22, wrote to the Romans, "As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." (Rom. 8:36) Mark records Jesus prediction of their coming persecutions saying, "But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them." (Mark 13:9) The mark of a false religion is its attack and persecution of those who love the Lord and uncompromisingly follow His word. Matthew wrote, "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city" (Matthew 23:34) Following the footsteps of false Judaism, the Roman Catholic and the Protestant religions have throughout time persecuted and murdered true Bible believing Christians who would not join their false doctrines and churches.

           Jesus promised that those who believed and obeyed Him would be greatly rewarded, "Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake." (Luke 6:22)

           The Jews who hated the Lord had no excuse. (See Rom. 1:18-23) He had fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies, He had done great miracles only God could do, and His message was one of truth. Yet, they rejected every evidence of His being the true Messiah. Thus Jesus said they had seen the truth and rejected it, so their sin condemned them. Jesus warned them of the consequences of their rejection,

           "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee." (Matthew 11:21-24)

           To deny Him and His deity is to deny God the Father. To hate Jesus Christ is to hate the Father. Early Jesus had said to the Jewish leaders, "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." (John 14:7)

"But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 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: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning." (John 15:25-27)

           Daniel foretold of the death of Christ, "And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined." (Daniel 9:26) Note Daniel says He was "cut off, but not for Himself." Satan had tempted and now entered Judas and even as Jesus uttered these words the devil was busy seeking to destroy the Lord. Yet this was necessary as the Lord Jesus had to suffer and die to pay the sin debt of the world. "Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father" (Galatians 1:4) James explains, "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)

           Jesus further explained that they needed the love and support of one another, but more important they would have the Comforter whom He would send. They would have the indwelling and direction of the Holy Spirit they would carry the message to the uttermost parts of the world. They knew the truth of who He was and had believed and accepted Him. They had been with Him from the beginning of His public ministry and had been witnesses to His power and Godhood. Thus as He would be returning to the Father in heaven, they would carry on His work and would be His witnesses.