I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
John 15:1

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:1

In the Old Testament the nation Israel is compared to a vine. as read in Psalms 80:8-17; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:1-8; 19:10-14 and Hosea 10:1-2. But it turned out to be a corrupt, wild vine, not producing the fruit God wanted. It behaved as a false or unreal vine. By saying He is the true vine, Jesus Christ teaches that He, and not the corrupt nation, is the source of true spiritual life and fruitfulness. The one who “planted” Him on earth and takes care of the “branches”, is God the Father.

Every branch in me that bears no fruit he takes away, and he prunes every branch that bears fruit, that it might bear more fruit.
John 15:2

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:2

The subject of this illustration is the fruitfulness of believers, not their salvation (as read in vers 4,5,8). Jesus Christ does not define here the kind of fruit God wants, but it is seen in other places in the Bible (as seen in Matthew 3:8; Romans 6:22; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9; Philippines 1:11; Hebrews 6:7-10 and Proverbs 11:30). Many professing Christian workers who point to what they call success in the ministry are proud, unholy, dishonest, unkind, and unspiritual. Jesus Christ does not call their seeming success “fruit”. The fruit God wants to see is believers becoming like Jesus Christ, and serving like Jesus Christ…

“Takes away” – Jesus Christ was not teaching that true believers will lose their salvation if they fail at some time to bear fruit. Compare John 5:24; 6:37-40, 54, 56; 10:27-29.

We should never take language in a parable or allegory, Jesus told and try to overthrow His plain statements in other places. Here He does not define what He means by “takes away”, nor does He say when or how it takes place. He is merely emphasizing by very strong language the desire of God the Father for fruit. Should we not think God sees to it that every believer bears some fruit and works in us that it might increase. Perhaps Judas Iscariot is an example of a branch taken away, for he was no true believer (as read in John 6:70-71; 13:10). Perhaps those believers mentioned in 1 Corinthians 11:30, and the man in 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 are examples of this “taking away”. This whole picture of vine and branches may possibly refer to the visible church made up of all who profess to be Christians, both true and false. A reason for thinking so is this: in the Old Testament the “vine” Israel was the whole nation made up of believers and unbelievers, the good and the bad. And often in their history most of them were bad, and were eventually “taken away”. as read in Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21-22; Hosea 10:1-2. Compare Romans 11:17-21 which speaks of being “broken off”. If anyone professes to be a Christian and does not bear fruit for God, but “bad” fruit, we have strong reason for suspecting his claims are false. Compare Matthew 7:16-20.

“He prunes” or “trims”- how does God do this? What is His “knife”? This pruning means chastisements, difficulties, afflictions, troubles of various sorts. He works in our hearts, minds, circumstances and experiences to trim away what is useless and make us more what we should be. as read in 2 Corinthians 12:7-12; Hebrews 12:4-11 and Psalms 66:10-12. See reference on afflictions and troubles at Job 3:20.

“Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. John 15:3

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:3

in John 13:10; 17:17; Ephesians 5:26; 1 Peter 1:22 and Psalms 119:9, 11. The marvelous righteous Word of God is properly applied to the minds, hearts, wills and consciences, and will produce a cleansing.

Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so you also cannot, unless you remain in Me.
John 15:4

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:4

Compare John 15:9,10. The word “remain” (or “abide”) means to stay in one place. It is used ten times in John 15: 4-10. This is some indication of its importance in this context. The one place believers are to stay in is Jesus Christ. Stay in Him as plants in the ground of His love (Read Ephesians 3:17), as members of His body (as read in 1 Corinthians 12:12-13), as stones in His temple (as read in Ephesians 2:20-22), as members of His household (as read in Hebrews 3:6), and as branches in Him the Vine.

Jesus Christ perfectly tells believers to stay in Him. Does this imply that they may not or that some will not?

Not necessarily. It implies that our almighty dear Heavenly Father will enable them to do so, otherwise He would not command it. It implies also that He wants them to know their freedom through Jesus Christ. Remaining in Jesus Christ is something believers do consciously, willingly and honorable. They are not puppets or robots. God desires them to apply their hearts (minds) and wills to the works, for being sons any daughters in Jesus Christ.

The spiritual life is not automatic but dynamic. It is not a life of mutual compulsion between Christ and His people but one of mutual love. Believers are in Christ and remain in Him because they want to do so. He chose them and they choose to follow Him. They love Him. Their freedom does not cause them to leave Jesus Christ but to remain in Him fully without any doubt. Compare John 6:67-68. Jesus Christ true disciples, in a sense, were free to go away from Him just as the others did, but they would not. And it was God’s work in them that produced this determination not to go away. as read in Philippines 1:6; 2:12-13. And what God did in them He does in all believers. As read and revealed with clarity in 1 John 2:24, the way we can be certain of remaining in Jesus Christ, it’s for us to have this great desire to let His truth fulfilling precious, devine works remain in us and continue to believe and trust what He revealed in His marvelous, promised, righteous Word and receive throughout the edification of His Holy Spirit.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who remains in Me, and I in him, he will bear much fruit. For without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:5

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:5

“Much fruit”- This will result because the life and power of our Lord Jesus Christ that will flow through them. Any attempt to serve Him without truly abiding in Him will come to nothing in God’s eyes, though there may be much activity and seeming success. “Nothing” here means nothing truly spiritual, nothing of the kind of fruit God wants. There is much activity in the churches (not to speak of the religious world in general) which comes to nothing good because it is not done through our Lord Jesus Christ and does not have the flow of His life in it.

If a man does not remain in Me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers. And men gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. John 15:6

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:6

He is speaking of what happens to literal branches cut from a vine. He does not say that some believers may not remain in Him and that if they do not they will be burned in the fires of hell. That will be the fate of unbelievers, like Judas Iscariot, but not of believers. as seen in Matthew 3:10, 12 and Revelation 21:8. If any believer fears it is good to be sure and take hold of all the truth Jezus Christ taught and remain in Him. Then they can be certain not to fall away.

“If you remain in Me and my words remain in you, you will ask what you want, and it will be done for you.
John 15:7

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:7

“What you want” – as read in John 14:13-14; compare Psalms 37:4. Jesus Christ is not giving a method by which believers can be a success in the world’s eyes, get rich, or have all the pleasures and comforts to be found on earth. He is giving the way of spiritual success and effective prayer. If Jezus Christ’s Words rule the heart of a believer his or her desires will be under the control through the Holy Spirit, and their desires want what Jesus Christ wants them to receive. Believers ruled by Jezus Christ’s Words will pray as Jesus Christ taught (as seen and read as example in Matthew 6:9-13). Compare Colossians 3:16-17 and 1 John 5:14-15.

My Father is glorified in this, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples.
John 15:8

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:8

Fruit bearing is not for the honor of the one who bears the fruit, but for the glory of God the almighty Heavenly Father. In other words, God is glorified by His work in believers. Compare Matthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 1:31; 4:7; 10:31 and Philippines 1:11. The person who seeks honor from men because of what he thinks is fruit bearing is not yet bearing the kind of fruit God wants.

As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you. Remain in My love. John 15:9

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:9

as read in John 5:20 below. Since Jesus Christ’s love for His people is like the almighty Heavenly Father’s love for Him, we may be sure it is deep, true, everlasting, and indescribably wonderful for us to know and receive.

“Remain in my love”– As seen in Jude 21. This obviously implies conscious, determined effort, a willing obedience to His commands. It means for believers to behave in such a way that He can justly demonstrate His love to them in their daily lives.

If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. John 15:10

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:10 

As read in John 14:15, 21, 23. Those who love Jesus Christ will obey His commands, and those who obey His commands will remain in His love. Here is a circle of love very meaningful to those inside it, but incomprehensible to those without. Believers are to settle down in this new dwelling place of God’s infinite love and get better and better acquainted with the Heavenly almighty dear caring Father of the house by doing what He says. Observe that Jesus Christ Himself remained in the Father’s love by obedience. And believers will remain in His love in the same way. No doubt some believers are more obedient than others. Perhaps none are always completely obedient ( as read in James 3:2), and none completely disobedient. The extent to which they are obedient will affect how much they will consciously experience and enjoy His love.

“These things I have said to you that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 15:11

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:11
 
Jesus Christ was the “man of sorrows” (as read in Isaiah 53:3). In the Gospels it is written that He wept (as read in John 11:35 and Luke 11:41), but never that He laughed.

Did He have joy?

Certainly a deep inner joy that had nothing to do with outward circumstances (as read in John 17:13 and Luke 10:21). It was a joy that came from perfect obedience to God’s will (compare John 4:34). This joy He desires all of His children to experience. And obedience is the only way to experience it.

What joy can there be if our consciences are always condemning us for disobedience?

This is my command, that you love one another, as I have loved you.
John 15:12

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:12 

As read in John 13:34. Repeated for emphasis.

No man has love greater than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:13 

Jesus Christ is speaking of what He Himself was about to do. As read in John 10:11, 17, 18. He died for the ungodly (as read in Romans 5:6-10), but that is not the point here. He is speaking to His friends and saying that the greatest proof of His love to them is the laying down of His life. as read also in 1 John 3:16.

You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.
John 15:14

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:14 

God incarnate looks for friends. Here He defines what true friendship with Himself means, obedience. In other words, this friendship is not among equals one is the Lord from heaven, the others are mere men called to follow Him. Rebellion, disobedience and refusal to obey are not marks of friendship but of enmity against God. In the kind of friendship of which Jesus Christ speaks there must be oneness of mind, heart, and purpose.

From now on, I will not call you servants, because the servant does not know what his lord is doing. But I have called you friends, for everything that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:15 

Jesus Christ’s disciples are not ignorant who must obey, but knowledgeable friends who desire to obey. See here that Jesus Christ again states that His teachings were a direct revelation from God the Heavenly Father, as read in John 7:16-17; 12:49; 17:6-8.

“You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you. John 15:16

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:16 

“I have chosen”– as read in Mark1:16-20; 2:14; 3:13-14. Compare Ephesians 1:4.

“Your fruit should remain”- this is what all true servants of God want. Compare Psalms 90:17. Fruit produced under Jesus Christ’s direction and in Jesus Christ will last forever.

“My name” – as read in John 14:13-14.

These things I command you, that you love one another.
John 15:17

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:17 

as read in Verse 12 and John 13:34. Repeated again for further emphasis.

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
John 15:18

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:18

 “World”- this is the unbelieving world which does not obey our true almighty dear caring Heavenly Father. As seen in 1 John 2:16; 5:19. That world is in darkness and wishes to remain there.

“Hates you”Jesus Christ’s disciples carry Jesus Christ’s light to which the world strongly objects (as read in John 3:19-20 and Matthew 5:14). They belong to God, not to the world. Sin at its heart is hatred of the one true and holy God, and all those connected with Him. So it is not surprising that the world will be unfriendly and antagonistic to Jesus Christ’s disciples. It would be surprising if it were not so. Compare Psalms 37:12; Proverbs 29:27; Amos 5:10 and 1 John 3:12. A world that hates God and His Son will not love God’s own people. If we say we are Jesus Christ’s followers and the world loves us we should be alarmed, for this is evidence that we do not really belong to Jesus Christ but to the world. But if we are hated by the world because we belong to Jesus Christ we should count it an honor ( as read in 1 Peter 4:14-16). And we should know that the very reason the world hates us is the reason God especially loves us.

If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own. But you do not belong to the world. I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
John 15:19

“Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they have kept My Word, they will keep yours also.
John 15:20

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:20 

As Read in John 13:16. Jesus Christ’s servants have no right to expect better treatment than Jesus Christ had to endure (as read in 1 Peter 4:1). The world will sometimes show its hatred by persecuting God’s people. But some individuals in the world will receive Jesus Christ’s teaching. We see both of these truths fully illustrated in the book of Acts.

But they will do all these things to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
John 15:21

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:21 

The world has ungodly gods and lords in abundance, but does not know the one true God (as read in John 8:19, 55; 16:3; Acts 17:22-23; 1 Corinthians 1:21 and Ephesians 4:18). This ignorance is not the same as the ignorance spoken of by Advaita Vedanta. That teaches that man’s spirit and God’s Spirit are one and the same, and that ignorance of this keeps men in bondage, and knowledge of it liberates them. This whole idea is completely opposed to the teaching of the Bible. (read John 10:30.)

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin. But now they have no excuse for their sin.
John 15:22

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:22 

“They would not have sin” – whether Jesus Christ had come or not men would have been sinners (as read in Romans 3:9-19, 23; 5:12). And certainly the Jews who rejected Him were full of sin (as read in John 8:24, 40, 44 and Matthew 23:3, 13-15, 25, 28, 32-36). The meaning seems to be this: such sins of which the Jews were guilty, God in mercy could have passed over (as read in Romand 3:25), if they had not committed the sin of rejecting His Son. To reject Jesus Christ is to reject the only way of forgiveness. He is speaking here of the Jewish nation as read in (Deuteronomy7:6). God had appointed sacrifices by which He could pass over their sin and forgive them (as read in Leviticus chapters 1–7). But the sin He could not pass over was the willful rejection of Himself (as read in Leviticus 26:18, 21, 23; Nummers 15:30-31 and Deuteronomy 30:15-20). Jesus Christ’s coming to them revealed their character as nothing else could have done. Their love of darkness and their hatred of God were made very clear (as read in John 3:19-20). Their cloak of religion could not conceal their evil. They could not offer the excuse that they didn’t know what they were doing. Let us learn that rejecting light is a very dangerous thing. Compare Proverbs 1:24-31 and Luke 12:47-48.

He who hates Me hates my Father also.
John 15:23

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:23

Again Jesus Christ speaks of the absolute oneness of God the Father and the only Son of God as read in John 10:30; 13:20; 14:9-10. The person who loves and serves the one, loves and serves the other. The person who rejects and hates the one, rejects and hates the other.

If I had not done among them deeds which no other man did, they would not have sin. But now they have both seen and hated both Me and my Father.
John 15:24

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:24 

Moses and the prophets of the Old Testament did mighty miracles but none had done what Jesus Christ did, giving sight to the blind, feeding great multitudes with a handful of food, raising a man who had been dead four days, etc. The Jews rejected Him in the face of great evidence that He was the Son of God from heaven (as read in John 5:31-40). This was the one sin that made it impossible for God to forgive the rest of their sins. The hatred of God, that often lies unrevealed in the sinful heart of men (Romans 8:7), in their case was brought out into the open.

But this happens that the Word that is written in their Law might be fulfilled, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’
John 15:25

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:25

As read in Psalms 35:19; 69:4. He did nothing to injure them. His mission was to save men and bring them into God’s eternal blessing. Their is no reason to reject and hate our almighty dear caring Lord Jesus Christ.

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes out from the Father, he will testify about Me. John 15:26

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John 15:26

 “Comforter”- as Read in John 14:16-17.

“I will send”– this is further evidence that Jesus Christ is God.

Who but God could send the Spirit of God?

Observe the Trinity in this verse. Compare John14:26. and read Matthew 3:16.

“Testify”- as read in John16:14; Romans 8:16 and 1 John 5:6. The Spirit testifies silently in the minds, hearts, and consciences of people. Also He works with and in human witnesses who speak aloud and He makes their testimony effective (as read in Matthew 10:20 and 1 Peter 1:12).

And you also will testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.
John 15:27

Note and Biblical Scripture References on John
15:27 

“You also will testify”- this is one of the chief reasons why Jesus Christ chose His disciples and left them in the world. See the fulfillment in the book of Acts (as read in Acts1:8; 2:32; 3:15; 5:32; 10:39, 41; 13:31). They were not to be afraid of the hatred and persecution He spoke of here as seen in vers 18-21. From the beginning they saw all that He did and heard all that He said. They were completely qualified witnesses. Compare Acts 1:21-22 and 2 Peter 1:16-18. Here in this chapter we see the privilege and responsibility of Jesus Christ’s disciples in three different relationships, they were to remain in Jesus Christ (vers 4), love one another (vers 12), and witness to the world (vers 27).

Much Love, JoY, Peace and Blessings through Jesus Christ, our almighty dear caring Lord Saviour and Redeemer, in who we faithfully abide,trust,believe and abundantly do receive throughout His marvelous righteous Word and truth fulfilling Holy Spirit ✝️🔥👑🙏🏻🕊️

💫 Emmanuel 💫