Abiding in Jesus, bearing fruit, joy and loving – Jesus, John 15:1-17

Kirk

June 8

Jesus the True Vine
(Isaiah 27:1–13)
1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. 2 He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain (abide) in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.

5 I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
8 This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.

No Greater Love
9 As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you.
Remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments,
you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and remain in His love. 11 I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you
and your joy may be complete.

12 This is My commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.

14 You are My friends if you do what I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you.

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
17 This is My command to you: Love one another.

Jesus, John 15:1-17

My Pondering

JESUS

This is one of the most important verses in all of Scripture, therefore in all the world and thus in all of our very lives, to each of us. It is such because Jesus speaks to the core of His purposeful essence and transfers this to us, His chosen.

YOU

For God so loved the world
that He gave His one and only Son,
that everyone who believes in Him
shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

If you are alive and reading this, it must also include you...should you respond to His calling for in perhaps the most popular for just cause:

ABIDING (John 15: 1-4)

4 Remain (abide) in Me, and I will remain in you.

Jesus, John 15:4

As we read from Verse 1-7, we see the merit and requirement to abide and remain in Christ. The requires our individual personal will and commitment. It isn't a power thing on our end but rather an alignment and positional purpose of ours. It is a mindset (thought and feeling). It (branches) is placing trust in the Word and Name of God, namely Jesus as He our direct connection (the main Vine) to Father (the ultimate Vinedresser).

PS...Note the relevant warnings: unless and if

Jesus is it!

And He came that we have an Abundant Life. Not one without challenges, but a joyful one in that we should be more than conquerors.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Jesus, John 10:10

FRUIT (John 15:5-8)

8 This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.

Jesus, John 15:8

When we are connected, fruit grows. If there is a fruitless life, it is NOT the trees fault. It is OURS. Note the ifs.

What is this fruit He is referring to?

Scripture answers this best:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self-control...

Paul, Galatians 5:22

Here is a devo you might appreciate and find fruitful 😉

Jesus is the source of our produce. It looks like a bit this:

If you can't see the image of Jesus, squint and look again till you find Him

JOY (John 15:9-11)

I have told you these things so that
My joy may be in you
and your joy may be complete.

Jesus, John 15:11

Jesus is our everything and certainly our JOY. Joy is intrinsic. The ultimate sense of Joy is found in Jesus. Check this out JOY is Jesus Optimizing You. JOY is also Jesus Others You, in that order. I am third. Jesus stated that the first will be last and the last will be first, so ponder that in your pipe.

Let's not gloss of there is clearly stated our obligation to keep His commandment, to trust and obey for this is NO other way.

LOVE (John 15:12-13)

12 This is My commandment,
that you love one another
as I have loved you.

Jesus, John 15:12

There it is, Christ's response to what we need to do. Love is verb. We are called to Live Love. There is no bette example than Christ led by example up on that old rugged Cross. That's no doubt how His disciples proved their love by willingly given their lives in the love of God. No greater than that. Until that is required, let's make the most of the dash.

FRIENDS (John 15:14-15)

You are My friends
if you do what I command you.

Jesus, John 15:14

Is it not amazing that we can be friends with God almighty?

Not just servants, or created beings, or tools of His but also friends. A friend in need is a friend indeed. In deeds of caring service. Jesus told is we were considered friends because He share His purpose with us. He invites us to participate with His big 'why'. He has equipped us to understand the meaning of the mission. He then consummates our relationship when we do it. Note just think it or feel it but also do it. We need to use our heads, hearts and hands in synchronicity.

Knowing is NOT enough...we must also do. See another if my friend?

P.S. Salvation is not a works based requirement but a works based response. Both involve doing but there is a world of difference.

CHOSEN & BORN TO LOVE (John 15:16-17)

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
17 This is My command to you: Love one another.

Jesus, John 15-17

Jesus chose us first and foremost. We are chosen. We then much chose how we actually respond. Jesus appoints each of us to

We are to GO FORTH to get off our duff and do take the Next Best Right Move

BEAR FRUIT THAT REMAINS

Not only should we multiply and deliver to God a healthy ROI (Return On Investment) of our God allotted TTT (Time Talent Treasure) we need to focus on the eternal, to do what is reciprocal, to invest in the compounding. To make our work Kingdom work.

Some will, some wont, so what's and who's next?

ASK

I can't hardly explain this statement. I can only accept it by faith. Nonetheless He said it, so that settles it. "so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you". In Jesus's name for His cause, for the Father's well deserving glory.

LOVE

The beginning and end. Here He is driving home His poignant point again. Do you think loving might just be important by now?

Do we even understand what real love is?

This might help, word search Scriptures for LOVE and study it. Then live love. Jesus is love. The Father is love. The Spirit is love. God is love three in one and one of three. Just love.

You are alive in the world. Jesus loves you. How shall I respond? Now how shall YOU respond? How shall we all respond. Let's just love.

Love is everywhere. So is hate and indifference. You were born to love so chose love.

Here are some other resources regarding love.

Love – Agape style

Love is a mighty force

Love comparison chart

God & people are to be loved…

Ten ways to love