John 15:1-17 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
This was a passage I had to exegete for my exam last Friday. I was greatly encouraged by having a closer look at it.
So the vine was used a lot in the Old Testament as a depiction of Israel, and it was always to show how Israel was not producing fruit, or growing well - usually with the vinedresser finally pulling out the vine or burning it. So John immediately shows Jesus as the true Israel in saying that he is the true vine. Everything that the people of God should have been, Jesus is - very cool.
We then are attached to the vine (through 'remaining' in him) and we are to produce good fruit. However, even if we produce fruit God still 'prunes' us - so not everything will be good times, but it will all help us produce more fruit.
God is glorified as we bear fruit, and then ask for whatever we wish and have it given to us - all this because we have become pure by hearing Jesus' words and a proved to be his disciples.
The result of us remaining in Jesus is keeping his commands. It is not a case of us keeping his commands so that we remain in him. This is seen because we do not choose him but he chose us and appointed us so that we might remain in him - the keeping of commands is a response to our appointment.
Such an encouragement.
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