I AM THE VINE you are the branches
I AM THE VINE, you are the branches
The Backdrop Jesus has spent the last three years convicting the hearts of His disciples. • He showed them He is the Christ, the Son of God. Jn. 1: 1; 4: 29 • He showed them how he abided by and lived in obedience to the heavenly Father’s will. Jn. 4: 34 He has now one “final lesson” for His disciples to grasp before He begins His journey to the cross.
THE FINAL PARABLE I AM THE VINEe, s you are the branch
Bear Much Fruit The roles (Jn. 15: 1, 5) • Our heavenly Father: The vinedresser. • Jesus: The vine. • Disciples: the branches of the vine. The import of the parable: bear fruit (Jn. 15: 2) • Branches that don’t produce are taken away. (cp. V. 3; 13: 10 -11) • Branches that produce fruit are pruned… to produce even more fruit!
FRUIT-BEARING IS ALL ABOUT ABIDING IN CHRIST I AM THE VINEe, s you are the branch
The Necessity of Abiding in Christ We cannot bear fruit unless abiding in Jesus. Jn. 15: 4 -7 • This may seem trivial to some but the mere fact that Jesus is emphasizing this simple truth to His disciples should weigh heavily on our minds today. • The point? “WITHOUT ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING” (You cannot bear fruit). V. 5 • Worse, those who do not bear fruit “are cast out… and burned. ” v. 6 Those who do are blessed! V. 7
What Abiding Looks Like • Abiding in Christ = Keeping His commandments. Jn. 15: 9 -11 • The blessing of abiding in Christ…being loved by Him. • Thus, keeping His commandments = abiding in His love. • End result: His joy would fully abide within us! • What commandment does Jesus stress? Love one another. Jn. 15: 12, 17
No Greater Love Than This Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. John 15: 13 -14
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