“A Journey with John” Day 25: The true vine (John 15:1-27)

Last time, we heard Jesus telling the disciples some things they needed to know before He went away. One of the main things that He wanted them to know is that although He is going away, He would come back and get them to be with Him! He also told them that it was important that they do what He has said. As well, if they do what He has said, the Father will send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, to be with them. Jesus also told them that the evil ruler of the world is coming, but that it was going to be all right, because the evil ruler doesn’t have anything in Him.

Before looking into today’s activities, let’s look at to whom we were introduced last time:

>The Spirit of truth - earlier in our journeys, our guide has mentioned the Holy Spirit, but last time, we heard Jesus’ first mention of the Holy Spirit, as He referenced the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth

Now, let’s catch up with our guide to see what we’re going to be hearing today:

Today, we will again go and hear Jesus telling the disciples what they need to know before He goes away. As we enter the scene, it seems that Jesus and the disciples are in a different place. Jesus is telling them that He is the true vine, and that they are the branches. He explains that the branches that bear no fruit, are cut off and destroyed. However, even the branches that do bear fruit, are pruned so that they will bear more fruit. Jesus again tells the disciples that they must love one another. He then tells them that there is no greater love that can be shown, than to give your life for your friends. Jesus reiterates what we have heard several times before, that they show their love for Him by doing what He has said for them to do. As well, Jesus says that if they will live in Him, and His words live in them, they can ask what they will, and it will be done for them. Jesus tells them that He will no longer call them servants. He will now call them friends, because He is going to tell them what He is doing. Jesus warns the disciples that they will be hated just as He has been hated. He says that all of the people who have rejected Him, are condemned. Jesus goes on to tell them more about the Spirit of truth, saying that the Spirit of truth will testify to them concerning Him, and that they, in turn, will testify to others about Him because they’ve been with Him from the beginning.

Our highlighted verses for today:

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. “As the Father loved Me, I also have 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. 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. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭2‬, ‭5‬, ‭7‬, ‭9‬-‭10‬, ‭13‬-‭15‬, ‭18‬-‭19‬, ‭24‬, ‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Question for reflection:

Why does Jesus reference the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of truth?

Next time, our guide is taking us to hear more about the Spirit of truth, and some other things the disciples must now know.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!