Crashed and burned.
In so far as my time to share John 12-14 yesterday, that’s what I have to say – I crashed and burned.
I thought I had it. I mean, I told ’em about John 12, Mary’s spikenard and the triumphal entry and the Greeks. I then went through John 13, citing the difference between Peter and Judas – I think I spent a little more time there than I should talking about Judas persistent and ultimate rejection… And then John 14 was a train wreck, just zeroing in on the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and He is the point.
They loved that we are the Proof, though. But man, I got all nervous because I thought too much about the audience, I was all over the place, took pauses. I didn’t have time to rehearse. I think that was a big thing, there was a live disconnect between what I wrote and what I spoke.
I think I spent a little too much time analyzing and writing, more than communicating it and letting it flow. Also, there was the factor of distractions before the actual service, which may have very well led to the quick intimidation on the pulpit.
This week, therefore, I resolve to spend less time writing, and more time elaborating and simplifying by way of talking. Rehearsing, practicing.
We had good points. It’s just that I didn’t let them sink in further by practicing.
John 15
I Am the True Vine
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 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. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone 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 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. 16 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. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
We have previously established that Christ is the glory of God, and the grace of God. We have also established that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. More than the destination, we thank God for Christ, who is the Way. More than the knowledge and the facts, we thank God for Christ, who is the Truth. Finally, more than any blessing we have in this world, we thank God for Christ, for, through it all, He is our Life.
With all that mentioned, we have established that more than Christ bringing us to the destination, more than His giving us knowledge, and more than His blessing us… We thank God for Christ, who is the Point of it all… and, thank God, indeed, because we got the Point, and now we ourselves are the Proof.
Now, Christ goes even deeper. With Judas in the darkness, He speaks with the remaining disciples, revealing even more intimate revelations; Starting from His being the Point, and our being the Proof… Here, in John 15, Christ kicks it off by being more direct in saying: He is the Vine, and we are the branches.
He is the Vine, we are the branches… and His/our Father is the Vinedresser. Whoever doesn’t bear fruit, He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Prune?
First of all, that sounds familiar to what Jesus said in Matthew 25, specifically in verse 29, where He tells His disciples that to whoever has, more shall be given, and to Him who has not, even what he has shall be taken away. Here, we read that it all depends on our producing fruit – and, even when we DO produce fruit, guess what? He prunes us.
I grew up as a Christian at an age and season where people absolutely insisted that this ‘pruning’ was an extremely painful experience, and/or that we’re the ones who have to do it – I even remember someone telling me once, with so-called compassion, right after what I was assuming was an ‘intense’ time of prayer, that I had to break up with my (then) girlfriend. It felt off for me at the time, after time passed, sure, we eventually ended our relationship, but now that I think about it, I still don’t think this person’s ‘revelation’ had ANYTHING to do with it – because I knew back then as much as now – I just couldn’t put in words back then – that everything good (including revelations) comes from the Lord, and HE ADDS NO SORROW TO IT.
So good pruning comes from the Lord, from our God, the Vinedresser – and He adds no sorrow to this pruning. In fact, we look forward to this pruning, because, first, It’s the all-knowing God who knows infinitely more than we could ever know who is doing the pruning.
Second, what He prunes is, according to definition, for our health (removing dead, diseased, or problem ends), for our relief (as a sheep is sheared of wool to cool down and walk better) and for our safety (removing extensions that may touch live power lines, or slap motorists).
Third, and this is according to Christ’s own words, we are pruned ultimately for us to bear even MORE fruit.
Oh, one more thing – Now while a majority of translations mention the word ‘prune’, and the Greek word used, Kathairo, does specify ‘to prune’ – it is with the purpose of cleansing. In other words, branches are pruned to be cleansed… and, guess what Christ says in verse 3? Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Now, doesn’t that sound familiar? In the chapters we covered earlier, Jesus just washed their feet, telling them they were already clean.
So, ultimately, as we picture Christ as the Vine, and we are the Branches – God, our Father, is our Vinedresser, cleansing us by way of pruning us so we are healthier, we are relieved, and we are safe, but ultimately for us to bear more fruit. However, Christ also mentions that because of His Word, we are also cleansed – also, to bear more fruit.
Bear?
And, see, there’s another thing – Jesus is very precise with His words, and He makes sure to specify… we’re not to PRODUCE the fruit, nor are we to MAKE the fruit – Friends, brethren, we’re to BEAR the fruit.
Abide?
It makes sense, actually, for Jesus to say that we, as branches, merely BEAR the fruit… because He is the Vine responsible for actually producing the fruit in us. Earlier, Jesus told Peter that unless He cleans his feet, He would have no part with him – because with the cleaning came the presence, and with the presence came the cleaning; Our being the branches to the Vine gives us more clarity to what He meant at that time.
From that, Christ emphasizes that (1) the branch cannot even bear fruit by itself, and (2) he who abides in Him not only bears fruit, but bears MUCH fruit.
You know what? I’m thinking I need to go ahead and just consolidate things here so I can save me some time. It’s already the middle of the week and I barely have anything of substance and value here.
If we put everything together, we can start off by saying that just as Christ is the Point, and we are the Proof, so Christ presents that He is the Vine, we are the Branches, and God who is His and our Father – He is the Vinedresser, caring for both Vine and Branches.
Any branch that does not abide in Christ and in His love cannot bear, much less produce fruit, and is therefore taken away; It withers, and is taken with the other unfruitful branches, to be burned.
Any branch that DOES abide in the Vine bears the fruit of the Vine; And the Vinedresser prunes (cleans) these branches to bear even more fruit.
We have already been cleaned by the Word spoken to us by Jesus. He calls us to abide in Him, as He abides in us. He calls us to keep His commandments to abide in His love, just as He kept His Father’s commandments and abides in His Father’s love.
We keep His commandments with the same mindset as bearing His fruit – That is, as branches bear the fruit that the Vine produces, so we also bear the commandments that Christ gives.
He shares this to us, that we would have joy, and our joy would be full.
And what commandment does Christ give? We are to love one another as He has loved us.
We are no longer His servants, but His friends, because in His love, He lets us in on what His Father is doing.
We did not choose Him – He was the One who chose us, that we would go and bear much fruit, ‘that (our) fruit should abide/remain’; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
He commands us as such, that we would love one another.
Condensing this further, in consideration to His finished work:
We are in Christ, He produces fruit, we bear the fruit.
We rejoice. Christ is in us, because we keep His commandment, and thus abide in His love.
Christ loves us. He does not call us His servants, but He calls us His friends.
We did not choose Him, but He chose us, that we would go and bear fruit.
Because of all this, we love one another.
Callbacks:
Christ is the Point, we are the Proof. Christ is the Vine, we are the Branches.
Peter is rebuked as a branch is pruned and cleaned. Judas, persistent in rejecting the vine and not producing fruit, is thrown away and burned.
Transition to John 16
The Hatred of the World
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause.’
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. John 15:18-27
1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.John 16:1-4
After speaking of His being the Vine and our being the branches, and after issuing a new commandment to us, Jesus gives us a warning:
They refused to listen to the Master because they do not know, nor apparently have never known Who sent Him, and therefore hate Him.
Even if they saw what the Master did, they still hated both the Master and the Father.
The world hated and persecuted the Master, and it will hate and persecute us, His servants. They hate us and will persecute us, claiming to do so in the Master’s name.
Christ brings back the focus to the Spirit of Truth, the Helper He mentioned earlier, in John 14. He proceeds/comes from the Father, and on top of His leading us into all Truth, he will bear witness about (Jesus).
And we will not only bear fruit, but we will bear witness to the Vine, with whom we have been with from the beginning.
He tells us these things so we would be kept from falling away, remembering He told us these things when they happen.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.John 16:4-15
We see, clearly, how Christ’s warning would discourage anyone who hears it – because He acknowledged it Himself, saying that sorrow has filled the hearts of the disciples.
However, again, He brings back their focus, and our focus, on the Spirit.
Jesus speaks of His ‘going away’ – which may mean His death and/or His eventual ascension – and how it was not only necessary, but to their/our advantage, for the Helper, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, to be sent to us, and to come to us.
Here, we are reminded of the function and the pleasure of the Holy Spirit.
He will not only bear witness of Christ, but He will glorify Him.
He will not only declare the things that are to come, but also all that the Father has, as Christ has them.
And He will not only convict us of our righteousness, but He shall convict the entire world of sin (unbelief), righteousness (as we will see Him no longer), and judgment (as the ruler of the world is judged).
Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy
16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’?
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.John 16:16-24
The disciples are not only sorrowful, but confused. To this, Christ responds, assuring them that their sorrow shall turn into joy, and this joy shall be as the relief a mother has after enduring the pain of giving birth to a child. It shall be as a joy so great that they ‘will ask nothing of (Him)‘…
I suppose that Christ mentioned that they will ask nothing of Him, because He sends the Spirit of Truth to them, without needing for them to ask; This is, after all, the Spirit who will take all that is Christ’s (which is all that the Father has), and declare it to us.
But on the other hand, lest we find ourselves confused as well (in spite of the great hope that we already have through Christ and the Holy Spirit), Christ encourages us to ask in His same… ‘that (their joy) may be full‘.
Indeed, we have as much reason to be sorrowful today. I wrote something else last night before resting, where I lamented on sorrow on the global level (the apparently exponential increase in persecution of Christians around the world), on the national level (the most recent and most ugly political events happening here in the Philippines), the local level (the conflicts in power and leadership within my own team in my own church), and on the personal level (my being constantly reminded of a lady I valued so much, but ghosted me; my lack of income versus the never-ending flow of monthly bills).
In what I wrote, I just reminded myself of what I was given Q3 last year – the mindset of flowing, trusting God, and thanking God – and though, sure, I was giving thanks for God’s faithfulness through it all, I also slipped by way of asking God to just help me. I asked God to move through all this that’s going on, in all His glory and grace, in all His infinite power and eternal wisdom… and, here, I’m reminded that I ask in His name… for my joy to be full as well.
I Have Overcome the World
25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”
29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”John 16:25-33
In contrast to the world that hates and persecutes us, assuming they do so in the name of God, Jesus says that not only do we know God, but that He loves us… because we loved Jesus first, believing He comes from God.
Jesus tells the disciples, plainly now: When He says that He’s leaving, He means that (1) He came from the Father into this world, and therefore (2) He now leaves the world and goes to the Father.
The disciples respond, appreciating Christ’s ‘speaking plainly’; They said it’s because they know that Christ knows all things, and (does) not need anyone to question (Him), that they believe He came from God…
To this, Christ responds with another warning: you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.
But He tops it all off, with a message of hope, a reminder of peace.
He said all He had to say His being the Vine, and our being His branches – that our joy would be full, and that we would love one another.
He warns us about hatred and persecution, that we would be kept from falling away.
In light of all sorrow and confusion, He gives us hope, in the form of the Spirit – the Spirit of Truth, who shall give us all the Father has.
Christ, indeed, spoke plainly – we will have tribulation in this reality, in this existence, in this world… But he told us all of these things, that we would have peace – this same peace, I dare say, that Paul says is the peace that goes beyond all understanding…
Christ has cleansed us with His words, and by His words we have peace – and, we praise God, and we ‘take heart’; For considering all this that has been said, He tops it all off by saying, ‘I have overcome the world.‘
Part of me wants to talk about ‘I have overcome the world’ (especially that one point that Mom always loves to mention – that Jesus said this before He lay His life down).. but I feel like taking a break here before going for John 17… Which I want to finish, today.
With all this said, until the next post, hopefully coming very soon, may our good, glorious and gracious Father continue to bless us all.
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