John 15:1-12 - “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands 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 command: Love one another as I have loved you.
vv. 1-2 - “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.
“Prune" – kathairos – To cut off; to clean; to purify
Psalm 80:8-19 - You dug up a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared a place for it; it took root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered by its shade, and the mighty cedars with its branches. 11 It sent out sprouts toward the Sea and shoots toward the River. 12 Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its fruit? 13 Boars from the forest tear at it and creatures of the field feed on it. 14 Return, God of Armies. Look down from heaven and see; take care of this vine, 15 the root your right hand planted, the son that you made strong for yourself. 16 It was cut down and burned; they perish at the rebuke of your countenance. 17 Let your hand be with the man at your right hand, with the son of man you have made strong for yourself. 18 Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name. 19 Restore us, Lord, God of Armies;
make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.
vv. 3-5 - You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.
“Remain/Abide” – (Is used 11 times in vv. 4-16) Speaks of remaining connected to a source.
v. 6 - If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
vv. 7-8 - If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.
· vv. 1-8 – “Abide in Jesus”
· vv. 9-16 – “Abide in Love”
Craig Keener – “Abiding in Jesus and allowing his words to abide in one entail continuing to love and trust in Jesus, with the assurance that the lover of Jesus, whose desires are ultimately for Jesus’ agendas, will receive answered prayer.”
vv. 9-11 - “As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands 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.
v. 12 - “This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you.