Friended by Jesus - (3)

Part 3  (John 15:1-15)

“I am the vine, you are the branches.”  What a comforting analogy.  I am connected.  I am alive.

Even so, it is more than a little frightening to know that you can CHOOSE to depart from the true vine and therefore end up destroying yourself.  Is it hard to stay, or easy to go?  How will you know whether you are really connected?

Read the story here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2015&version=NIV

Listen to the story here: http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/John.15

Now comes one of the most powerful parts of Jesus’ comparison to the vine: 

 The simple test of whether a branch is connected or disconnected is --- FRUIT. 

By fruit every gardener knows that the plant has reproduced itself, as Genesis1:12 says: “…trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.”  The test of “fruit” means: Does the follower of Christ reproduce that which he has become through Christ -- a new believer?

Furthermore, the simple way of remaining connected is this: “OBEY my commands.”  Having a free will gives us the ability to choose continued connection with Him, and the way of choosing to connect is choosing to obey.

Choosing to remain in LOVE simply by acts of obedience would be a no-brainer except for two unfortunate things:

One, our stubborn, fallen will responds : “I hate to obey!”

And two, our mind complicates things by asking: “Obey what?”

No problem.  Jesus simply states:

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

How simple. Even a child could understand it.  And who would want to do anything else?

So how did his followers/servants get promoted to “friend” status?  ---Because He has just let them in on THE inside secret---the key to living, if you will. 

My entire plan for your future life on earth is that you remain in my love by loving each other as I have loved you.  You will end up fruitful and joyful, and my Father will be glorified.

Jesus “friended” me first.  And I am choosing to remain his friend.

How about you?

"Friended" by Jesus! - (1)

Part I  (John 15:1-15)

“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.  Instead, I have called you friends, for everything I have learned from my Father I have made known to you. –John 15:15

Jesus spoke to the people in figurative language.  Figurative language is a way of communicating a new truth by comparing it to a truth already well-known to the audience.  It is a device used by poets down through the ages, and taught by English teachers in every literature class.  We also use it in our everyday communication.  For instance, if I tell you that a new food you are about to taste is “as sour as a lemon,” I am helping you understand the new food by comparing it to a lemon which you have already experienced.  I could also say, “Think lemons!” and that is the same kind of comparison, only more strongly put.

 Read the story here: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2015&version=NIV

Listen to the story here: http://www.biblegateway.com/audio/dramatized/niv/John.15

In John 15, Jesus is giving his friends a lot of help to understand what their future lives without Him should look like, by comparing it to something they already know – horticulture.  They lived in a largely agrarian society and almost everyone had grown, pruned, harvested and burned VINES.  You may not have had this experience of vines, and that is the only reason that some explanation is required.

Jesus told his friends in verse 1: “I am the true VINE.”  Strongly put comparison. Well, if Jesus is a vine, then the other parts of the comparison fall naturally into place:

Who is the gardener?	God the Father
What are the branches?	His followers
What fruit is produced?	[not stated] More disciples
Who are the disconnected branches	Those who stopped being “connected”
How did they get disconnected?	Did not remain in Him/remain in His love
How did they get disconnected?	Did not obey his commands
What is His command?	“Love each other as I have loved you.”
Who removes the disconnected branches?	God the Father
What happens to the disconnected branches?	Cast aside/ destroyed
What happens to the fruitful branches?	Pruned by the Word [not explained]
What happens to the fruitful branches?	Reproduce themselves
What happens to the fruitful branches?	Full of joy

Now why do you think, after this complicated comparison of the vine, that He said”:

 “You are my friends”?  Leave your comments below!