CHAPTER 15
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” John 15:1
With this verse, Jesus completes his seven famous “I am” statements of John’s gospel. This passage also involves the Father who is pictured as the gardener. The word for gardener here is the Greek geōrgos, simply, the word for farmer rather than vinedresser.1 The Synoptic Gospels all mention that the Lord’s Supper was instituted on this night and we can imagine that the idea of the cups of wine were fresh in the disciples’ minds.
The vine was one of the most beautiful and expressive symbols for the Jewish people. Actually, the vine was the ancient symbol of Israel and had even appeared on her coins.
According to Josephus,2 a massive and magnificent golden vine was constructed on the inside of the temple. In the years that followed, great people counted it an honor to add golden fruit or a pod of gold grapes to this vine.3
In reality, God’s vineyard was the whole house of Israel (Isa. 5:1-7). Unfortunately, the nation of Israel did not live up to the ideal of being God’s choice vine. In Psalm 80:8-19, the failure of Israel was pictured. God brought this choice vine from Egypt and transplanted it in the land of Israel. The vine flourished and covered the mountains with its branches. But God had to break down his vineyard and turn it over to the wild boars. At last God had to cut down the vine and burn it in the fire because of its worthless folly.
Other prophets in Israel had spoken of God’s vine. The Lord said in Jeremiah, “I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?” (Jer. 2:21). Hosea said, “Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones. Their heart is deceitful, and now they must bear their guilt. The LORD will demolish their altars and destroy their sacred stones” (Hos. 10:1-2; cf. Ezek. 19:10-12). Israel failed God and became a degenerate vine. Very soon, the whole nation would be destroyed for her sin.
The clear picture here is that Jesus the Messiah of Israel is now the True Vine of which Israel was only the type.4 This True Vine is eternally planted in God’s garden. In fact, God is the gardener. We want to be clear that Jesus has replaced the vine and it is not the church that has replaced it. Kostenberger says, “Paul’s discussion in Romans 9-11 makes clear that God still has a purpose for ethnic Israel.” 5
From the last chapter we can conclude that this teaching was probably given as Jesus and his eleven disciples strolled from the Upper City (Mt. Zion today) down through the Tyropoeon Valley, and possibly up to the temple mount (it was open at night for this festival).6 Jesus considered the temple as his Father’s House (Lk. 2:49) and it seems unlikely that he would not have visited it for this last time. As they strolled through Jerusalem, on into the Kidron Valley and the Garden of Gethsemane they must have passed numerous grapevines, so no doubt, Jesus had plenty of teaching aids. In the full moonlight of Passover the vines could have been easily seen.
“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you” (15:2-3). At our study center in Migdal (home of Mary Magdalene) we had a very large vine that grew upwards past the second story of our building and then spread out to mostly cover our large open porch. It was our favorite shady place to sit in the summer evenings as we looked out over almost the whole Sea of Galilee. That large vine gave me plenty of opportunity to learn about pruning. Without pruning, the vine became one vast cluster of leaves with little fruit. With proper pruning, we were able to enjoy its delicious white grapes.
The grapevine produces many suckers that will never develop grapes. In addition, unnecessary wood or dead wood in the vines can cause rot and disease. If vines are not pruned, most of the growth goes into the leaves and thus the fruit is small or nonexistent. If the branches are trimmed back mercilessly the fruit will be large and delicious. Tenney describes some pruned arbors that he had examined. He says of them, “…The vineyards in the early spring look like a collection of barren, bleeding stumps…” 7
Jesus was the vine and his disciples were the branches. We note how he relentlessly pruned those who would follow him. We saw in 6:66, how many of his disciples could not endure his teaching and walked away from him. Now we have just seen how Jesus pruned Judas from his followers. It is by their fruit that true branches are known (Matt. 7:15-23).
Actually branches are not good for anything else but to produce fruit. The prophet Ezekiel once chided Israel, pointing out to the nation that the wood of the vine was good for nothing. They could not make a peg with it or any useful furniture. It was only good to be thrown into the fire, and was not even good firewood (Ezek. 15:2 -8).
While the wood of the vine is useless for most purposes it is wonderfully adapted to producing grapes. I love to eat grapes and I am continually amazed at the miraculous fruitfulness of the grapevine. Once in Israel I bought a cluster of grapes that reached from my hand to the ground. They reminded me of the cluster that was carried between two of the spies in the Wilderness Period (Num. 13:23-24). Anyway, it is quite amazing that so many wonderful and delicious grapes can be produced from one tiny stalk. What a picture of fruitfulness!
There are many lessons in the grapevine and the picture is ripe for our meditation. Grapes grow in clusters and not individually just as Christians are designed to grow in the church. Some varieties of wild grapes grow in small numbers but these are the exceptions and not the rule.8 The vine requires a great deal of care. Vines have to be carefully protected from wild creatures by a sturdy wall. A winepress has to be built (cf. Mk. 12:1). The young vines are not allowed to produce fruit for the first three years and then they have to be vigorously pruned as we have said.9 Wiersbe remarks: “The greatest judgment God could bring to a believer would be to let him alone…A machine can produce results, and so can a robot, but it takes a living organism to produce fruit…real spiritual fruit has in it the seeds for more fruit.” 10
We note in this verse that the gardener not only takes away the vines that do not bear but he also prunes the ones that do. The word for pruning is the Greek kathairō, and has its root in the idea of making clean.11 We remember the statement of 13:10, where Jesus announces that all the disciples were clean except Judas. We cannot escape the fact that the Christian life can be difficult, with many trials and tribulations. By these the Lord prunes his followers. The Lord also prunes us through his Holy Spirit and his word. We call this the process of sanctification or becoming holy.
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me” (15:4). We cannot miss the idea of remaining or abiding in Jesus, an idea that is used so often here (15:4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10). The Greek word for abiding is menō and here it means to “maintain vital spiritual connection with Christ.” 12 This is pictured as a continuous abiding in the Lord.
Tenney mentions that cuttings will often bear leaves and look like they are thriving, but they will never bear fruit and will soon wither. He notes God’s desired progression that is mentioned throughout this passage. It is fruit…more fruit…much fruit.13 When we are abiding in the vine the production of spiritual fruit is quite a natural thing. We do not have to grunt to produce this fruit. It just happens quietly. We do not even have to see it. It is interesting how most fruit trees just hold their fruit up as with lifted hands to God.
REMAINING IN THE VINE
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
As we see here, Jesus has replaced Israel as God’s vine. Now the righteous must remain in him. He is the essence of everything good and holy. He is the essence of the vine just as he is the essence of the olive tree (Rom. 9 – 11). The remnant of God’s people, both Jew and Gentile must remain in him and in him alone. He is the vine and we are the branches. It is only by a continuous and close relationship with Jesus that we can bear fruit. Kostenberger says, “The vine metaphor thus becomes an illustration of the close-knit, organic relationship Jesus desired with his disciples.” 14 This metaphor speaks volumes to us about our spiritual unity and communion in Christ. It also speaks volumes about the whole subject of our fruitfulness.
Guzik says, “Fruit bearing is impossible without abiding; but it is inevitable with abiding. …Fruit also implies inherent reproduction. Virtually every piece of fruit has seeds within it, seeds that are meant to reproduce more fruit.” 15 We really are worthless in ourselves and all our natural energy and strength cannot produce even a single spiritual fruit. So often it seems that the church promotes natural talents and abilities. However, such things cannot produce spiritual results or help others to grow spiritually. With Christ, wonderful and miraculous things can be done (Phil. 4:13). Natural gifts have to be filtered through the cross and the blood of the Lamb to be of any spiritual value.
“If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned” (15:6). Kretzmann comments, “Ten times in these ten verses the necessity of abiding in Christ is emphasized, the need of keeping a firm hold on the Savior by love.” 16 We probably do not realize just how snug a relationship the Lord envisions here. Real religion is based upon relationship with God. Paul wanted to know Christ, to participate in his sufferings, death and resurrection (Phil. 3:10-11). He wanted to be “found in him” not having his own righteousness but the righteousness that comes from Christ (Phil. 3:9). This is real religion. This is what we should strive for today, even if we have to miss everything else. Actually all else, without this, is loss and fuel for the fire.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (15:7-8). Here is Christianity in its purest and truest form. Here is real discipleship. It is simply about abiding in Jesus moment by moment, hour by hour, day by day, and year by year. For those blessed ones who abide in Christ, absolutely all things are possible. Utley notes how this passage has been badly proof-texted.17 Insincere Christians have tried to use it to their benefit without paying the price of devotion to the Master. There are many descriptive words that could fit in here, words like prevailing prayer, daily meditation, constant obedience, love of God’s word and of his people. All this is how we produce fruit…more fruit…much fruit.
THE FATHER’S LOVE
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 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.” John 15:9-10
Barnes says, “The love of the Father toward his only-begotten Son is the highest affection of which we can conceive.” 18 That great affection is filtered down through Christ and to all of us believers. As we bask in that love, obedience becomes spontaneous and full of joy. We can see that obedience is a fruit of true love. There is really no love without obedience. Again, our works are not our own but they spring from Christ and his love and work in us.
Once again we see the unity of Father and Son. This unity is beyond natural understanding. All the church creeds in the world cannot describe it or formulate it exactly.
Today in our world of quantum physics we are beginning to see how atoms can be in many places at once and do many things at once. It is this truth that is behind the idea of the quantum computer.19 Maybe this can help us. All this may foreshadow the spiritual worlds available to us in Jesus. Hopefully, as we probe into the spiritual depths now available to us in Christ, the mystery of the Trinity will become clearer.
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (15:11). Today many people seek after happiness. However, happiness is usually based upon circumstances and these can change. In the US each year some 2.4 billion prescriptions are written, and the largest group, some 118 million, are for anti-depressants. 20 Obviously, the world’s joy does not stick around very long. Real joy is not based upon circumstances but upon Christ Jesus and he does not change.
TO LOVE AS WE ARE LOVED
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. John 15:12
“As I have loved you” thus becomes the standard by which we measure all real love. The first element of this great love is the cross and the sacrifice of Jesus for us.21 We might ask how this real love can be commanded. It can be commanded because it is not basically a feeling but rather an act of the will. This command continues to be repeated by the Master (13:34-35; 15:12, 17).22 We might ask if there is a difference between duty and love. Richard Braunstein says, “The difference between duty and love is that the first represents Sinai and the second represents Calvary.”
All the demands of the law are summed up in two commandments. They are: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mk. 12:30-31). It was said of our great author, John, that when he was of extreme old age he had to be carried to church. When they would ask him to speak he would only say, “Little children, love one another.” The people becoming wearied ask him why he did not speak more. He replied “Because (said he) it is the commandment of the Lord, and the observation of it alone is sufficient.” 23
In Koine Greek there are several words for love, while English has only one. The prominent words for love in the New Testament are “agapaō” and “phileō.” Sometimes they are used interchangeably as in 11:3.24 The word, agape, was not used much in Classical of Koine Greek but it was taken over by the church and began to be used in a specialized sense.25 While phileō was a reference to brotherly love agapaō began to speak of divine love. We see that high and holy love of God used often in these verses.
“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (15:13). On one occasion when David and his men were hiding from Saul, he became very thirsty and longed for a cool drink of water from the well at Bethlehem, his hometown. Some of his brave men overheard his longing and at the risk of their lives they went into Bethlehem and secured water from the well (2 Sam. 23:15-17). David was so overcome with the greatness of their sacrifice that he refused to drink the water, but rather offered it up to God.26
Today we have a very mistaken concept of martyrdom that is constantly evident in the Moslem religion. In true martyrdom people offer their lives for the sake of God and others. With this false martyrdom people try to destroy as many others as possible in their own suicide deaths.
“You are my friends if you do what I command” (15:14). Enoch was a great friend of God and the Lord took Enoch to himself. Abraham was known as a great friend of God. These men were friends of God because they were anxious to do what God said. Abraham was willing to offer up his only son to God, although he was the son of all his promises. When he was commanded he acted immediately, not even waiting a day or two to think about the awesome decision. (Gen. 22:1ff. ). Friends of God obey God’s commands. The Lord asks through Amos the prophet: “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (Am. 3:3 NKJ).
“I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (15:15). With Christ’s impending sacrifice we note that the status of believers is changing. We are no longer called servants but friends. While the servant normally does not know his master’s business a good friend can know. Coffman cautions us saying that this “…is not an excuse for Christians to abandon the concept of themselves as bond slaves of Christ (Rom. 1:1).” 27 In the New Testament, Christians are called sons of God (1 Jn. 3:1) and even joint-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). However, the most common designation of Christians in the New Testament is servants or slaves of God (Gk. doulous). It is safe for us to always keep that perspective and be willing to do the hard work for the Lord as he requires.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit— fruit that will last— and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you” (15:16). There are no volunteers in God’s army. Each soldier is especially chosen. The purpose of God’s choice for each saint is that they bear spiritual fruit. We remember the model of this chapter, fruit…more fruit…much fruit. When the Lord returns he will not be looking for gifts, for they are but his investment in the harvest. Rather, he will be looking for fruit (e.g. Gal. 5:22-23). We need to ask ourselves what we are producing. Do we only have sour grapes on our vines? Are our trees only producing prunes and crabapples? Some trees may have fruit but the worms have gotten to it and the storms of life have bruised and battered it. The Lord is looking for fruit that will last and survive to the end of the age.
“This is my command: Love each other” (15:17). This is the trademark of the Lord’s people.28 As John says, “the observation of it alone is sufficient.”
LOVED BY GOD BUT HATED BY THE WORLD
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” John 15:18
Now Jesus begins to deal with the topic of Christian persecution. The world hated Jesus and he now assures us that if we truly love him the world will hate us also. Apparently the devil was quick to supply the pagans with imaginary reasons for hating the Christians. They were charged with being cannibals because they supposedly ate the body and drank the blood of Jesus. They were charged with flagrant immorality because they joined in the love feast and gave each other the kiss of peace. They were charged with disrupting family relationships because family groups were often divided over the faith.29 All these were lies but they well served the purpose of the God haters.
Jesus said there would be problems and there were (cf. Matt.10:23-29; Mk. 13:9-13; Lk. 12:2-9; 51-53). Jewish believers began to be cast out of the synagogues and this was tantamount to being cast totally out of society. By the time John wrote, the persecution had become life-threatening across the empire. By his time Caesar had become deified and it was required of loyal Romans to offer a sacrifice of incense to him as God once each year. When this was accomplished, a certificate was given to the one offering.30 Of course, Christians could not make such an idolatrous sacrifice. As a result believers were severely persecuted and even martyred.
We must not think that Christians were only persecuted in the early centuries of the church. Peter warned: “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” (1 Pet. 4:12-13).
Throughout the history of Christianity there has been a trail of righteous blood. Already, for the bulk of Christians today, persecution is an unpleasant reality. The organization Open Doors in its World Watch tells us that “More Christians were martyred in the twentieth century than in all previous centuries combined.” 31 John L. Allen, Jr. in his book The Global War on Christians, tells us that 80 percent of all discrimination today is targeted against Christians.32 We need to remember that the civilized world is not white and English-speaking and that most Christians today are people of color. Allen points out how “Three-quarters of the world’s population, meaning 5:25 billion people, live in countries with significant restrictions on religious freedom.” 33 We can see the screws tightening down on our easy-going Christianity in the West. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago recently expressed his opinion about this. He said, “I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison, and his successor will die a martyr in the public square.” 34
Kostenberger says, “Many Christians live in a cocoon that enables them to go through life almost completely insulated, without even having to deal with non-Christians.” 35 He is speaking of western Christianity of course and that situation is fast drawing to a close. If we look carefully at the Book of Revelation we will see that persecution of Christians will become worldwide in scope and demonic in its direction. Billions of people will die and there will be millions of Christian martyrs before all is ended by Christ’s appearance.
“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (15:19). The world will love its own, even as it destroys them. The law of Christ condemns the world and makes it exceedingly nervous. Therefore the world hates Christianity and everything connected with it. As Pett says, “The world likes a little bit of goodness, but not too much, for then it becomes a nuisance and interferes with their plans. So the disciples should not be surprised to find themselves hated.” 36
“Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me” (15:20-21). The servant and master comparison is repeated from 13:16. People will treat Christians as they treat their Master. If we are sincere believers we cannot really expect to be treated any better than Jesus was treated. That is why Jesus promises each of us a cross to bear (Matt. 10:38). As Pett says, “The world is consistent. Where it hates the Master, it hates those who are like the Master.” 37
Barker and Kohlenberger mention two reasons for the world’s hatred. They say, “The first is ignorance: the world does not have a proper concept of God…This ignorance is both intellectual and spiritual. The second reason is resentment of Jesus’ claims and standards…He uncovers the inner corruption and hypocrisy of people, and they react violently to this disclosure.” 38
“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin” (15:22). The Bible says that specific sin is not chargeable unless there is law (Rom. 5:13). Jesus came to earth as the Living Word and as the Living Law. By his presence he brought people’s sins to light. At that moment they became guilty of sin (cf. 9:41). Coffman says that the wicked desire to be left alone (cf. Mk. 1:24).39 Thus for the wicked the presence of Jesus was a troubling thing. Later the author of Hebrews will encourage us with these words: “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Heb. 12:3).
“Whoever hates me hates my Father as well” (15:23). The Jews by hating Jesus became haters of their own God. The underlying problem today with the people of this world is that they really hate God. Therefore, they hate his Christ, his word and his people. Pett explains it: “He who hates the One who is a true revealer of the Father also hates the Father.” 40
HATING WITHOUT CAUSE
If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. John 15:24
As we have said, specific sin is chargeable only where there is law. Jesus, with his words and also with his mighty acts caused the witnesses of these things to become guilty of sin. It may well be that this was an underlying reason why Jesus often spoke in parables. People could only be charged with what they could understand. Because Jesus did so much teaching and worked so many miracles in the cities of Capernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida, these cities became especially cursed for their unbelief (Matt. 11:21; Lk. 10:13). Because of their sin and unbelief people began to hate Jesus.
“But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’ (15:25). This is a reference to Psalm 69:4, how people in early times hated God without any cause for doing so. The secret underlying cause was revealed in John 3:19: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” Pfeiffer and Harrison say, “The very scriptures which the Jews gloried in rose up to condemn them…” 41
THE COUNSELOR AND GOD’S TESTIMONY
When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father— the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father— he will testify about me. John 15:26
The Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Counselor, the Comforter and Paraclete was about to be sent to the Lord’s people. He would continue the ministry of Jesus. He would cause people to witness. The Advocate could not be sent as long as Jesus was in the world. Thus it was good for the disciples that he would make his departure.
“And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning” (15:27). This is a troubling subject for Christians living comfortably in the West today. It has been reported by Prophecy Today that “…less than a quarter of adults attending church are motivated to evangelize or even to witness.” 42 However, in other parts of the world there is much witness. David Reagan in his book God’s Plan For The Ages, says:
In 1900 there were only 10 million Christians in Africa. Today there are more than 350 million. Latin America is being swept by revival. In China, 25,000 people per day are accepting Jesus as their Savior. Among Muslims, more have been converted to Jesus in the last 20 years than in the previous 1,000 years.43
In many places the Holy Spirit fires are burning today. Philip Jenkins gives us some more examples: “The number of Christians in the whole of Korea was only 300,000 or so in 1920, but this has now risen to 10 million or 12 million, about a quarter of the national population.” He says, “At least 40 percent of Nigerians are currently Christian, some 50 million people.” 44
In the West, as foolish sons and daughters, we sleep on through the harvest (Prov. 10:5). What are we missing? Why are we not out witnessing for our Lord? Barclay puts his finger on our problem. He says: “Christian witness comes from long fellowship and intimacy with Christ…We can witness for Christ only when we have been with him…There can be no effective Christian witness without this inner conviction which comes from personal intimacy with Christ.” 45 Our problem is that we are just not close enough to Jesus and to his Holy Spirit.