WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.140 Well, today we continue our series looking at the Gospel of John, where we've been looking at the heart of Jesus. 00:00:11.439 --> 00:00:15.740 And today we'll be reading from John 15, verses 1 through 17. 00:00:16.379 --> 00:00:22.260 And we'll see in these passages how this focuses on the latter days of Jesus' ministry. 00:00:22.260 --> 00:00:25.500 Jesus has come into Jerusalem for the Passover. 00:00:25.740 --> 00:00:28.859 He has just celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples. 00:00:28.859 --> 00:00:37.119 And now he's literally in his final hours before he is going to be betrayed, arrested, convicted, and crucified. 00:00:37.820 --> 00:00:45.439 So we see in this passage Jesus' heart as we see what he finds most crucial to communicate to his disciples. 00:00:46.579 --> 00:00:55.739 So before we read this passage, I want to say one of the blessings that I have experienced with my family in the last year or so is being able to read books aloud. 00:00:55.740 --> 00:01:03.020 And though my wife and I, Rachel, we've read to our children since they've been born, we've kind of graduated to a new level. 00:01:03.140 --> 00:01:05.040 Our children are 7, 6, and 3. 00:01:05.159 --> 00:01:16.260 And now we've gone to the point where we can actually dig into some good classic children's literature and have the children sit transfixed as they hear about mystery and fantasy. 00:01:16.260 --> 00:01:19.460 Things like the Chronicles of Narnia or Harry Potter. 00:01:20.260 --> 00:01:27.800 A classic that we actually just finished over the recent holiday was The Secret Garden, a book by Francis Hodges Burnett. 00:01:28.439 --> 00:01:30.180 And you may be familiar with the story. 00:01:30.300 --> 00:01:34.680 It takes place in the early 20th century in Yorkshire, England. 00:01:35.240 --> 00:01:39.240 And the main character in this book is a girl named Mary Lennox. 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:49.459 Mary grew up in India to wealthy British parents, although she was largely unloved and uncared for in her youth. 00:01:49.859 --> 00:01:58.759 When her parents end up dying in India, she is shipped back to England to live with her uncle in the Yorkshire countryside in his large state. 00:01:59.759 --> 00:02:05.840 And so the story follows Mary as she adjusts to a new lifestyle and a new culture and to a new landscape. 00:02:05.840 --> 00:02:10.000 She makes friends with a boy in the village named Dickon. 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:14.780 She realizes she has a cousin who's very sickly, Colin, who lives in the same house. 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:17.659 And the story follows them as they develop this friendship. 00:02:18.099 --> 00:02:25.300 And as Mary discovers the secret garden in her uncle's estate, one day she's walking and she discovers a key that's buried in the ground. 00:02:25.560 --> 00:02:31.159 And she uses that key eventually to find this hidden door, which leads to this secret garden. 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:40.500 And so we see in this story the work that Mary does with her friends to bring life into this garden that had been largely neglected. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:45.479 We see the fruitfulness that comes through pruning and cleaning. 00:02:45.639 --> 00:02:48.219 And that's the same theme that we're going to see in this passage today. 00:02:48.379 --> 00:02:52.180 We see that Jesus refers to himself as the true vine. 00:02:52.300 --> 00:02:57.199 He talks about the fruitfulness that we have in him when we are his branches. 00:02:57.199 --> 00:03:03.159 So let's read together from John 15, verses 1 through 17. 00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:57.179 It says, 00:03:57.199 --> 00:04:22.339 My command is this. 00:04:22.339 --> 00:04:25.060 Love each other as I have loved you. 00:04:25.899 --> 00:04:29.899 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 00:04:30.799 --> 00:04:33.399 You are my friends if you do what I command. 00:04:34.339 --> 00:04:39.979 I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know his master's business. 00:04:40.699 --> 00:04:46.139 Instead, I have called you friends for everything I have learned from my Father I have made known to you. 00:04:46.139 --> 00:04:53.459 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that lasts. 00:04:54.419 --> 00:04:57.159 Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:04:58.899 This is my command. 00:04:59.579 --> 00:05:00.959 Love each other. 00:05:01.919 --> 00:05:03.039 This is the word of God. 00:05:03.120 --> 00:05:03.620 Pray with me. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:05.599 Lord, we thank you for this passage. 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:13.060 We pray now that you will open our eyes and open our ears to see what you desire to communicate to us, 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:16.620 especially with a passage that we are familiar with, God. 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:19.879 May you make it alive in our hearts. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:21.780 Bless our time together in the word this morning. 00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:22.879 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:23.040 Amen. 00:05:25.540 --> 00:05:30.560 And so we see in this passage that Jesus refers to himself as the true vine. 00:05:31.459 --> 00:05:35.779 In the book, in the Gospel of John, we've seen that Jesus made several I am statements. 00:05:35.939 --> 00:05:40.420 This is actually the seventh and final statement that's recorded in the Gospel of John. 00:05:40.639 --> 00:05:45.740 And as we've heard throughout this series that Jesus says that I am the bread of life. 00:05:46.159 --> 00:05:48.560 He says, I am the light of the world. 00:05:48.860 --> 00:05:50.000 I am the gate. 00:05:50.459 --> 00:05:51.740 I am the good shepherd. 00:05:51.740 --> 00:05:54.240 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:05:54.420 --> 00:05:56.280 I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:05:56.939 --> 00:06:00.960 And finally, in this passage, we see Jesus say, I am the true vine. 00:06:01.939 --> 00:06:06.420 You see, in each of these statements that Jesus makes, he's revealing to us his character. 00:06:06.840 --> 00:06:13.019 He's revealing to us that he is the Messiah that has been prophesied, that has come to save his people. 00:06:13.579 --> 00:06:18.000 And so what I want to focus on today, in part, is looking at the character of Jesus. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:22.720 When we see him as the true vine, what does that reveal to us about his character? 00:06:23.720 --> 00:06:29.319 But not only that, I want us to see what Jesus is calling us to as his people as well. 00:06:29.480 --> 00:06:34.259 So we'll focus on the character of Jesus and also the calling of his people. 00:06:34.259 --> 00:06:46.219 So as we look to the character of Jesus and see him described as the true vine, we recognize that Jesus has been using these metaphors that would be very familiar to someone in that time period. 00:06:46.220 --> 00:06:56.180 As James had talked about earlier, when Jesus says, I am the good shepherd, we recognize that living in agrarian society, people would be around sheep often. 00:06:56.300 --> 00:06:57.520 They'd know what a shepherd does. 00:06:57.660 --> 00:07:03.300 Likewise, when he talks about a vineyard, people would know about vines and about grapes and how to produce wine. 00:07:04.240 --> 00:07:09.540 But that's not the only reason that Jesus uses this symbol to say that he is the true vine. 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:15.240 It's important because the vine is actually a very important symbol within Israel's history. 00:07:15.420 --> 00:07:20.939 We see in the Old Testament repeatedly that Israel is referred to as the vine. 00:07:21.520 --> 00:07:26.740 If we were to read from Psalms 80, starting in verse 8, it says this, 00:07:26.740 --> 00:07:28.640 You brought a vine out of Egypt. 00:07:29.120 --> 00:07:31.379 You drove out the nations and planted it. 00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:35.060 You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. 00:07:35.560 --> 00:07:39.259 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. 00:07:40.140 --> 00:07:42.080 It sent out its boughs to the sea. 00:07:42.180 --> 00:07:44.840 It shoots as far as the river. 00:07:46.340 --> 00:07:53.140 If you're not familiar with the story of the Old Testament, we see early on that God comes to a man named Abram. 00:07:53.460 --> 00:07:58.640 And he says that he has chosen him to be God's people, he and his family. 00:07:58.900 --> 00:08:04.780 He says that his descendants are going to number the stars and that through his family, the nations will be blessed. 00:08:04.779 --> 00:08:14.959 So Israel is the descendants of Abraham, and they are who is called the vine in this passage. 00:08:15.699 --> 00:08:27.759 However, every time that we see a vine described in this Old Testament, we also see an element of unfaithfulness that follows and judgment that follows that. 00:08:27.759 --> 00:08:32.200 If we go to verse 16 of chapter 80 in Psalms, it says, 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:33.720 Your vine is cut down. 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:35.539 It is burned with fire. 00:08:36.139 --> 00:08:38.779 At your rebuke, your people perish. 00:08:38.779 --> 00:08:45.500 We see that judgment that comes because Israel is not being fruitful as God has intended. 00:08:45.899 --> 00:08:50.839 They have not been a blessing to the nations as God had wanted them to be. 00:08:50.919 --> 00:08:55.480 Instead, they have lived comfortable, isolated, inward-facing lives. 00:08:55.480 --> 00:09:00.320 And so Jesus steps in and he says something quite radical here. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:04.220 He's actually replacing himself as the vine. 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:06.259 He says, No longer is Israel the vine. 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:07.899 I am the true vine. 00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:20.120 And we recognize that in substituting himself for Israel, he's taking the place because Israel and fulfilling what Israel has failed to be. 00:09:21.139 --> 00:09:25.240 And this would essentially be pretty jarring for a Jew in that day and age. 00:09:25.240 --> 00:09:29.560 Many of whom find their connection to God based on their ethnicity. 00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:32.200 And Jesus is saying, Your heritage doesn't matter anymore. 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:35.259 It's not the law-keeping that you do. 00:09:35.340 --> 00:09:36.180 It's not your customs. 00:09:36.360 --> 00:09:41.259 All that matters to be a true Israelite is to be connected to me. 00:09:41.960 --> 00:09:47.620 Jesus is essentially stripping them of their identity and the security that they thought they had in God. 00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:51.500 And I think we see that nowadays as well. 00:09:51.500 --> 00:10:01.840 I mean, we have people in our culture or maybe even within the church who think they are connected to God simply because they grew up in the church or they attend church occasionally. 00:10:02.320 --> 00:10:04.980 Maybe they think they're a good person or they try to do good things. 00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:05.899 And Jesus says, No. 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:08.200 It's not your past good works. 00:10:08.279 --> 00:10:13.980 It's not your half-hearted acquiescence to Christianity or the church that is going to save you. 00:10:13.980 --> 00:10:16.740 It's your connection to me. 00:10:16.740 --> 00:10:20.019 And so that's what we see about Jesus in this passage. 00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:23.940 As the true vine, he says he is the giver of true life. 00:10:24.919 --> 00:10:28.039 And so what does that mean for us as his people? 00:10:28.360 --> 00:10:33.580 What is his calling for us if Jesus is the vine and we are to be his branches? 00:10:34.899 --> 00:10:38.639 Well, it says that we are to remain in him. 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:42.059 If we look at verse 4, it says, Remain in me and I will remain in you. 00:10:42.360 --> 00:10:44.199 No branch can bear fruit by itself. 00:10:44.299 --> 00:10:45.799 It must remain in the vine. 00:10:46.379 --> 00:10:49.639 Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:56.519 We see this verb remain over and over again in this passage. 00:10:56.659 --> 00:10:58.460 Some Bibles translate it as abide. 00:10:59.419 --> 00:11:04.120 And so God is asking us to or calling us to abide in him. 00:11:04.120 --> 00:11:08.240 It's a really natural position for a branch to have, right? 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:10.120 I mean, this is what a branch does. 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:13.560 A branch doesn't grow apart from the vine and then somehow connected in. 00:11:14.019 --> 00:11:18.799 A branch gets its life from the vine in order to grow and be fruitful and to prosper. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:22.820 The same for us in that God is the giver. 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:24.620 Jesus is the giver of life. 00:11:25.299 --> 00:11:28.120 And it's that through him that we experience fruitfulness. 00:11:28.720 --> 00:11:31.960 And not only is Jesus in us, as it says in this passage, 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:37.980 or that we are to be in him, but he says also that he is in us. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:43.100 If we were to look back just at the previous chapter where Jesus is continuing this conversation 00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:46.360 with his disciples in John 14, 11, he says, 00:11:46.560 --> 00:11:49.240 I am in the Father and the Father is in me. 00:11:49.780 --> 00:11:54.680 It's the same parallel sentence structure that he's using now to communicate that we are in Jesus. 00:11:54.679 --> 00:12:02.099 So recognize that Jesus is welcoming us into the same relationship that he has with the Father. 00:12:02.859 --> 00:12:05.719 He's giving us access to the Father through himself. 00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:08.899 And so imagine the connectedness that we can have, 00:12:08.939 --> 00:12:12.299 the intimacy that we have with God the Father and God the Son. 00:12:12.459 --> 00:12:18.039 When we are in Jesus and Jesus is in us and Jesus is in the Father and the Father is in Jesus, 00:12:18.039 --> 00:12:23.439 we also have in verse 1, the Father referred to as the gardener who does the pruning. 00:12:24.319 --> 00:12:31.500 And so we are welcome into an intimate relationship with the triune God through the life of Jesus. 00:12:33.079 --> 00:12:35.959 But I think it's important to remember that when we think of abiding, 00:12:36.559 --> 00:12:41.179 that can easily be thrown around and kind of become a cliche in Christian circles, right? 00:12:41.179 --> 00:12:49.039 We can kind of think of abiding and think of it as a synonym for just resting or some excuse for passivity. 00:12:49.239 --> 00:12:51.059 That's not what Jesus intended here. 00:12:52.479 --> 00:12:58.839 Our ultimate expression of abiding in Jesus is not just some level of inward serenity. 00:12:59.459 --> 00:13:03.500 Because ultimately, God's glory is not fulfilled simply through our abiding. 00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:07.859 God's glory is fulfilled as a result of our abiding. 00:13:07.979 --> 00:13:09.240 And that's what we see Jesus say. 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:13.080 Not only does he call us to abide, but he calls us to bear fruit, 00:13:13.180 --> 00:13:16.299 the natural consequence of being in Christ. 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.799 And so we look at verse 5. 00:13:18.899 --> 00:13:21.720 It says, I am the vine and you are the branches. 00:13:22.340 --> 00:13:25.860 If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:28.399 Apart from me, he can do nothing. 00:13:29.500 --> 00:13:31.340 It's really a quite simple equation, right? 00:13:31.560 --> 00:13:34.120 If we are in Jesus, we will bear fruit. 00:13:34.600 --> 00:13:37.740 If we're not in Jesus, we are not going to bear fruit. 00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:42.500 One of the surprises that we had when we arrived in Edinburgh, 00:13:42.700 --> 00:13:45.659 we discovered we had an apple tree in our garden. 00:13:46.399 --> 00:13:49.279 And especially because we had to quarantine for two weeks when we arrived, 00:13:49.379 --> 00:13:54.240 it actually provided a lot of entertainment for the kids to be able to pick apples and eat these apples. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:59.060 And it was a great time to arrive with a tree just heavy laden with them. 00:13:59.059 --> 00:14:05.859 But what do you think, though, if I thought that or knew that you liked apples? 00:14:06.719 --> 00:14:13.419 And so next season, I decide, well, I want to share my apples with others in Beclew. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:18.919 So I decide, say, in June to go out to my apple tree and I cut off a limb and bring it to your house. 00:14:19.199 --> 00:14:23.059 And I say, this doesn't have any apples on it yet, but hold on to it for a few months. 00:14:23.139 --> 00:14:26.759 Put it in the sun, maybe get a little water, and you're going to have some great apples. 00:14:26.759 --> 00:14:29.580 Of course, you look at me like I'm crazy, right? 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:34.139 Because we recognize that a branch that's not connected to the tree is not going to bear fruit. 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:37.200 There's not going to be any apples. It's going to shrivel and die. 00:14:37.559 --> 00:14:42.580 And that's exactly what Jesus says happens to those who don't abide in him. 00:14:44.700 --> 00:14:47.539 And he says what happens when we are fruitless. 00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:49.819 He makes it very clear if we look in verse 2. 00:14:49.939 --> 00:14:54.519 It says, he, referring to the Father, cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit. 00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:56.819 If we jump to verse 6, it says, 00:14:57.139 --> 00:15:02.899 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. 00:15:03.379 --> 00:15:07.299 Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire, and burned. 00:15:08.360 --> 00:15:12.000 We see that the sole purpose of the branch is to bear fruit. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:13.439 And it makes sense, right? 00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:16.659 I mean, when you think about a vine, it's a pretty utilitarian plant, right? 00:15:16.960 --> 00:15:18.840 You can't use it to make lumber. 00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:21.360 It's not a really attractive plant. 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:23.360 It doesn't provide a whole lot of shade. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:26.000 If it's not producing fruit, it's really useless. 00:15:27.100 --> 00:15:30.460 And if we had time to go back to the Old Testament in the book of Ezekiel, 00:15:30.980 --> 00:15:33.100 God actually says through the prophet Ezekiel, 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:36.039 He calls Jerusalem a useless vine. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:40.139 And He calls them that because of the fact that they are not being fruitful. 00:15:40.919 --> 00:15:44.080 And as a result, they are going to face judgment. 00:15:45.460 --> 00:15:48.360 And so that's that same judgment that we see in these verses, 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:54.100 that when a branch is not producing fruit, it will be picked up and thrown into the fire and burned. 00:15:54.100 --> 00:16:00.360 And I think that's easy to gloss over, but I think it's important to recognize that those who are not in Christ are not safe. 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:02.419 There's no safe middle ground here. 00:16:02.419 --> 00:16:07.459 If we're not in Christ, there is coming judgment. 00:16:07.460 --> 00:16:15.280 But not only that, the second part of verse 2, it says, 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:26.779 We see that this is God's desire for our lives, that we may be fruitful, 00:16:26.959 --> 00:16:34.079 that others, outsiders, non-believers will recognize the goodness of God through the fruit that we produce. 00:16:34.080 --> 00:16:41.080 And so we need to look at what does it mean to be fruitful and how are we to be fruitful. 00:16:41.200 --> 00:16:44.500 That's really what the second part of this passage focuses on. 00:16:44.840 --> 00:16:50.840 And so I'd like to focus on two things, two main ways that we can be fruitful in our relationship with God. 00:16:51.440 --> 00:16:54.060 The first being communication with God. 00:16:54.500 --> 00:16:58.340 And the second, a love for Jesus and a love for others. 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:02.580 So let's look at communication first, starting in verse 7. 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:03.840 It says, 00:17:04.019 --> 00:17:15.740 It's interesting because Jesus had just said, if we remain in him, he remains in us. 00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:19.319 And now he says, if we remain in him, his words remain in us. 00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:23.900 So Jesus is essentially equating himself with the word. 00:17:24.819 --> 00:17:27.960 Which is not surprising if we're familiar with the Gospel of John, right? 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:31.819 Because we see that this is a theme that's repeated throughout this Gospel. 00:17:32.579 --> 00:17:35.639 That Jesus is referred to as the word. 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:39.259 In John 1, 1 John 1 says, 00:17:39.399 --> 00:17:43.319 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. 00:17:43.699 --> 00:17:44.519 John 1, 14, 00:17:44.599 --> 00:17:47.339 And the word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:50.119 Jesus equates himself with the word. 00:17:50.299 --> 00:17:57.000 Jesus and his revelation are virtually interchangeable because Jesus is the incarnate revelation. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:18:00.220 And so this is essentially what he's telling his disciples. 00:18:00.380 --> 00:18:02.319 Look, you've been with me for three years. 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:04.099 You've seen my public ministry. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:05.039 You've heard me preach. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:06.039 You've seen me do miracles. 00:18:06.200 --> 00:18:08.519 We've had private conversations and meals together. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:11.779 You should understand what my true character is. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:16.000 My word is the sum total of everything that I have told you. 00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:18.319 So abide in my word. 00:18:18.319 --> 00:18:21.579 And so that goes for us as well. 00:18:21.659 --> 00:18:26.079 Though we don't have Jesus in the flesh in front of us today, we do have the Bible. 00:18:26.980 --> 00:18:28.899 God's mean of communication with us. 00:18:29.439 --> 00:18:34.039 And we should have that same desire for his word to sink in deeply. 00:18:34.039 --> 00:18:36.879 That we may study it and know it and meditate on it. 00:18:37.919 --> 00:18:43.379 You know, when my wife and I were dating, we dated for three years in university before we got married. 00:18:43.700 --> 00:18:45.620 And one summer we had to spend the summer apart. 00:18:45.740 --> 00:18:47.900 I was doing an internship in South Carolina. 00:18:48.340 --> 00:18:52.680 My wife was in Northern California working at a very remote Christian camp. 00:18:53.800 --> 00:18:58.980 And where there was no internet, there was no cell phone service, our only means of communication was through letter writing that summer. 00:18:59.260 --> 00:19:03.580 And I remember the eagerness and anticipation I had to receive some of her letters. 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:06.840 And when I got that letter, I would tear it open and I'd read it. 00:19:07.240 --> 00:19:08.300 And I'd read it again. 00:19:08.400 --> 00:19:09.320 And I'd read it again. 00:19:09.319 --> 00:19:14.439 Then, if I didn't get a letter that day, I'd go back to a previous letter that I got and I'd read that letter. 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:16.019 The same went for Rachel. 00:19:16.179 --> 00:19:18.439 You know, we wanted to know what the other person was doing. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:19.939 We wanted to know their heart. 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:26.099 And so we should approach the gospel in the same way, with the same hunger and eagerness. 00:19:27.099 --> 00:19:33.139 You know, we just talked about in the student Bible study just last week as how to study the Bible. 00:19:33.140 --> 00:19:39.080 And one of the postures that we should have when we approach the gospel is a sense of desperation and hunger. 00:19:40.020 --> 00:19:42.960 We read from Jeremiah 15, 16, which says, 00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:45.580 Your word came and I ate them. 00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:48.200 They were my joy and my heart's delight. 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:54.280 So if we want to be in communion with God, if we want to bear fruit, we have to be in his word. 00:19:54.600 --> 00:19:57.120 And not only that, it's a two-way communication, right? 00:19:57.160 --> 00:20:02.460 If we are going to listen to God through his word, we have a means of communication through prayer to him. 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:07.180 And verse 7 ends, Ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you. 00:20:08.039 --> 00:20:10.279 That's an amazing promise that we have, right? 00:20:11.340 --> 00:20:17.140 But before we start thinking of Jesus as some sort of genie in a bottle, 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:21.920 and he's going to start delivering our truckloads of cash that we request, right? 00:20:22.120 --> 00:20:25.340 Let's think about the fact that he has called us to be branches. 00:20:26.460 --> 00:20:28.779 And so what does a branch want? 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.559 What would a branch request? 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:32.359 It would be fruitfulness. 00:20:33.179 --> 00:20:35.639 It would be life through the vine, right? 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:44.299 And so when we are in the word and the word is in us, 00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:50.619 our desires are going to completely align with Jesus' desires. 00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:52.960 Our wills will be the same. 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:58.039 And so I think that's important to see because the ultimate result of that, 00:20:58.120 --> 00:21:01.660 it says in verse 8, is going to be the Father's glory. 00:21:03.340 --> 00:21:06.819 And so not only do we bear fruit through communication with God, 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:10.720 but we bear fruit through love for Jesus and for others. 00:21:11.860 --> 00:21:15.039 Let's look at verse 9 through verse 11. 00:21:15.039 --> 00:21:17.659 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:19.079 Now remain in my love. 00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:21.879 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, 00:21:21.980 --> 00:21:25.839 just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:31.180 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:37.060 We see, first of all, that our love for Jesus is marked by obedience. 00:21:37.360 --> 00:21:39.740 The two are naturally connected. 00:21:41.180 --> 00:21:46.380 Again, if we were to turn back to John 14, 23, the previous chapter, 00:21:46.519 --> 00:21:49.460 it says, if anyone, Jesus says, if anyone remains, 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:53.480 excuse me, if anyone loves me, he keeps my commands. 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:57.240 And we just see in this verse, verse 10, 00:21:57.240 --> 00:22:01.019 if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. 00:22:01.940 --> 00:22:05.960 So our love for Christ motivates us to obey, 00:22:06.880 --> 00:22:10.960 and our obedience to Christ demonstrates our love. 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:16.140 And this is an obedience that is ultimately going to bring joy, as it says. 00:22:16.660 --> 00:22:20.100 In verse 11, that our joy may be made complete. 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:23.120 So this isn't a half-hearted obedience. 00:22:23.860 --> 00:22:26.980 This isn't a begrudging obedience. 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:30.320 This is obedience that comes with joy. 00:22:30.319 --> 00:22:34.759 Not that obedience is always easy, but we recognize that as we obey, 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:40.379 we are motivated by God's love and filled with his joy. 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:45.059 Not only is our love to be obedient love, 00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:49.299 but we see it as supposed to be self-sacrificing love as well. 00:22:49.299 --> 00:23:03.839 Jesus is foreshadowing his own death that is to come in a matter of hours, 00:23:04.639 --> 00:23:07.819 where he will give his life as a ransom for many. 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:13.679 And so this is the amazing reality of the God that we love and that we serve, 00:23:13.759 --> 00:23:16.220 that he would send his son to live a perfect life, 00:23:16.599 --> 00:23:17.659 die a horrible death, 00:23:18.619 --> 00:23:19.919 be raised from the dead, 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:23.240 because of his great self-sacrificing, 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:26.700 unconditional love for sinners like us. 00:23:26.700 --> 00:23:32.380 And so it's through that love that he wants us also to love others. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:37.160 Our love for others should be an outpouring of Christ's love for us. 00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:41.759 Not because other people deserve it, but because God deserves it. 00:23:43.240 --> 00:23:46.759 And lastly, our love must be an attractive love. 00:23:46.759 --> 00:23:49.200 Verse 16, 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:54.119 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit, 00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:55.819 fruit that will last. 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:59.539 Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:02.259 This is my command, love each other. 00:24:03.660 --> 00:24:09.619 See, our relationship with Jesus is not meant to be a comfortable little bubble. 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:14.839 Jesus' love by its very nature invites others in. 00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:21.399 We see in this passage that Jesus is actually using it as a commissioning of sort to his disciples. 00:24:22.379 --> 00:24:25.279 Jesus knows that he's going to be departing from his disciples. 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:28.459 And these are the final instructions that he's giving them, 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.959 what their mission should be, 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:31.500 that they should go out, 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:36.779 that he has appointed them to go out to love others, to bear fruit. 00:24:38.679 --> 00:24:40.659 And so it should be with us as well, right? 00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:42.500 Us as the church, 00:24:42.500 --> 00:24:45.559 we have God's mission to be fruitful, 00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:48.519 to show the world our love, 00:24:49.359 --> 00:24:55.140 that they may recognize and be able to taste and see that the Lord is good. 00:24:56.500 --> 00:24:59.440 You know, I started by talking about the secret garden, 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:02.200 and this was a wonderful ending to this book. 00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:04.700 I want to read just a passage from it. 00:25:04.700 --> 00:25:06.940 We see that the book concludes, 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:10.140 the story ends with Mary in this garden, 00:25:10.259 --> 00:25:12.960 with her friend Dickon and her cousin Colin. 00:25:13.900 --> 00:25:15.160 And through all their work, 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:17.660 and they recognize the fruitfulness of their labor. 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:20.140 They see a garden that they're surrounded by, 00:25:20.360 --> 00:25:21.779 that's in full bloom. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.400 Not only that, 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:27.480 but they recognize the transformation that's occurred from death to life in the garden, 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:28.799 and also in their own lives. 00:25:28.920 --> 00:25:29.319 And Colin, 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:29.880 who had been, 00:25:30.220 --> 00:25:30.759 excuse me, 00:25:30.900 --> 00:25:31.019 yeah, 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:31.360 Colin, 00:25:31.440 --> 00:25:33.779 who had been an invalid for most of his life, 00:25:33.839 --> 00:25:34.539 he stands, 00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:35.640 and he says, 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.339 I feel, 00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:39.680 I feel as if I want to shout out something, 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:41.259 something thankful, 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:42.420 joyful. 00:25:43.860 --> 00:25:44.759 Ben Weatherstaff, 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:45.460 who's a gardener, 00:25:45.480 --> 00:25:47.440 suggests that he sing the doxology. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:49.740 But because Dickon, 00:25:49.960 --> 00:25:50.400 or excuse me, 00:25:50.440 --> 00:25:52.620 Colin had not ever been to church, 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.880 had never heard the doxology, 00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:54.900 he didn't know how to sing it. 00:25:55.620 --> 00:25:56.320 And so Dickon, 00:25:56.380 --> 00:25:57.000 his friend, 00:25:58.000 --> 00:25:59.320 offers to sing it for him. 00:26:00.340 --> 00:26:02.720 Dickon stood out among the trees and rose bushes, 00:26:02.860 --> 00:26:05.680 and began to sing in quite a simple matter-of-fact way, 00:26:05.980 --> 00:26:07.920 and in a nice strong boy voice. 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:10.960 Praise God from whom all blessings flow. 00:26:11.700 --> 00:26:13.960 Praise him all creatures here below. 00:26:14.180 --> 00:26:16.600 Praise him above ye heavenly hosts. 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.779 Praise Father, 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:18.299 Son, 00:26:18.419 --> 00:26:19.259 and Holy Ghost. 00:26:20.119 --> 00:26:20.500 Amen. 00:26:21.299 --> 00:26:22.480 When he had finished, 00:26:23.179 --> 00:26:25.079 Colin's face was thoughtful and appreciative. 00:26:26.219 --> 00:26:26.919 Sing it again, 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.240 Dickon, 00:26:27.299 --> 00:26:27.799 he said. 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:28.959 Let us try, 00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:29.159 Mary. 00:26:29.219 --> 00:26:30.099 I want to sing it too. 00:26:30.159 --> 00:26:30.939 It's my song. 00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:31.740 How does it begin? 00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:33.939 Praise God from whom all blessings flow. 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:36.439 And they sang it again, 00:26:37.000 --> 00:26:40.379 and Mary and Colin lifted their voices as musically as they could, 00:26:41.219 --> 00:26:44.740 and Dickon's swelled quite loud and beautiful. 00:26:46.599 --> 00:26:50.839 And so may that be our desire as God's people, 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:53.919 that an unbelieving world will see our fruit, 00:26:54.539 --> 00:26:56.179 a product of God's love, 00:26:56.679 --> 00:26:59.240 and desire to give glory to the Father. 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:04.900 If you're here today or listening online and you are not a believer, 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:09.019 I want you to recognize that there's no safe ground. 00:27:10.539 --> 00:27:13.299 Jesus desires a relationship with us. 00:27:13.819 --> 00:27:15.480 If we remain outside Jesus, 00:27:15.620 --> 00:27:17.000 there is coming judgment. 00:27:18.279 --> 00:27:20.819 But God welcomes us in through his Son, 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:23.720 that we may remain in Christ and Christ in us. 00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:26.620 That is the source of true life. 00:27:28.140 --> 00:27:31.200 Maybe you're someone who considers yourself a Christian. 00:27:31.500 --> 00:27:33.259 You like to do good things. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:36.240 You occasionally come to church, 00:27:36.600 --> 00:27:38.799 but there's no real fruit in your life. 00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:42.700 Recognize that all your efforts, 00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:47.400 all your labor is in vain when we're not connected to the true vine. 00:27:47.400 --> 00:27:50.840 I would encourage you to examine your life, 00:27:50.920 --> 00:27:55.240 to see if you are truly connected to Jesus, our vine. 00:27:56.420 --> 00:27:57.900 And lastly, if you are a believer, 00:27:58.060 --> 00:27:59.120 if you are bearing fruit, 00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:01.540 if you are connected to the true vine, 00:28:01.620 --> 00:28:04.180 I encourage you, continue bearing fruit. 00:28:05.100 --> 00:28:06.620 God wants us to bear more fruit. 00:28:06.700 --> 00:28:07.759 Be ready for pruning. 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:11.340 Though it may be uncomfortable and difficult at times, 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:15.019 Jesus desires to see fruit in our lives. 00:28:15.019 --> 00:28:17.480 Not that we can be puffed up, 00:28:18.000 --> 00:28:20.220 but that our joy may be filled, 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:24.420 so that others may see our good works, 00:28:24.460 --> 00:28:25.639 that the nations may be blessed, 00:28:25.700 --> 00:28:27.200 and God would receive all the glory, 00:28:27.700 --> 00:28:28.319 and all the honor, 00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.460 and all the praise.