Unpacking John 15:1-11, part 4 - Vines and Words

Hi Ladies,

With the predominant metaphor of the vine, it is easy to miss another key point Jesus is making in this passage. That is, the importance of the word. Read the passage below, noting the bolded sections:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 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. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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. 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. 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. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 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. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:1-11)

"Already you are clean…" What did Jesus mean by this statement? It might seem out of place to us, but it wouldn't have been to the disciples. Just moments earlier in the upper room (in our chapter 13), Jesus and Peter have a dialogue about washing. We know this passage as the foot-washing passage. Peter is aghast that Jesus would wash his feet. But when Jesus says that those who are not washed "have no share in [Him]," Peter flips and wants his whole body washed! Jesus then says this: "'The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.' For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, 'Not all of you are clean.'" (13:10-11)

This passage makes clear what Jesus is talking about. Eleven of the disciples are already clean, because they have believed the words that Jesus has spoken to them. And they have chosen to follow Him. They have placed their faith and trust in Him and have been forgiven (because of the Cross, which was just about to happen!). 

Tying that in with the vine analogy, it's important to recognize the centrality of the Word in order to be placed into - attached to - Christ. "Faith comes through hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ." (Rom. 10:17) Jesus Christ is shown to be the living Word. (Jn. 1:1; Heb. 1:1-2) We must believe His words!

But note the second bolded phrase above. It's not enough to believe them once. These words must continue to abide in us. Christ abiding in us, and His words abiding in us are not two separate things. Or to say it another way, to abide in Him is to abide in His words. And the third bolded section shows us what this means. We must obey them. If they are abiding in us, we will be living them. Not perfectly, this side of glory! But just as the attached vine bears fruit, so those in Christ follow, walk in, live out His teaching. 

Lastly, note the final bolded section. Jesus - the Living Word - has spoken to us, not simply to create a contractual agreement for us to follow. Hardly! He has spoken these things so that His joy - the perfect joy He shares with the triune God - might be in us and fill us to overflowing. His words are not burdensome. They are for our good, for our ultimate delight! 

Do you view Jesus' words this way? 

Can we proclaim like the psalmist…

"In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word." 

Ps. 119:14-16

Let's pray for each other this week, that we might treasure His Words to us - remaining in them, submitting to them, and letting them fill us with a joy that far surpasses any earthly treasure. ❤️🙏🏼

Anna