NLT Study Bible - Gospel of John - Flipbook - Page 42
John 15:8
1803
14:24
John 7:16; 14:10
14:26
John 1:33; 15:26;
16:7; 20:22
1 Jn 2:20, 27
hparakletos (3875)
John 15:26
14:27
John 16:33; 20:19
Phil 4:7
Col 3:15
ieirene (1515)
Acts 10:36
14:29
John 13:19
14:30
John 12:31
14:31
John 10:18; 12:49
15:1
Ps 80:8-11
Isa 5:1-7
jampelos (0288)
John 15:5
15:5
kampelos (0288)
Jas 3:12
15:6
Matt 3:10
15:8
Gal 5:22-23
you these things now while I am still with
you. 26But when the Father sends the hAd
vocate as my representative—that is, the
Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything
and will remind you of everything I have
told you.
27“I am leaving you with a gift—ipeace of
mind and heart. And the ipeace I give is a
gift the world cannot give. So don’t be trou
bled or afraid. 28Remember what I told you:
I am going away, but I will come back to you
again. If you really loved me, you would be
happy that I am going to the Father, who is
greater than I am. 29I have told you these
things before they happen so that when
they do happen, you will believe.
30“I don’t have much more time to talk
to you, because the ruler of this world ap
proaches. He has no power over me, 31but
I will do what the Father requires of me, so
that the world will know that I love the Fa
ther. Come, let’s be going.
Jesus, the True Vine of Israel
“I am the true jgrapev ine, and my
Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off
every branch of mine that doesn’t produce
fruit, and he prunes the branches that do
bear fruit so they will produce even more.
3You have already been pruned and purified
by the message I have given you. 4Remain in
me, and I will remain in you. For a branch
cannot produce fruit if it is severed from
the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless
you remain in me.
5“Yes, I am the k vine; you are the branches.
Those who remain in me, and I in them, will
produce much fruit. For apart from me you
can do nothing. 6Anyone who does not re
main in me is thrown away like a useless
branch and withers. Such branches are
gathered into a pile to be burned. 7But if
you remain in me and my words remain
in you, you may ask for anything you want,
and it will be granted! 8When you produce
15
Remaining in Christ (15:1-17)
John 6:56; 8:31
Exod 33:11; 34:28
Lev 8:35
Josh 7:11-12
1 Sam 16:22
2 Kgs 11:8
2 Chr 15:2
Ps 22:11, 19; 101:7
Dan 1:21; 2:49
Hag 2:5
Luke 15:31; 22:28
Phil 4:1
1 Jn 2:19, 27-28;
3:24
2 Jn 1:9
Rev 2:10; 13:10
One of Jesus’ favorite words was meno, often translated “remain,” “stay,” or “abide.” It
describes a profound, intimate, and enduring relationship. For example, Jesus said, “You are
truly my disciples if you remain faithful to [meno en, ‘stay in’] my teachings” (8:31). The idea
is that a disciple’s life is fully formed by Jesus’ word. Jesus described how the Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son (14:10-11). Likewise, when we remain in Christ, the Son is in
us and we are in the Father and the Son (17:21). Both the Father and the Son come and make
their home within his disciples. This mutual indwelling is precisely what it means that the
disciple remains in Christ. We cannot gain the permanence of our relationship by our own
effort; this relationship is only made permanent by the gracious initiative of God indwelling
our lives through his Spirit. This means commitment on the part of both God and the disciple.
The mutual indwelling between God and the believer is not a fleeting or temporary commitment, but an enduring, permanent, and eternal relationship (see 1 Jn 2:14, 17).
14:26 Jesus promised to send the Holy
Spirit (see also 14:16; 15:26; 16:7; 16:1214). The Spirit will teach . . . everything,
recalling Jesus’ words and clarifying
their meaning. John experienced this
power as he wrote his Gospel (2:22);
Christians experience this work of the
Spirit as they read the Scriptures.
14:27 The Jewish greeting peace
(Hebrew shalom) captured the spirit of
Jesus’ work on earth to restore humanity’s relationship with God (Isa 9:6-7;
52:7; 57:19; Rom 5:1). The resurrection
(14:28) and the Spirit were instrumental
in achieving this work.
14:28 the Father, who is greater than I
am: Jesus is subordinate to the Father
(see also 5:19-20), and yet is also one
with the Father (10:30).
14:30 The events unfolding in Jerusalem that led to the cross were not
controlled by the ruler of this world,
meaning Satan. The cross was not an
accident, and Jesus was not a helpless
victim. Rather, Jesus was obedient to
God’s plan.
15:1-27 Jesus prepared his disciples
for his departure, instructing them to
remain in close fellowship with him.
The image of a grapevine illustrates
both intimacy and fruitfulness. To
sustain genuine spiritual life in the
world, believers must remain intimately
connected to Christ.
15:1 I am: See note on 6:35. The grapevine and the vineyard traditionally
represented God’s people, planted and
tended by him in Israel (Ps 80:8-18; Isa
5:1-7; Jer 2:21; 12:10-11; Ezek 15:1-5;
Hos 10:1-2). When Jesus used this image,
he made an important departure: He
declared that he is the true grapevine,
and that a relationship with God
requires attachment to him.
15:2-3 Gardeners cut away dead
branches and trim healthy branches so
they will produce more fruit. Fruitfulness is the result of life-giving connection to the vine.
15:4 The term remain (Greek meno) is
key to understanding 15:4-10. A growing disciple, in whom the Father and
the Son live through the Spirit, must be
continuously connected to Christ (see
14:16-25; 15:26).
15:6 Anyone who does not remain in
Christ is separated from the vine and its
life. A living branch produces clusters of
grapes (15:5). Connection with the vine
allows the life of Jesus to flow fruitfully
through the disciple. Those who claim
to be attached to Christ but yield no
fruit are useless and will be burned.
15:7 Those whose lives are in harmony
with Jesus may ask for anything because their prayers are controlled by his
word. Their prayers will be answered
and bring glory to God (14:10-13).
