NLT Study Bible - Gospel of John - Flipbook - Page 43
John 15:9
1804
much fruit, you are my true disciples. This
brings great glor y to my Father.
9“I have loved you even as the Father has
loved me. Remain in my alove. 10When you
obey my commandments, you remain in my
love, just as I obey my Father’s command
ments and remain in his love. 11I have told
you these things so that you will be filled
with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
12This is my commandment: Love each other
in the same way I have loved you. 13There is
no greater blove than to lay down one’s life
for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you
do what I command. 15I no longer call you
c
slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in
his cslaves. Now you are my friends, since I
have told you everything the Father told me.
16You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I ap
pointed you to go and produce lasting fruit,
so that the Father will give you whatever you
ask for, using my name. 17This is my com
mand: Love each other.
Jesus’ Disciples and the World
the world hates you, remember that it
hated me first. 19The world would love you
as one of its own if you belonged to it, but
you are no longer part of the world. I chose
you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
20Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave
is not greater than the master.’ Since they
persecuted me, naturally they will perse
cute you. And if they had listened to me,
they would listen to you. 21They will do all
this to you because of me, for they have re
jected the one who sent me. 22They would
18“If
15:8 True disciples will experience a
transformed, fruit-bearing life because
they live in a relationship of love with
both Jesus and the Father (15:9-10).
15:10 Just as Jesus demonstrated his
love for the Father by obeying his will
(14:31), Jesus’ disciples exhibit their
love through obedience to him (13:3435; 14:15; 1 Jn 2:5; 5:2-3).
15:12-13 This is my commandment:
Love each other: See 13:34. Jesus
demonstrated his love by sacrificing his
life at the cross.
15:14-16 Both Abraham and Moses
were called friends of God (Exod 33:11;
2 Chr 20:7; Isa 41:8; Jas 2:23). This is the
highest relationship possible between
God and a person. Jesus chooses his
friends (15:16), who demonstrate their
friendship by obeying him.
15:15 The disciples of a rabbi were
considered his servants or slaves. Jesus
elevated his followers to a higher relationship as his friends.
15:18-27 Disciples must be like their
not be guilty if I had not come and spoken
to them. But now they have no excuse for
their sin. 23Anyone who hates me also hates
my Father. 24If I hadn’t done such mirac
ulous signs among them that no one else
could do, they would not be guilty. But as it
is, they have seen everything I did, yet they
still hate me and my Father. 25This fulfills
what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They
hated me without cause.’
26“But I will send you the d Advocate—the
Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the
Father and will testify all about me. 27And
you must also testify about me because you
have been with me from the beginning of
my ministry.
16
“I have told you these things so that
you won’t abandon your faith. 2For
you will be expelled from the synagogues,
and the time is coming when those who kill
you will think they are doing a holy serv ice
for God. 3This is because they have never
known the Father or me. 4Yes, I’m telling
you these things now, so that when they
happen, you will remember my warning. I
didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to
be with you for a while longer.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
5“But now I am going away to the one who
sent me, and not one of you is asking where
I am going. 6Instead, you grieve because
of what I’ve told you. 7But in fact, it is best
for you that I go away, because if I don’t,
the eAdvocate won’t come. If I do go away,
master in every respect, both in
showing love and obedience and in
experiencing the antagonism of those
who oppose their message (15:20-21;
see ch 9; 11:16). If the darkness is
opposed to the light (1:5), and if Jesus’
followers are bearers of that light in the
world (1 Jn 1:7; 2:9), they should expect
the world to hate them in the way it
hated Jesus (see 17:14). Jesus’ disciples
share his separation from and conflict
with the world.
15:20 A slave is not greater than the
master: See note on 13:16. Jesus’ disciples should mirror him in every way,
even in his experience of persecution
and martyrdom.
15:22-24 But now they have no excuse:
Jesus’ ministry provided both words
(15:22) and works (15:24) as evidence
that pointed to God. Once people have
heard and seen him, they are accountable.
15:25 in their Scriptures: Literally in
their law. Ps 35:19; 69:4. They hated
me without cause: This OT citation
15:9
John 3:35
aagape (0026)
John 15:13
15:10
John 14:15
15:11
John 17:13
1 Jn 1:4
15:12
John 13:34
15:13
John 10:11
Rom 5:6-8
bagape (0026)
Rom 5:5
15:15
cdoulos (1401)
Rom 1:1
15:16
Rom 1:13
1 Cor 3:12-14
Phil 1:22
15:18
John 7:7
1 Jn 3:13
15:19
John 17:14
1 Jn 4:5
15:21
Matt 5:11
1 Pet 4:14
15:22
John 9:41
15:24
John 5:36; 9:41
15:25
*Ps 35:19; 69:4
15:26
John 14:17
1 Jn 5:6-7
dparakletos (3875)
John 16:7
15:27
John 21:24
1 Jn 1:2; 4:14
16:2
John 9:22
Acts 22:3-4
16:3
John 15:21
reveals the unwarranted anger of those
who belong to the darkness.
15:26 But I will send you the Advocate
(or Comforter, or Encourager, or Counselor; Greek reads Paraclete)—the Spirit
of truth: See notes on 14:16-17. Like a
legal advocate, the Holy Spirit counsels
and protects Jesus’ followers.
15:27 Disciples are not alone when they
testify about Christ (Matt 28:20). The
Spirit accompanies them, providing the
words to say (Matt 10:19-20).
16:1-2 Jesus had outlined the coming
conflicts (15:18-25) so that the disciples
would not abandon their faith (literally
be caused to stumble). The greatest
obstacle his disciples would face was
to stumble and renounce their faith
before their Jewish opponents (see Matt
23:34; Luke 6:22), especially during the
dark days ahead (see 12:35; 1 Jn 2:9-11).
16:7 the Advocate (or Comforter, or
Encourager, or Counselor; Greek reads
Paraclete): The Spirit was a gift awaiting
Jesus’ departure and glorification (7:3739; 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:12-14).
