Bible Version: New International Version (NIV)
Application Notes: Life Application Study Bible (NIV)
JOHN 15
The Vine and the Branches
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 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.
5 “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. 6 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. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 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. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.15I 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. 16 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. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
The World Hates the Disciples
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 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. 20 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. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. 22 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. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. 24 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. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason.’
The Work of the Holy Spirit
26 “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. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
Application Notes
15:1-8 Jesus is the Vine, and God is the Gardener, who carefully plants and cares for the branches with one purpose—that they may bear fruit. The branches are all those who claim to be followers of Jesus. The fruitful branches are true believers who, by their union with him, produce much fruit Being united with Jesus means drawing our energy and nourishment from him (see Colossians 2:6-7). But those who don't bear fruit—those who make only a superficial commitment to Jesus—will be separated from the Vine. Unfruitful “followers” are useless and will be cut off and tossed aside.
15:1 The grapevine is a useful, prolific plant. It produces fruit to eat, raisins to store, and wine for meals and ceremonies. A single vine supports numerous branches and bears many grapes. In the Old Testament, grapes symbolize Israel's fruitfulness in doing God's work on the earth (Psalm 80:8; Isaiah 5:1-7; Ezekiel 19:10-14). In the Passover meal, the fruit of the vine symbolizes God's goodness to his people.
15:2-3 Jesus makes a distinction between two kinds of pruning: (1) cutting off branches and (2) cutting back branches. Fruitful branches are cut back to promote growth. In other words, God must sometimes discipline his people to strengthen our character and faith. But branches that don't bear fruit are cut off at the trunk not only because they are worthless but also because they can infect the rest of the plant. People who don't bear fruit for God or who try to block the efforts of God's followers will be cut off from his life-giving power.
15:5-8 Many people try to be good and honest. But Jesus says that to live a truly good life we must stay close to him, like a branch attached to its vine. In the same way that plants receive nutrients from their roots, we receive life-giving water from the Holy Spirit and food from God's Word. These provide spiritually regenerative power. Jesus told his disciples they could ask for anything that would increase fruit bearing. Apart from Jesus, we lose this connection and our efforts are unfruitful. Are you receiving and thriving from the nourishment offered by Jesus, the Vine?
15:5-6 Remaining in Christ requires us to be fully connected to Jesus moment by moment. It means (1) believing that he is God's Son (1 John 4:15), (2) following him as Savior and Lord (John 1:12), (3) doing what God says (1 John 3:24), (4) continuing to believe the gospel (1 John 2:24}, and (5) relating in love to the community of believers, Christ's body (John 15:12).
15:5 “Fruit” is not limited to soul winning. In this chapter, answered prayer, joy, and love are mentioned as fruit (15:7, 11, 12). Galatians 5:22-24 and 2 Peter 1:5-8 describe additional fruit: qualities of Christian character.
15:8 When we bear “much fruit” like a fruitful branch, we glorify God. Each day he sends the sunshine and rain to make the crops grow, and constantly he nurtures each tiny plant and prepares it to blossom. What a moment of glory for the Lord of the harvest when the harvest is brought into the barns, mature and ready for use! He made it all happen! This farming analogy shows how God is glorified when people come into a right relationship with him and begin to “bear much fruit” in their lives.
15:11 When things are going well, we feel elated. When hardships come, we sink into sorrow. But true joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstance. Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ. When our live are intertwined with his, he will help us walk through adversity without sinking into debilitating lows and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep us levelheaded, no matter how high or low our circumstances.
15:12-13 We are to love each other as Jesus loved us, and he loved us enough to give his life for us. We may or may not have to die for someone, but we can also practice sacrificial love in other ways: listening, helping, encouraging, giving. Think of someone who needs this kind of love today, and give all the love you can.
15:15 Because Jesus Christ is our Lord and Master, he has the right to call us servants; instead, he regards us as friends. How comforting and reassuring that he not only chose us but also wants us to be his friends! Because he is our Lord and Master, we owe him our unqualified obedience and should listen to everything he says; because we are his friends, we should love him and others the way he loves us.
15:16 Jesus made the first choice—to love and to die for us, to invite us to live with him forever. We make the next choice—to accept or reject his offer. Without his choice, we would have no choice to make.
15:17 Christians will get plenty of hatred from the world; from each other we need love and support. Do you allow small problems to get in the way of loving other believers? Jesus commands that you love them, and he will give you the strength to do it.
15:26 Once again Jesus offers hope. The Holy Spirit gives strength to endure the unreasonable hatred and evil in our world and the hostility many have toward Jesus. These words offer special comfort for those facing persecution.
15:26 Jesus uses two names for the Holy Spirit here—“Advocate” and “Spirit of truth.” The word Advocate conveys the helping, encouraging, and strengthening work of the Spirit. Spirit of truth points to his teaching, illuminating, and reminding work. The Holy Spirit ministers to both the head and the heart, and both dimensions are important.
Taken from Life Application Study Bible - Third Edition - (NIV)