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John Chapter
Fifteen
I. Content of the Chapter
the Son of God the Savior
is the True Vine
A. The Parable of the
True Vine:
1. The relationship among Christ, God and believers (v.1-3).
2. The mystery of bearing
more fruits ---- to abide in the Lord (v.4-8).
B. The Positive Signals
of Abiding in the Lord:
1. Abiding in the Lord’s love (v.9-11).
2. Believers love one
another (v.12-17).
C. The Negative Signals
of Abiding in the Lord:
1. Being hated and prosecuted by the world (v.18-21).
2. They should bear their
sins (v.22-25).
D. The Commission of Abiding in the Lord
---- to bear witness of the Lord (v.26-27).
II. Verse by Verse commentary
John. 15:1 “"I am the true vine,
and My Father is the vinedresser.”
YLT:
“I am the true vine, and my
Father is the husbandman;”
Meaning of Words: “true”: truthful; “vinedresser”: husbandman,
land – worker;
The Background: in the Old
Testament, the vine was usually employed to symbolize the people of Israel,
showing that they were the unique race who was chosen and cultivated by God,
who expected they would bear more fruits for Him. However, they disappointed
God so much (see Ps 80:8-19; Is 5:1-7; Jer 2:21; Ezek 15:2-4; 19:10-14) that
they finally became the nominal vine.
Literal
Meaning: “I am the true vine.” ---- In the original, it is that “I am
the vine, the true one.” The Lord makes a comparison between Himself and the
vine (the Israelite) in the Old Testament. He is the “true” vine, and life is
in Him (see 1:4). Therefore He can fulfill the purpose of God’s planting.
“And My
Father is the vinedresser.” ---- “The vinedresser” refers to the one who plants and
cultivates the vine ---- loosens the soil, irrigates the land, fertilizes, prunes,
weeds and etc.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “I am the true vine”, Christ is the true origin of all the
provision. Grace and truth come through Christ (see 1:17).
2) “And My Father is the
vinedresser.” ---- It means that
God personally takes the responsibility of cultivation and nursing. Since the
Almighty and only wise God looks after our life in Christ, is there anything we
should worry about?
3) Christ and the
church is the centre of God’s dispensation of the ages (see Eph 3:4-11).
John. 15:2 “Every branch in Me that
does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes,
that it may bear more fruit.”
YLT: “every branch in me not bearing fruit, He
doth take it away, and every one bearing fruit, He doth cleanse by pruning it,
that it may bear more fruit;”
Meaning of Words: “take away”: carry,
put away; “prune”: renew;
The Background: vine has two kinds
of branches: (1) one is the branch of futility ---- it absorbs water and nutrients
of the vine but bears no fruit, only making itself grow up for nothing. (2) The
other one is that which bears fruit ---- it bears fruit, but the amount of each
vine is different.
Literal Meaning: “every branch in Me that does
not bear fruit”, there are two
opposite explanations among the Bible exegetes about such branch: (1) the “true
believers” who have been saved, but the divine life has not been distinctly
manifested. (2) The nominal “false believers” who have not been really saved.
Those who regard it as “the true believer” provide
the reasons as below: (1) “in Me” was spoken by the Lord Himself. He would
never regard the false believer as the one who was of Him. (2) The Lord said
these words to His disciples (including not Judas), and these words had
surpassed the stage of salvation. Instead, they further encouraged believers in
the matter of “witness”. (3) The phrase “take away” does not mean being
rejected by the Lord forever, but that they can no longer obtain the provision
of life from the vine since they have lost the function of life. (4) “He is
cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into
the fire, and they are burned (v.6).” ---- It does not mean the eternal destruction,
but that they become withered because of losing the provision and watering of
life and will be punished by the Lord and be cast out, having no part with the
enjoyment of the Kingdom (see Matt25:30). They shall be saved, but so as
through fire. (see 1Cor 3:15).
Those who regard it as “the false believer” provide
the reasons as follows: (1) “In Me” was only nominal, they had no real relation
of life with the Lord. (2) “Take away” refers to the judgment of the Lord. The real
situation will be revealed sooner or later. If they do not leave voluntarily
for being unable to prevail against the temptations, enticements or
persecutions, they will be taken away in the completion of the age, like
gathering the darnel from the filed of the wheat (see Matt 13:40). (3) “They
gather them and throw them into the fire (v.6)”, it refers to the punishment of
the lake of fire, and the darnel will be cast into the furnace of fire (see
Matt 13:42). If they are true believers, they will not suffer such punishment.
(4) The Lord will not allow any of the true believers be lost (see 6:39;
10:27-28).
To make a comprehensive view of the above-mentioned
reasons, the author believes that according to whole paragraph of the Scripture
the branch that does not bear fruit may refer to the “failing true believers”. It
indicates the real situation. Today, in the church, how many Christians ----
the branch that does not bear fruit ---- there are!
“He takes away”, the branch which is taken away
does not refer to the nominal believer who has not really been born again, but
the one who is of the Lord. However, since he has not borne fruit, he is taken
away and is unable to obtain the provision of life from the vine, thus becoming
withered. Therefore, “being taken away” does not mean being rejected for ever,
but being temporarily separated from the fellowship with the Lord.
“Take away”, if one takes away the branch, the
branch will receive more sunshine and air, which makes it easier to bear fruit.
Therefore, it can also be regarded as the motivation and encouragement to the
branch that does not bear fruit.
“Every branch that bears fruit”, “fruit” is the
manifestation of the inner life. Every good tree produces good fruits, but the
worthless tree produces bad fruits (see Matt 7:17). Christians absorb the
abundant life from Christ who is the true vine, and thus are bound to bear the
fruit of the divine life.
The “fruit” that Christians bear have at least such
kinds as below: (1) the fruit of the divine life ---- which is the spontaneous manifestation
of the divine life, making other see God or Christ Himself (see Matt 7:20; 1Tim
3:16; Phil 1:20). (2) The fruit of the daily life ---- which means the natural
manifestation, revealing every good virtues (see Gal 5:22-23, Eph 5:9; Phil
1:10; James 3:17-18). (3) The fruit of the works ---- which means bring men to
believe the Lord (see Rom 1:13). (4) The fruit of the lips ---- which refers to
the praise and thanks to God (see Heb 13:15).
“He prunes”, “prunes” means removing the superfluous
leaves, branches and etc. In other words, remove everything that is a hindrance
to the growth of life and bearing fruit.
“That it may bear more fruit”, it indicates that
the purpose of pruning is to make the branches bear fruit.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) In the same vine,
there are branches bearing fruit and not bearing fruit. The condition of the
branches decides whether the vine bears fruit or not. The Lord grants us a
significant right to decide what kind Christians we want to be.
2) “And every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may
bear more fruit.” ---- “Pruning” refers to not only cleaning off, but also
taking away. Therefore, we have to not only remove every sin from us, but also
receive the necessary work of the cross to get rid of those obstacles which
prevent us from bearing fruit or more fruit.
3) Branches should be
pruned to bear more fruit. A Christian must pay great cost so that he will
become a useful vessel for the Lord and bear witness of the Lord. One who has
been dealt with by the Lord all the time can help others to receive the
salvation.
4) If the Lord does
not prunes us but let us grow
without restraint, we will lose the special quality of Christian life. If we
leave the Lord but live in our own way, we will lose the characteristic of
Christian life.
5) Bearing fruit is
the best manifestation of the life of vine, and is also the greatest
satisfaction of the husbandmen.
6) Though branches
that bear fruit are good, they are still not the best, for they should bear
more fruit. “Bearing more fruit” should be the aim of every Christian.
7) The Father chastens
for profit, in order to the partaking of His holiness (see Heb 12:10-11), so we
should not be afraid of the chastening of God.
8) The worms, mildew
and fungus in the vine should be removed. We Christians should also clean off
the unnecessary things in us.
John. 15:3 “You are already clean
because of the word which I have spoken to you. ”
YLT: “already ye are
clean, because of the word that I have spoken to you;”
Meaning
of Words: “word”: the abiding word
(logos); “clean”: clear, purify;
Literal
Meaning: “clean”, it means that
the Lord has forgiven our sins, and cleanses us from all unrighteousness (see
13:10; 1John1:9). This verse indicates that the disciples have been saved
because of receiving the Lord’s teaching.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) One shall be
purified through the washing of water by “word” (see Eph 5:26), not the works of
themselves.
2) If a believer,
after being saved, wants to get rid of everything from the old creature in life
and grow up in the new creature, he should have the words of the Scripture,
which provides the power and function of purification.
3) One shall be
purified through the word (the Scripture) of the Lord, which is profitable for
teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
That the man of God may be complete fully fitted to every good work. (Tim
3:16-17).
John. 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you.
As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine,
neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ”
YLT: “remain in me,
and I in you, as the branch is not able to bear fruit of itself, if it may not
remain in the vine, so neither ye, if ye may not remain in me.”
Meaning
of Words: “abide”:
continue, dwell, and endure;
Literal
Meaning: “abide in Me.” ---- Because of being jointed to the
Lord, believers receive the provision of His life and dwell in Him.
“In the Lord” is different from “abiding in the Lord”. The former
concerns the matter of receiving the salvation, and the latter concerns the
matter of fellowship. Once we have been saved, we are in the Lord. But only
abiding in Him may lead us into the intimate fellowship with the Lord.
“And I
in you.” ---- The life of
the Lord continually works, manages, instructs and guides in us.
“As the
branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine.” ---- The branch cannot bear fruit through
the union of mere one time or absorbing the abundant sap. Branches can not
survive without the water and nutrients provided by the vine continually, or
let alone bear fruit! Likewise, believers should be jointed to the Lord and
receive provision of life from the Lord continually so that they can bear
fruit.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “Abide
in Me”, a Christian has
already been in Christ, to whom he belongs. He should keep close fellowship
with the Lord everyday. We, who are in Christ, shall enjoy the presence of the
Lord constantly through reading the Bible, praying, keeping the word of the
Lord and having fellowship with Him.
2) “Unless it abides in the vine, neither can you”, the fruit of life is truly not borne by
ourselves, so we should hold the status, abide in the Lord and keep intimate
fellowship with the Lord.
John. 15:5 “"I am the vine, you
are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for
without Me you can do nothing. ”
YLT: “`I am the vine,
ye the branches; he who is remaining in me, and I in him, this one doth bear
much fruit, because apart from me ye are not able to do anything;”
Meaning
of Words: “without”:
beside, by itself, apart;
The
Background: It is meaningful in
the Bible that it uses the vine to symbolize our relationship with the Lord. A
vine has none other functions except for bearing fruit: (1) the flower of the
vine is very small, which men can scarcely see. Besides, the florescence is
short, so it does not live to be appreciated. (2) The trunk of the vine is not
firm, which cannot be used as walking stick, and is even useless to be the
material of burning. (3) There is none other byproduct of the vine for men to utilize
except for grapes or fruit of grapes (raisins, juice of the grape, the wine and
etc). Obviously, the vine lives for only bearing fruit.
Literal
Meaning: “I am the vine, you are the
branches.” ---- The
relationship between the vine and the branches just indicates the close relationship
between the Lord and us, who are inseparable: (1) the vine without branches
cannot be called vine, and the branches without the vine will be withered
immediately. (2) There is a relation of the inner life between the vine and
branches ---- the Lord is the provision of our life, and we are the
manifestation of His life. (3) The vine and branches have the same life. We
Christians have also the same life of God in Christ.
“For
without Me you can do nothing.” ---- One can do nothing without the Lord, for the origin of life
has been cut off.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “I am the vine, you are the
branches.” ---- How the life,
quality and vitality of the vine manifest in the branches, so as that of Christ
in His believers.
2) “I am the vine, you are the
branches.” ---- How the
provision of the branches rests with the vine, so as that of us rests with
Christ. His is everything for us. Blessed is he who is jointed to Him!
3) “I am the vine, you are the
branches.” ---- How the vine
relies on the branches to bear fruit, so as the Lord even needs us to bear
fruit for Him. We need the Lord, so does He. The Lord needs us to manifest His
life on the earth.
4) “You are the branches.” ---- No matter how infirm and failing, or
how terrible and falling you are, you are still a “branch” of the Lord and a man who is jointed to the
Lord, as long as you have been saved.
5) “You are the branches.” ---- The word “are” is
much precious. Seeing that we “are” the
branches will bring a favorable turn to our spiritual life. The
founder of China Inland Mission, James Hudson Taylor, was tormented by the
question that how to abide in the Lord but achieved nothing. However, since he
saw that he “was” the branch, he became a
new James Hudson Taylor from then on.
6) “He who
abides in Me, and I in him”, if we abide in the Lord,
He will abide in us. The Lord abides in us to be our life, power, joy, peace and everything, thus making
us enjoy Himself and the riches of His life in the practical experience.
7) When we preach the glad tidings, we shall
not only rely on power, but also life. The condition and nature of the life
decide that of the fruit. One should usually have sweet fellowship with the
Lord in life, so that he can bear fruit.
8) The branches of the
vine have only one responsibility of bearing fruit. He who preaches the glad
tidings bears fruit. Therefore, every Christian should do his duty to preach
the glad tidings and save sinners in the daily life.
9) What is important
is not the branches live for the vine, but the life of the vine should be
conveyed to the branches. The more one enjoys Him, the more he can do for Him.
If a man (branch) lives in the vine more, the life of the vine will be more
conveyed to Him. When the sap of the vine flows through the branches, they will
bear fruit thereafter. This is what the Lord asks us to do.
John. 15:6 “If anyone does not abide in
Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw
them into the fire, and they are burned.”
YLT: “if any one may
not remain in me, he was cast forth without as the branch, and was withered,
and they gather them, and cast to fire, and they are burned;”
Meaning
of Words: “wither”: dry up, pine away;
“gather”: assemble;
Literal
Meaning: “he is cast out as a branch
and is withered”, the branch is
withered, for it is unable to absorb water and nutrients from the trunk. The “withered”
branch does not refer to the false Christians, for the whole parable refers to
the true Christians.
“And they
gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” ---- “Are burned”, it does not mean the
eternal perdition, but that if a believer does not abide in the Lord, he will
be worthless like a branch separated from the trunk. It becomes a withered
branch, which can be only used to burn. Men shall not respect those Christians
who have lost the testimony, and even regard them as a word of shame, which
makes them ashamed, just like being burned.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If the fellowship
of a believer with the Lord is cut off, he will be in need of the working,
flowing, and provision of life, thus causing his spiritual life be withered.
2) Those believers
whose spiritual life is withered not only have little worth in the Lord, and
even men in the world also despise him.
John. 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My
words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ”
YLT: “if ye may
remain in me, and my sayings in you may remain, whatever ye may wish ye shall
ask, and it shall be done to you.”
Meaning
of Words: “abide”:
the transient word. “will”: desire; “ask”: require, call for; “do”: become,
come to pass;
Literal
Meaning: “and My words abide in you”,
it means the word of the Lord dwell in them richly (see
Col 3:16), so that the Lord’s word becomes the standard of life, the guidance
of their thought, the motivation of their deeds and the basis of their choices.
“You will ask what you desire, and it
shall be done for you.” ---- The word “will” here means the will of men desires
something actively. “Ask” indicates it is a concentrated prayer. Therefore,
it shows that if one desires something
actively and asks the Lord, the matter will be done. In other words, the Lord
believes that the will of some men confirms to the will of God.
The word of the Lord in this verse
indicates that since a believer abides in the Lord, the word of the Lord will abide in him also. Therefore, from the
Lord’s word, he will know what the will of God
is, and what is not. Finally, what such men desires is what God desires, and
their prayer will be according to their inner knowledge. Such prayer surely conforms to the will of God. Therefore,
once they ask, it shall be done by the Lord.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) A man who abides in
the Lord will not be in want of the revelation of the Lord’s word.
2) The right prayer of
Christians is based on the right knowledge about the Lord’s word.
3) We can see in this
verse that abiding in the Lord and having fellowship with Him are the
conditions that prayers shall be granted. Our prayer shall conform to the will
of the Lord, so that it will be fulfilled. If we want to pray according to the
will of the Lord, we should abide in the Lord and have fellowship with the
Lord, thus enabling us to know the will of the Lord.
4) The secret of
prayers being granted is that ---- if God wants to something, He will firstly
convey His will to men’s
heart through the fellowship of the spirit. Then men pray according to this
will, He will fulfill it.
5) Whether will our
prayer be granted is decided by two points: one is we should abide in Him, and
the other is His word should also abide in us. Therefore, here it mentions that
we can pray with the word of the Scriptures. Reading the Scripture and praying
to the Lord are indispensable for a normal Christian.
6) Here, the word of the Lord is first
and prayer afterwards. But in the Book of Psalms, the prayer of waking up at first
and later is the meditation of the Lord’s word (see Ps 119:147-148). Sometimes,
we read the Bible first, and then pray. And sometimes, we pray first and read
the Bible afterwards. Both of them shall be parallel and complementary.
7) When you read the
word of God, it enlightens you inwardly and will become the burden and guidance
of your prayer. This prayer is a pray out of God Himself, which is easily to be
granted.
8) If a man learns to
have fellowship with the Lord and live in the Lord, the word of the Lord will
abide in Him. A man who reads the Scripture in a right and normal way should be
a man who abides in the Lord.
9) A man who prays
should be a man who abides in the Lord. When a man lives before the Lord, which
is obviously good, it is still possible that he has not been really jointed to
the Lord. Only when a man abides in the Lord will he and the Lord become one.
Then, he can tell the Lord that he does not pray in himself, the Lord and
himself pray together.
10) If a prayer has
none impact to my life, and has not made me the one who can bear more fruit, it
will not be true prayer.
11) To abide in the
Lord is the secret of a good prayer. The closer we are to the Lord, the more we
have the mind of Christ in us. The more we know Him in His word, the more we
will know His will, the nearer is our will to God’s will, and the surer that our prayer must
be granted.
12) The most spiritual
prayer of believers is the Lord Himself prays in us ---- His will becomes our
will, and His word becomes our word.
John. 15:8 “By this My Father is glorified,
that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. ”
YLT: “`In this was my
Father glorified, that ye may bear much fruit, and ye shall become my
disciples.”
Literal
Meaning: “By this My Father is
glorified, that you bear much fruit”,
“glorify” means God has been revealed (see Ex 34:34). Bearing more fruit is
making the life of God be manifested. Therefore, God has been manifested when
believers bear more fruit, thus He has been glorified.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) God is glorified by the
work of the Son (see 13:31-32) as well as the believers who bear fruit. In
fact, fruit borne by believers is the fulfillments of the works of the Lord.
2) No matter
manifesting the life of God or multiplying the life of God, the ultimate
purpose is to glorify God. Glorifying God is the purpose as well as the value
of our existence.
John. 15:9 “"As the Father loved
Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ”
YLT: “According as
the Father did love me, I also loved you, remain in my love;”
Literal
Meaning: “As the Father loved Me, I
also have loved you.” ---- The Lord’s
love to us is the same as the Father’s love to the Son. Both of them are the
same in the quality and amount.
“Abide
in My love.” ---- “Abiding
in the Lord’s love” is receiving the refreshment and motivation of
the Lord’s love, and regarding the Lord’s love as the basic motivation of our
daily life.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We should feel the Lord’s love continually, and enjoy this love in
our life.
2) For the love of the
Christ constrains us, having judged this: that one died for all, and then all
have died. And he died for all, that they who live should no longer live to
themselves, but to him who died for them and has been raised (see 2Cor5:14-15).
3) Only abiding in the
love of the Lord will have more chance to enjoy the Lord’s love and love others by such love of the
Lord.
John. 15:10 “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.
”
YLT: “if my
commandments ye may keep, ye shall remain in my love, according as I the
commands of my Father have kept, and do remain in His love;”
Literal
Meaning: “If you keep My commandments”, when believers
abides in the Lord, the word of the Lord also abides in us (see v.7). Then the
Lord’s word has become his commandment that we should keep.
“You
will abide in My love”, the basic
motivation of keeping the Lord’s commandment is the Lord’s love. Only abiding in
the Lord’s love will enable us to keep the Lord’s word.
“Just
as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.” ---- The Lord’s word indicates that: (1)
He sets Himself as an example to others and takes the lead in keeping the commandment
of the Father. (2) His experience has proved that keeping the commandment of
the Father will surely abide in the Lord’s love. (3) His commandment is not
difficult to keep, just as the Father’s commandment is not difficult to keep
too. (4) His love is precious, just as the Father’s love is precious too.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) He who has not kept the
commandment has no love. Keeping the commandment and love are indispensible.
2) Life that is jointed to
the Lord is a life guided by love. This life shows the obedience to the Lord’s commandment, thus the Lord’s love in us has been manifested.
3) How the Father sees
Christ, Christ will see us in like manner. How the Father loves Christ, Christ
will love us likewise.
John. 15:11 “"These things I have
spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. ”
YLT: “these things I
have spoken to you, that my joy in you may remain, and your joy may be full.”
Literal
Meaning: “these things I have spoken
to you”, “these things”
refer to the matters concerning “abiding in the Lord” and “abiding in the Lord’s
love”.
“That
My joy may remain in you”, note that “My joy”
is the Lord’s joy. It pointes that: (1) “abiding in the Lord” and “abiding in the Lord’s
love” will bring joy to the Lord. (2) The Lord’s joy will be transferred into
us and have immediate influence to ourselves, and thus we may have the Lord’s
joy fulfilled in us (see 17:13).
“And that your joy may be full”, it
indicates that: (1) whether the joy
of the Lord can remain in Christians or not decides whether Christians have joy or not. A man without the Lord’s joy has no joy. (2) Our joy produced by the Lord’s
joy is full joy.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Lord’s joy is out of the heaven, which is not
easily effected by the earthly environment.
2) Love is the origin of
joy. If we want to taste the joy, we shall only let us be immersed in the Lord’s love.
3) The way of Christians
should never be covered with dark clouds, for the Lord is willing to let us be
filled with His joy.
John. 15:12 “This is My commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you. ”
YLT: “`This is my
command, that ye love one another, according as I did love you;”
Literal
Meaning: “you love one another”, “love”: the divine love (agapao), the sacrificing
love. “Loving one another” of the believers is different from that of the world
(see 13:34).
“As I
have loved you”, the Lord’s love
is the model and standard of loving one another for believers.
“This
is My commandment.” ---- In other
words, if we have the two conditions as below, we have already disobeyed the
Lord’s commandment: (1) we have not loved one another. (2) We do not love
others as we love the Lord.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Love hangs the
commandments, and love is the greatest commandment of the law (see Matt
22:37-40).
2) Whether a man loves
God or not can be judged from his love to others. For he that does love his
brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen (see 1John
4:20)?
3) There are
three points concerning loving one another of believers: (1) they love in the
same life of the Lord. (2) They love in the same love of the Lord. (3) They
love in the same commission of the Lord.
John. 15:13 “Greater love has no one
than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. ”
YLT: “greater love
than this hath no one, that any one his life may lay down for his friends;”
Meaning
of Words: “life”:
soul
Literal
Meaning: “lay down one's life for his
friends”, “friends” refers
to those who the Lord loves.
“Greater
love has no one than this”, it is the
greatest action of love that one dies for his beloved ones. According to the
context, it does not emphasize men’s love sacrificing for men, but the Lord’s
life, which is sacrificed because of love, is matchless and surpassing.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The love of Christ is not
only manifested in His words, but also His sacrificing death. Let us not love
with word, nor with tongue, but in deed and in truth (1John 3:18).
2) For scarcely for
just will one die, for perhaps for good some one might also dare to die. But
God commends his love to us, in that, we being still sinners, Christ has died
for us (Rom 5:7-8).
John. 15:14 “You are My friends if you
do whatever I command you. ”
YLT: “ye are my
friends, if ye may do whatever I command you;”
Literal
Meaning: keeping what the
Lord has commanded is the necessary condition and responsibility for a man to
be the Lord’s friend.
John. 15:15 “No longer do I call you
servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have
called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made
known to you. ”
YLT: “no more do I
call you servants, because the servant hath not known what his lord doth, and
you I have called friends, because all things that I heard from my Father, I
did make known to you.”
Literal
Meaning: “a servant does not know
what his master is doing”, a servant usually
does what his master commands, but many times is ignorant of the master’s
heart.
“But I
have called you friends”, the relationship
of friend is based on the mutual trust and love. They withhold nothing from
each other, pour out their heart, and share their personal feeling without any preservation.
They discuss any matter together.
“For
all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you”, it means that they have been guided by
the Lord to know the will of God the Father, and have received the divine truth
and teaching. Such grace is unduplicated ever before.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “But I have called you friends”, the Lord called us “friends” ---- it on one hand shows that how humble
the Lord is, since He comes to be in the same status with us. On the other
hand, it unveils that He shows mercy to us on everything, sympathizes with us,
helps us and even “delivers His life” to us (see v.13).
2) Men usually desire to be
the Lord’s friends instead of
the Lord’s servants. In fact,
if a man wants to be the Lord’s
friend, he shall be His servant first. He who is unwilling to be the Lord’s servant shall not be the Lord’s friend. The true servant of the Lord is
the true friend of Him.
3) We shall be the
Lord’s servants as well
as His friends. We should not only be the fellow-workmen of the Lord together,
but also be of the same mind with Him, as well as abide with Him and walk with
Him.
John. 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but
I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your
fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give
you. ”
YLT: “`Ye did not
choose out me, but I chose out you, and did appoint you, that ye might go away,
and might bear fruit, and your fruit might remain, that whatever ye may ask of
the Father in my name, He may give you.”
Meaning
of Words: “choose”: make choice, select;
“appoint”: ordain, put, set (forth), settle;
Literal
Meaning: “You did not choose Me, but
I chose you”, among the Jews,
the disciples usually chose the rabbis whom they wanted to follow. However, the
Lord’s disciples were different, for the Lord chose them Himself.
“And
appointed you that you should go and bear
fruit”, having been
chosen, disciples should be appointed before working for the Lord, namely, the
stage of being appointed. Note that the word of “go” in the original carries a
meaning of “departing for another place”. Therefore, “bearing fruit” here
emphasizes the fruit of the spiritual works ---- to bring men to believe the
Lord, not the fruit of disposition.
“And that your fruit should remain”, the works of believers follow with
them for ever (see Rev 14:13), so the fruit of bringing men to believe the Lord
remains for ever (see Luke 16:9).
“In My name”, the Lord’s name is the Lord Himself. Therefore, in the
name of the Lord means being jointed to the Lord and withdrawing the authority
of the Lord in Him.
“Whatever you ask the Father He may give you”, note that we usually
expect good praying life so that we can bear more fruit. However, here the
order is contrary ---- the Lord firstly makes us bear fruit, and then the
Father in the heaven hears our prayer.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We follow the Lord,
for the Lord has chosen us, not for occasional reasons.
2) It is not because
we have good insight to choose the Lord, but the Lord has chosen us first in
His eternal love. The gifts and the calling of God are not subject to
repentance (see Rom11:29).
3) We shall not only
go out to bring men to believe the Lord (“go and bear fruit”), but also look after and feed believers
who have been just granted the grace, thus they can not stumble (the fruit should remain).
4) Ask in the Lord’s name means that we will be jointed to the
Lord concerning what we have prayed. Only praying in this way shall be serviceable
to the Lord and easy to receive the answer and fulfillment of the Lord.
5) When we come to
approach the Lord, we can not pray in ourselves, for our natural life is
unacceptable to God. Therefore, we should pray in the Lord and in His name, thus
our prayer will be granted.
6) If we want to ask
in the name of the Lord, we should have intimate fellowship with Him.
Otherwise, we will not understand the Lord’s will. The closer we are to the Lord, the
more we will know His will.
John. 15:17 “These things I command you,
that you love one another. ”
YLT: “`These things I
command you, that ye love one another;”
Literal
Meaning: there some Bible
exegetes hold that this verse is not the conclusion of verse 16, but its
foundation. Only by “loving one another”, believers can: (1) bear fruit that
remains; (2) experience that their prayers are granted by God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Love is the motivation of
keeping what the Lord has commanded. Love is also the necessary condition of
fulfilling the Lord’s
commission.
2) The Lord asked His
disciples to love each other, for they must be hated by men in the world (see
v.18). Therefore, we should use love to testify that we are different from the
world.
John. 15:18 “"If the world hates
you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. ”
YLT: “if the world
doth hate you, ye know that it hath hated me before you;”
Literal
Meaning: “If the world hates you”, “the world”, it refers to the system that
Satan uses to withstand God. Here, it especially refers to the religious world.
“It
hated you”, “hate”, the
perfect tense in the original presented a fixed attitude, which was continual,
and so this “hating” attitude was extended to His disciples. The “hating”
attitude carries a meaning of “rejection”.
John. 15:19 “If you were of the world,
the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose
you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. ”
YLT: “if of the world
ye were, the world its own would have been loving, and because of the world ye
are not -- but I chose out of the world -- because of this the world hateth
you.”
Literal
Meaning: “If you were of the world”, the main distinct point of believer is
his new life of God, so they are different from those who reject God.
Enlightenment
in the Word: once we have been
jointed to Christ, our relationships with the world have been automatically
broken off. That’s why the world hates us. Therefore, even the persecutions may
prove that we have been truly jointed to Christ. As far as one’s experience
concerned, if he has none scars of being persecuted, he may have lost the union
with the Lord.
John. 15:20 “Remember the word that I
said to you, "A servant is not greater than his master.' If they
persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will
keep yours also. ”
YLT: “`Remember the
word that I said to you, A servant is not greater than his lord; if me they did
persecute, you also they will persecute; if my word they did keep, yours also
they will keep;”
Literal
Meaning: “A servant is not greater
than his master.” ---- Since we are
the servants of the Lord, we shall not expect the world treat us better that
the Lord.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “A servant is not greater
than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” ----
If we are persecuted by the world, it is not abnormal. Instead, it proves that
we are of the Lord, so we have the same experience with the Lord. The Lord says blessed is he who is
persecuted, and so rejoices (see Matt 5:10-12).
2) All the children of
God are servants of God. The words of the Lord tell us that “a
servant is not greater than his master”. Therefore, as the way of the Lord on the earth is,
so are ours on the earth. Everything that He had suffered on the earth, we
would also suffer afterwards.
John. 15:21 “But all these things they
will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. ”
YLT: “but all these
things will they do to you, because of my name, because they have not known Him
who sent me;”
Literal
Meaning: “for My name's sake”, the Lord’s name stands for the Lord and
all the teachings of Him. When believers bear witness of the Lord’s name and
walk like Him, the world must hate them.
“All
these things they will do to you”,
“all these
things” refer to all the
things about hating and persecuting the disciples. Since Christians are not of
the world, persecutions from the world are unavoidable. The most fundamental
reason is that the world refuses and does not know the Father (see 16:3).
John. 15:22 “If I had not come and
spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their
sin. ”
YLT: “if I had not
come and spoken to them, they were not having sin; but now pretext they have
not for their sin.”
Meaning
of Words: “excuse”:
pretext, pretence;
Literal
Meaning: “If I had not come and
spoken to them”, they had seen the
Son of God, and had heard His words.
“But
now they have no excuse for their sin”,
right and responsibility are linked together. The Jews had the privilege of the
presence of the Son of God, and had received the special revelation of God from
the Old Testament. Therefore, their rejection of the Lord condemned them, and
they had no excuse. If the Lord Jesus had not come to them, they were still
sinners, but did not have the sin of refusing the Lord directly (see v.24).
Enlightenment
in the Word: if men disobey the
Lord’s word because of ignorance, it is sin. However, if they still disobey
even though they have known the Lord’s word, their sin is even worse.
John. 15:23 “He who hates Me hates My
Father also. ”
YLT: “`He who is
hating me, doth hate also my Father;”
John. 15:24 “If I had not done among
them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have
seen and also hated both Me and My Father. ”
YLT: “if I did not do
among them the works that no other hath done, they were not having sin, and now
they have both seen and hated both me and my Father;”
John. 15:25 “But this happened that the
word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, "They hated Me
without a cause.'”
YLT: “but -- that the
word may be fulfilled that was written in their law -- They hated me without a
cause.”
Meaning
of Words: “without a cause”: freely, for nothing, in vain
Literal
Meaning: “the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law”, “their law” here generally
refers to the Old Testament. Even though the sinners thought they have
perfectly rebelled against the Lord, the determinate counsel of God would
ultimately be fulfilled.
“They hated Me without a cause.” ---- It is quoted from the Book of
Psalm (35:19; 69:4).
John. 15:26 “"But when the Helper
comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who
proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. ”
YLT: “`And when the
Comforter may come, whom I will send to you from the Father -- the Spirit of
truth, who from the Father doth come forth, he will testify of me;”
Literal
Meaning: “the Spirit of truth who
proceeds from the Father”, “from the Father”, in the original it means not only “from” the
Father, but also “with” the Father. The Holy Spirit comes to us and has not
left the Father who is the origin, but comes to us with the Father together.
“When the
Helper comes, He will testify of Me.”
---- The main work of the Holy Spirit is to bear witness of Christ, and He
testifies in this way: (1) to be our Helper ---- who helps and defends us when
we are persecuted (see v.18-25). (2) To be the truth of the Father and the Son
---- who reveals God and Christ to us and enables us to experience the reality
of the divine Trinity.
Enlightenment
in the Word: the Lord Jesus was
the first Helper sent by God (see 1John 2:1). When he ascended to the heaven,
He sent the Holy Spirit to be the second Helper ---- who replaces and
represents the Lord on the earth. In fact, the Holy Spirit who is the Helper is
the embodiment of Christ. He comes to abide in us, bears witness of Christ,
reveals Christ into us, makes us know Him and is our life.
John. 15:27 “And you also will bear
witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”
YLT: “and ye also do
testify, because from the beginning ye are with me.”
Literal
Meaning: “And you also will bear
witness”, this is emphatic.
Believers receive the testimony of Christ that is borne by the Holy Spirit (see
v.26), and thus they will also bear witness of Christ.
“Because you have been with Me from the beginning.” ---- The word “because”
indicates that the apostles are responsible to bear witness, for they are especially
chosen and taught by Christ and are the eye-witnesses of His glory. “From the
beginning” referred to the time when the Lord came to preach openly.
Enlightenment
in the Word: the Holy Spirit
comes to
testify of Christ (see v.26).
We have been jointed to Christ in the Holy Spirit in order to bear witness of
Christ. Therefore, the union with the Lord is not only to resolve our problems
---- to receive the infinite origin, but also to fulfill the glorious will of
God ---- the testimony of Christ. If we have seen this mystery, we must be
willing to and be able to fulfill this divine commission.
III. Outlines of the Spiritual
Lessons
I. The Three Great
Relationships of Christians
A.
The relationship
with Christ (v.1-11).
B.
The relationship
with believers (v.12-17).
C.
The relationship
with the world (v.18-27).
II.The Conditions of Bearing Fruit
A.
In the Lord (v.2a).
B.
Being pruned by the Lord (v.2b-3).
C.
Abiding in the Lord
(v.4)
D.
The Lord is also in
him (v.5).
E.
The Lord’s words abide in him, and his pray is granted (v.7-8).
F.
Obeying the Lord
(v.16).
III. The Different
Situations of Bearing Fruit
A.
Bearing fruit (v.2b).
B.
Bearing much fruit (v.2c).
C.
Bearing more fruit (v.5, 8).
D.
Remaining fruit (v.16).
IV. The Purposes of
Bearing Fruit
A. He will not be taken away (v.2) ---- to keep
the fellowship of life.
B. Glorifying God (v.8a) ---- to manifest God.
C. Proving that he is the disciple of Christ
(v.8b) ---- to manifest Christ.
D. Making the fruit remain (v.16 b).
E. Whatever I ask anything in the Lord’s name, He
will do it (v.16c).
V. The Meanings of
Abiding in the Lord
A. Keeping the union of life with the Lord (v.4)
B. Having the Lord’s words (v.7a)
C. Being of the same mind with the Lord through
praying (v.7b).
D. Abiding in the love of the Lord and keeping
the commandment of the Lord (v.9-10).
E. Being the friends of the Lord and knowing
what He is doing (v.14-15).
VI. The Several “Abiding”s
in This Chapter
A. Abiding in the Lord (v. 4a).
B. The Lord abides in us (v.4b).
C. The Lord’s words abide in us (v.7b).
D. Abiding in the Lord’s love (v.10).
E. The Lord’s joy remains in us (v.11).
F. The fruit that has borne “remains” (which is
“abide” in Greek) (v.16)
VII. The Signals of
Abiding in the Lord
A. The Positive Signals:
1. The Lord abides in him (v.4-5) ---- he has
the obvious presence of the Lord.
2. The one will bear more fruit (v.5) ---- the
divine life has been manifested, and the glad tidings have been preached.
3. The Lord’s words abide in him (v.7b) ---- he
usually obtains the revelation and guidance of the Lord’s words.
4. He asks, and it shall be done for him (v.7c)
---- the prayer is efficacious.
5. The one abides in the love of the Lord
(v.9-10) ---- he is often moved by the Lord’s love.
6. Keeping the Lord’s commandment (v.10) ----
he is able to keep the Lord’s words.
7. The Lord’s love remains in us, and our joy
may be full (v.11)
8. Loving one another (v.12).
9. Being the Lord’s friends and knowing what
the Lord is doing (v.13-15).
10. Bearing witness of the Lord (v.27).
B. The Negative Signals:
1. Being hated by the world (v.18-19).
2. Being persecuted by the world (v.20).
VIII. The Advantages of
Abiding in the Lord
A. Bearing more fruit (v.5).
B. The Lord’s words abide in us (v.7b).
C. We will ask what we desire, and it shall be
done for us (v.7b).
IX. The Relationships of the Lord With the
Believers
A. The vine and the branches (v.5) ---- the
relationship concerning the inner life
B. The teacher and the disciples (v.8) ---- the
relationship concerning the way
C. Friends (v.14-15) ---- the relationship
concerning the life.
D. The master and the servant (v.15) ---- the
relationship concerning the work.
X. Three Special
Blessings for Believers
A. Their prayers must be fulfilled (v.7, 16c).
B. Their joy shall be full (v.11).
C. Their fruit shall remain (v.16b).
XI. The Effects of
Loving One Another
A. The Lord’s joy may remain in us (v.11a).
B. Our joy may be full (v.11b).
C. Keeping the Lord’s commandment (v.12).
D. Being the Lord’s friends (v.13-15).
E. Whatever we ask God in the Lord’s name He
may give us (v.16-17).
XII. The Testimony of the
Lord’s Love
A. He laid down His life for believers (v.13).
B. He revealed all things about the Father to
believers (v.15).
C. He chose and appointed the believers (v.16).
XIII. The Reasons that the
World Hated Christians
A. For they hate Christ (v.18).
B. For Christians are not of the world (v.19).
C. For they persecute the Lord (v.20).
D. For they do not know God (v.21).
E. For they hate without a cause (v.25).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou