Tuesday Devo
Scripture:
John 15
5 “Yes, I am the 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. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
5 “Yes, I am the 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. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
Commentary:
15:5 Apart from me you can do nothing does not mean “nothing at all,” for unbelievers of course carry on their ordinary activities of life apart from Christ. Rather, it means “nothing of eternal value,” or an inability to produce spiritual fruit.
15:6 The person who does not abide in me is an unbeliever who does not have a personal faith in Christ (see note on v. 4). The verse echoes Ezek. 15:1–8, where a vine failing to produce fruit is said to be good for nothing but the fire (see Heb. 6:7–8). Fire is a common Jewish and biblical symbol for divine judgment (e.g., Isa. 30:27; Matt. 3:12 par.; 5:22; 18:8; 25:41). Some take this “fire” to imply loss of reward for true believers, not eternal judgment for unbelievers, but this does not fit as well with the image of branches being entirely burned up by a fire. See also note on John 15:2.
15:7 Two conditions are given for answered prayer: abiding in Jesus, and his words abiding in believers (thus transforming their thinking). Elsewhere Jesus says that believers must ask in his name (i.e., in accord with his character and for his glory; see 14:13–14; 16:23–24). If God’s people truly abide in Jesus (see note on 15:4), they will desire what he desires and will pray according to his words, and those prayers will be pleasing to him.
15:8 God is glorified not by praise and worship alone but by his followers also bearing much fruit for the advancement of his kingdom on earth. Here again, fruit bearing is evidence of being true believers, or being Jesus’ disciples.
15:6 The person who does not abide in me is an unbeliever who does not have a personal faith in Christ (see note on v. 4). The verse echoes Ezek. 15:1–8, where a vine failing to produce fruit is said to be good for nothing but the fire (see Heb. 6:7–8). Fire is a common Jewish and biblical symbol for divine judgment (e.g., Isa. 30:27; Matt. 3:12 par.; 5:22; 18:8; 25:41). Some take this “fire” to imply loss of reward for true believers, not eternal judgment for unbelievers, but this does not fit as well with the image of branches being entirely burned up by a fire. See also note on John 15:2.
15:7 Two conditions are given for answered prayer: abiding in Jesus, and his words abiding in believers (thus transforming their thinking). Elsewhere Jesus says that believers must ask in his name (i.e., in accord with his character and for his glory; see 14:13–14; 16:23–24). If God’s people truly abide in Jesus (see note on 15:4), they will desire what he desires and will pray according to his words, and those prayers will be pleasing to him.
15:8 God is glorified not by praise and worship alone but by his followers also bearing much fruit for the advancement of his kingdom on earth. Here again, fruit bearing is evidence of being true believers, or being Jesus’ disciples.
Questions:
- God is the Gardner, Jesus is the Vine, and we are the BRANCHES. The only way a branch has life is by THE VINE. The only way a branch can grow is by THE VINE. The only way a branch can produce fruit is by THE VINE. So, what happens when the True Vine starts producing branches? What does a good gardener do? He tends the vineyard with great care, aiming not just for quantity but for QUALITY. The goal is not to produce the most fruit, but the best fruit. Just as a grapevine branch relies entirely on the vine for life, growth, and fruitfulness, we depend on Jesus, the True Vine. Our source of life - our spiritual development, our ability to bear fruit - all come from our connection to Him. Without Him, we can do nothing. How much are you relying on the Vine in your day to day? Or do you operate in your own power?
- The Gardener is the one that PRUNES us. A good gardener knows that branches must be pruned. Sometimes in our western way of thinking we don’t like to picture God as someone who would use SUBTRACTION for the purpose of ADDITION. We would much rather picture him as a gardener who gives blessing, and flourishes… But prunes? No, never!!! We might think: If He truly loves me, why would He take things away? Doesn’t He want to give me everything I desire?? How open are you to the Gardener's pruning? How might He be pruning you right now?
Prayer Topics:
- That you would learn to abide in the Vine.
- That you would lean into the Gardener's pruning.
This Week's City 7:
Try to commit to memory!
2. Are there sources outside the Bible that confirm the Biblical account of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead? Many Roman and Jewish historians have confirmed that the apostles died as martyrs for preaching that they saw Jesus risen from the grave. No one dies for something they know to be a lie.
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
(Luke 1:1-4; Acts 26:26; 1 John 1:1-4, Josephus, Clement, Hegesippus, Tertullian, Origen, Polycarp)
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