1. John 15:1-8 9 April 2017 Mark Utting
Fruitful in Jesus
John 15:1-8
9 April 2017
Mark Utting

2. “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. 

3. “I am the vine; you are the branches
“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.

4. 1. Jesus – the True Vine OT imagery (Isa 5; Ps 80; Jer 2; Ezek 17,19 )
Israel as a vineyard
God as the gardener, tending, caring...
waiting for good fruit: justice & righteousness
getting only bad fruit: bloodshed & cries of distress
Jesus is the new vine, the fulfillment of Israel
Jews and Gentiles are grafted into him
to bear good fruit...
In John's Gospel we have already seen that Jesus supercedes:
the old cleansing rituals (Jn 2 new wine in stone cleansing jars);
the temple (Jn 2:19 "Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days");
the manna (Jn 6:53-59 replaced by Jesus' flesh and blood)
the Jewish festivals;
David as shepherd of Israel (Jesus is the true shepherd, Jn 10);
Isaiah 5:7
The vineyard of the Lord Almighty
is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah
are the garden of his delight.
And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;
for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.

5. 2. Connec†ed? Not Connected?
"Abide in me, and I in you" No
Yes
Apart from Jesus
v4 no fruit 
Does not abide
v5 can do nothing  
v4 "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
v5 "apart from me you can do nothing"
v6 "If anyone does NOT remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
v6 withers 
thrown away 
burned in fire 

6. 2. Connec†ed? Not Connected?
"Abide in me, and I in you" No
Yes
Apart from Jesus
His words in us
v4 no fruit 
v5 much fruit 
Does not abide
v5 can do nothing  
v7 ask whatever... 
it shall be given 
To Father's glory
v6 withers 
thrown away 
burned in fire 
v8 bear much fruit   
show yourself to be my disciples

7. 2. Connec†ed? Not Connected?
"Abide in me, and I in you" No
Yes
Hebrews 6:9
Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him...
Apart from Jesus
His words in us
v4 no fruit 
v5 much fruit 
Does not abide
v5 can do nothing  
v7 ask whatever... 
it shall be given 
To Father's glory
v6 thrown away 
dry up 
burned in fire 
v8 bear much fruit   
show yourself to be my disciples

8. Ok, Ok... Fruit is important!
Two Big Questions:
What is it? Fruit?
How do we do it? ("abide" / "remain" in Jesus)
Commentaries...
Commentary by Jesus!

9. 3. "Fruit" – what is it? Listen to Jesus' commentary on this passage
John 15:9-16
What "fruit" can you hear?
Note: "love" is the sap that flows. From the Father to the Son. From the Son to us. From us to the Son...

10. 3. "Fruit" – what is it? Obedience (v10) Love for each other (v12)
this is how we express our love for Jesus
Love for each other (v12)
and sacrifice for each other (v13)
Joy, complete joy! (v11)
Being a witness
(v16 "go and bear fruit"; v27 "you must testify about me")

11. 4. Connected/abide/remain in Jesus... How do we do this?
Immerse ourselves in His word (listen to him, v7)
Prayer (talk with Him)
Practice His presence (walk with Him)
Obedience (obey him)

12. 4. Connected/abide/remain in Jesus... How do we do this?
Immerse ourselves in His word (listen to him, v7)
read it regularly; study it; pray through it; sing it; memorise it; discuss it; meditate on it; "lectio divina" it...
Prayer (talk with Him)
Practice His presence (walk with Him)
Obedience (obey him)

13. 4. Connected/abide/remain in Jesus... How do we do this?
Immerse ourselves in His word (listen to him, v7)
Prayer (talk with Him)
pray regularly; pray alone; pray out loud; pray with thanks & petition (Phil 4:6); pray with others...
You are invited: Wed 6:30am, here!
Practice His presence (walk with Him)
Obedience (obey him)

14. 4. Connected/abide/remain in Jesus... How do we do this?
Immerse ourselves in His word (listen to him, v7)
Prayer (talk with Him)
Practice His presence (walk with Him)
be led by his Spirit (Gal 5); continual prayer; centering prayer; being alone with God in nature; reflecting; fasting; fishing; ...
Obedience (obey him)

15. 4. Connected/abide/remain in Jesus... How do we do this?
Immerse ourselves in His word (listen to him, v7)
Prayer (talk with Him)
Practice His presence (walk with Him)
Obedience (obey him)
doing what he asks us to do (see above)
doing what he's asked us to do (v12)
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."

16. Summary The importance of fruit in our lives! How to be fruitful?
it shows the world we are disciples of Jesus
it brings glory to the Father
How to be fruitful?
stay connected into Jesus; abide in Him