Abiding

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.   John 15:4-5

As Holy Week was coming to an end Jesus again takes the opportunity to teach the disciples. There is a long discourse of what they need to do; take a few minutes to read and meditate on John chapter 15.

I believe He is speaking to His disciples as well as Christians today. Here are some highlights:

Verse 1:

Jesus is the vine and His Father is the husbandman. God takes care of us.

Verse 4:

Abide in Jesus and He will abide in you. Abide in the Greek means to stay (in a given place), dwell, endure, be present, remain.

We need to stay right next to Jesus. When we abide in Him we will receive all the strength we need to get through each and every day.

Verse 5:

Jesus is the vine we are the branches. To bear fruit we must abide in Him. Without Him we are nothing. Without Him is the same thing as separated from Him. Albert Barnes says, “As the branches, if separated from the parent stock, could produce no fruit, but would immediately wither and die, so Christians, if separate from Christ, could do nothing.”

Verse 6:

When we do not abide in Him, we will wither away (or dry up). We have a choice, accept or reject Him.

Verse 8:

Jesus wants the disciples and us to bear much fruit. We need to apply the “fruit of the spirit” to our lives to show forth and share with others.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23  Meekness, temperance: … Galatians 5:22-23

Verse 9:

As God loves Jesus, Jesus loves us, continue in His love. Show His love to others in word, action and deed.

Verse 10:

When you keep His commandments you will abide in His love. Abide means to stay in a given place. We will be close to Him. Jesus is trying to stress that the disciples need to abide. Abide with Him.

Verse 12:

Love one another.

Verse 13:

No greater love than when a man lays down His life for His friends. Jesus loves us so much he was willing to die for us.

Verse 14:

We are His friends if we do what He says.

Verse 17:

Love one another.

Verse 26:

Jesus will send a Comforter which is the Holy Spirit.

This was one of the last times the disciples were with Jesus before He was killed. He was preparing them for the time after He was physically gone.

We need to abide in Him. When we pull away from the vine all strength is zapped out of us. We cannot get nourishment unless we are attached to the vine.

Abide in Him today.

Have a blessed day,
Donna