Communion with Christ
JOHN 15:5
- THE ASSURANCES FOR LIFE & GROWTH
1. The Union
a. The Fact of the Union
The proclamation with regard to the disciples: “I am the vine, you are the branches…” [15:5].
§ ἐγώ εἰμι - “I am” [15:5],
§ ἡ ἄμπελος - “vine” [15:5], ‘grapevine’;
§ ὑμεῖς - “you are” [15:5],
§ τὰ κλήματα - “branches” [15:5], ‘shoot,’ ‘young twig, which is broken off to be replanted’;
i. The Post-Resurrection Church
The image is feasible prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus, in terms of fellowship and discipleship, but its full meaning is possible only on the basis of the Easter event and the sending of the Holy Spirit:
§ The life of God: “as the Father has life in himself, so has he given the Son to have life in himself” [5:26].
§ The claim: “I am the resurrection and the life…” [11:25]; “I am the way, and the truth, and the life…” [14:6].
§ The promise: “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter…” [14:16].
§ The indwelling: “he dwells with you and shall be in you” [14:17].
b. The Indissoluble Union
The believer’s union with Christ is indissoluble: “no one can pluck them out of my hand…” [10:28-29].
§ Secure in Christ: “him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out” [6:37].
§ Paul: “nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” [Rom.8:39].
Application
The act of faith and believing in Jesus Christ leads to union with Him.
2. The Role of the Father
a. The Proclamation
The proclamation: “my Father is the husbandman” [15:1].
§ ὁ πατήρ μου - “my Father” [15:1],
§ ὁ γεωργός - “husbandman” [15:1], ‘one who tills the soil’; ‘share-cropper’; ‘vine-dresser’; ‘one who cultivates vines’;
b. The Development
The fruit-bearing branches: “every branch that bears fruit…” [15:2].
§ πᾶν – “every” [15:2], ‘each individual in a class’;
§ φέρον – “bears” [15:2], present active participle, ‘to carry, bring forth, lead’;
§ τὸ καρπὸν - “fruit” [15:2], ‘produce from crop-bearing plants or trees’;
i. The Pruning
The Father’s action: “he purges it…” [15:2].
§ καθαίρει - “purges” [15:2], present indicative active, ‘to take down’; ‘to clean’; ‘to prune, clear unproductive wood’; ‘to make clean by removing an undesirable part’;
§ Divine chastisement: “My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord…” [Heb.12:4-11].
§ Fatherly care: “whom the Lord loves he chastens…” [Heb.12:6].
ii. The Purpose
The purpose: “that it may bring forth more fruit” [15:2].
§ φέρῃ - “bring forth” [15:2], present active subjunctive, ‘to carry, bring forth, lead’;
§ πλείονα - “more fruit” [15:2], ‘greater degree’; ‘more extensive quantity’;
§ The Father’s discipline is for our good: “he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness” [Heb.12:10].
Application
The Father ensures that the children will ‘grow up’ in the faith.
- THE COMMUNION IN THE UNION
1. The Communion
a. The Mutual Indwelling
The “abiding” is based on a mutual indwelling of the disciples and Jesus
i. The Disciples
The disciples’ relationship: “abide in me…” [15:4].
§ ἐν ἐμοί - “in me” [15:4],
ii. The Lord
The Lord’s participation: “and I in you…” [15:4].
§ κἀγὼ ἐν ὑμῖν - “in you” [15:4],
iii. New Covenant Relationship
These words point to the mutual recognition of the new covenant relationship:
§ The Lord: “I will say, It is my people…” [Zec.13:9].
§ The people: “they shall say, The Lord is my God” [Zec.13:9].
§ The mutual contemplation: “Behold, thou art fair…behold, thou art fair…” [SoS.1:15-16].
Application
Mutual indwelling, correspondence and identification: “I am in the Father and the Father in me” [14:10]; “I and the Father are one” [10:30].
2. The Condition of Communion >>> Christlikeness
a. Faithfulness
The condition: “abide in me and I in you…” [15:4].
§ μείνατε - “abide” [15:4], aorist active imperative, decisive action - ‘to remain in a place, sphere or state’; “They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day…” [1:39].
§ ‘it means to remain in one place, at a given time, with someone. Metaphorically, it can mean to keep an agreement, to remain in a particular sphere of life (with en)’.
§ John uses the term meno over fifty times in his writings; eleven times in this chapter.
i. Interpretation
The concept in its Old Testament background includes the following ideas:
§ Endurance: “The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever” [Isa.40:8].
§ Constancy: “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me…” [Isa.66:22].
§ The idea of ‘to make your permanent dwelling place’ is close to summing up the meaning.
b. The Vitality of the Relationship
i. The Metaphor
The vitality of the relationship depends on abiding: “as the branch cannot bear fruit of itself…” [15:4].
§ κλῆμα - “branch” [15:4], ‘shoot,’ ‘young twig,’ which is broken off to be replanted’;
§ οὐ δύναται - “cannot” [15:4], ‘to be able’; ‘to have power’;
§ καρπὸν φέρειν - “bear fruit” [15:4], ‘to carry, bring forth, lead’;
§ ἀφʼ ἑαυτοῦ - “of itself” [15:4], ‘motion away from’; ‘to denote a point at which something begins’;
§ ἐὰν μὴ - “except” [15:4], ‘future contingency or condition’;
§ μένῃ - “abide” [15:4], present active subjunctive, ‘to remain in a place or state’;
§ ἐν τῇ ἀμπέλῳ - “vine” [15:4],
ii. The Disciples
The abiding of discipleship: “no more can you except you abide in me” [15:4].
§ οὕτως οὐδὲ ὑμεῖς - “no more” [15:4],
§ ἐὰν μὴ - “can you” [15:4], ‘future contingency or condition’;
§ μένητε - “abide” [15:4], present active subjunctive, ‘to remain in a place or state’;
Application
The branch has no life in itself; it is utterly dependent for life and fruitfulness on the vine to which it is attached.
§ The living branch is thus truly “in” the vine; the life of the vine it truly “in” the branch.
§ This is organic growth, internal growth, driven by the pulsating life of the vine in the branch, and only this kind of growth produces fruit.
§ Continuous dependence on the vine; constant reliance upon him; persistent spiritual imbibing of his life – this is the sine quo non of spiritual fruitfulness.
§ New covenant theology – renewed heart, right mind, presence of the Spirit in the new covenant people.
3. How the Disciples Abide in Jesus
The agricultural metaphor has its limitations; it does not depict the unfathomable love that sets the disciples in this new intimacy.
a. The Father’s Love
The Father’s love for the Son: “As the Father has loved me…” [15:9].
§ Καθὼς - “as” [15:9], comparative, ‘according as’;
§ ἠγάπησέν με - “loved me” [15:9], aorist indicative active,
The Father loves the Son as a co-equal in the Trinity; the Father loves the Son as the Head of the Church.
i. The Shadow of Calvary
In the Upper Room Jesus is virtually standing in the shadow of the cross.
§ The cross is the place of suffering and humiliation: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” [Mat.27:46].
§ The cross is the place of the Father’s love for the world: “God so loved the world…” [3:16].
§ The reward of Calvary: “God has highly exalted him…” [Php.2:9-11].
ii. The Obedience of Calvary
Calvary was the pinnacle of the Son’s obedience: “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” [Php.2:8].
§ Obedience to the Father’s command: “No man takes it from me; I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” [10:18].
§ The Father’s love: “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again…” [10:17].
§ The gift of love: “The Father loved the Son, and hath given all things into his hand…” [3:35].
b. The Love of the Son
The Son’s love for the disciples: “so have I loved you” [15:9].
§ κἀγὼ - “so” [15:9], ‘in the same manner’;
§ ὑμᾶς ἠγάπησα - “loved you” [15:9], aorist indicative active,
i. The Obedience of the Disciples
Jesus’ love for the disciples: “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end…” [13:1].
§ Obedience: “Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” [15:3].
§ Fellowship: “you are they which continued with me in my temptations” [Luk.22:28].
c. The Plea for Continuance
Jesus desires that they continue to enjoy His love: “continue ye in my love” [15:9].
§ μείνατε - “continue” [15:9], aorist imperative active, ‘to remain in a place or state’;
§ ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ τῇ ἐμῇ - “in my love” [15:9],
i. The Method of Continuance
The method: “if you keep my commandments, you shall abide…” [15:10].
§ τηρήσητε - “keep” [15:10], aorist active subjunctive, ‘to watch over’; ‘to guard, keep safe’;
§ ἐντολάς μου - “commandments” [15:10],
§ μενεῖτε - “abide” [15:10], future active indicative, ‘to remain in a place or state’;
§ ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ μου - “in my love” [15:10],
ii. The Example
The example: “even as I have kept my Father’s commandment…” [15:10].
§ καθὼς - “even as” 15:10],
§ τετήρηκα - “kept” [15:10], perfect active indicative, ‘to watch over’; ‘to guard, keep safe’;
§ The perfect tense emphasises the complete obedience of Jesus.
§ μένω - “abide” [15:10], present active indicative, ‘to remain in a place or state’;
Application
A test in the observable area of obedience to Christ is a test of the unseen area of genuine spiritual vitality.
§ The love of Christ is, as it were, the atmosphere in which the disciple lives.
§ It is not something realised at a momentary crisis, but enjoyed continuously.
§ Rejoicing in its reality; depending on its support; doing nothing to grieve it; but on the contrary engaging in that which delights the lover.
Obedience and love are perfectly correlative. Love assures obedience; obedience assures love. The love of the disciples for Christ carries with it the purpose and the power of obedience; the spirit of obedience is more than the sign of love (13:35); it secures to the disciples the enjoyment of Christ’s love. The love of Christ as it is realised unites and includes inseparably man’s love for Christ, and Christ’s love for man.
4. How Jesus Abides in the Disciples
a. Jesus’ Words
The focus on the words of Jesus: “my words abide in you…” [15:7].
§ τὰ ῥήματά - “my words” [15:7], ‘single unit used in discourse’;
§ Jesus “words” [15:7] constitute ‘all the individual utterances’ that together constitute Jesus “word” [15:3], τὸν λόγον.
§ The gift of Jesus: “I have given them thy word…” [17:14], λόγον.
i. The Abiding
The relationship with the word: “my words abide in you” [15:7].
§ μείνῃ - “abide” [15:7], aorist active subjunctive, ‘to remain in a place or state’;
§ ἐν ὑμῖν - “in you” [15:7], ‘withinness’; ‘within the boundary of’;
ii. The Conformity & Transformation
The abiding word of Jesus results in transforming: “beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image…” [2Cor.3:18].
§ Transformation: “be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” [Rom.12:2].
§ Exercise: “Gird up the loins of your minds, and be sober…” [1Pet.1:13].
b. The Work of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit works in conjunction with the word: “the Spirit of truth…” [14:17].
§ The teacher: “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things…” [14:26].
§ The guide: “when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…” [16:13].
c. The Threat to its Ministry
The ministry of the Holy Spirit is sensitive to our behaviour:
i. Quenching
The ministry of the Spirit can be quenched: “quench not the Spirit” [1The.5:19].
§ σβέννυτε - “quench” [5:19], present active imperative, ‘to extinguish a fire’; ‘to snuff out’;
§ The extinguishing action: “smoking flax shall he not quench…” [Mat.12:20];
ii. Grieving
The ministry of the Spirit can be grieved: “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God…” [Eph.4:30].
§ λυπεῖτε - “grieve” [4:30], present active imperative, ‘to make sad’; ‘to cause sorrow or grief’;
§ The absence: “That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy” [16:20];
d. The Proof
The proof of discipleship: “so shall you be my disciples” [15:8].
§ καὶ - “so” [15:8],
§ γένησθε - “shall you be” [15:8], aorist middle subjunctive, ‘to become’; the sense of ‘to prove to be’;
§ ἐμοὶ μαθηταί - “my disciples” [15:8],
§ Such “words” must so lodge in the disciple’s mind and heart that conformity to Christ, obedience to Christ, is the most natural thing in the world.
Application
Christ of ‘formed’ in the disciples; it is Christ who lives in them: “I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me” [Gal.2:20].
§ The disciple’s fruit is the result of the vine’s pulsating life: “without me you can do nothing” [15:5]; “I can do all things through Christ who keeps on pouring his power into me” [Php.4:13].
§ Christians will abide in Christ just in the degree in which they let Christ abide in them. It is by yielding to the influence of his Spirit, working by his word, that that spiritual identification of the character of Christ, which is termed abiding in him, and which is the sum and substance of Christian sanctification and comfort, is obtained.
§ He lets him abide by carefully avoiding what he knows will offend, and by doing the things which are well-pleasing in his sight.
§ ‘think as I think; feel as I feel; will as I will; choose as I choose; let my feelings, my volitions, my choices; all be yours, and let them be yours because they are mine.
5. The Consequence of Failure
a. The Ineffectiveness
The ineffectiveness: “for without me you can do nothing” [15:5].
§ χωρὶς ἐμοῦ - “without me” [15:5], ‘separately’; ‘apart from’;
§ οὐ δύνασθε - “you can not” [15:5], ‘to have power’; ‘to be able’;
§ ποιεῖν - “do” [15:5], present infinitive active, ‘to make’; ‘to perform an action’;
§ οὐδέν - “nothing” [15:5],
b. The Withering
The withering: “if a man abides not in me...” [15:6].
§ μή τις μένῃ - “abides not” [15:6], present active subjunctive, ‘to remain in a place or state’;
§ ἐν ἐμοί - “in me” [15:6],
§ ἐβλήθη ἔξω - “cast forth” [15:6], aorist indicative passive, ‘to throw, hurl’ plus adverb ‘outside’;
§ τὸ κλῆμα - “branch” [15:6], ‘shoot,’ ‘young twig,’ which is broken off to be replanted’;
§ ἐξηράνθη - “withered” [15:6], aorist indicative passive, ‘to shrivel up’; ‘to waste away’;
c. The Judgement
The judgement: “men gather them and cast them into the fire…” [15:6].
§ συνάγουσιν - “gather them” [15:6], present indicative active, ‘to bring together’;
§ βάλλουσιν - “cast” [15:6], present indicative active, ‘to throw, hurl’;
§ εἰς τὸ πῦρ - “fire” [15:6],
§ καίεται - “burned” [15:6], present indicative passive, ‘to kindle’; ‘to be consumed’;
§ Ezekiel: “what is the vine tree more than any other tree…when the fire has devoured it, and it is burned” [Eze.15:1-8].
Application
Distance separates; distance in thought, action, physical presence, replacement, displacement
§ The need for self-discipline;
§ The “abiding” is the necessary prerequisite of fruitfulness…every branch must have the vital connection with the vine >>> “abide in me and see that I abide in you” [15:4].
§ Illustration – ‘leaking water pipe’.
- THE GOAL
1. Fruit-bearing
The goal is fruit-bearing: “he that abides in me and I in him…” [15:5].
§ ὁ μένων - “abides” [15:5], present active participle, ‘to remain in a place or state’;
§ ἐν ἐμοὶ - “in me” [15:5],
§ κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ - “in him” [15:5],
§ φέρει - “brings forth” [15:5], present indicative active, ‘to carry, bring forth, lead’;
§ πολύν - “much” [15:5], ‘of degree – much’; ‘of extent – great’;
§ καρπὸν - “fruit” [15:5], ‘produce from crop-bearing plants or trees’;
a. The Glory of God
This brings glory to God: “herein is my Father glorified…” [15:8].
§ ἐν τούτῳ - “herein” [15:8], ‘in this’; a reference to ‘fruit-bearing’;
§ ἐδοξάσθη - “glorified” [15:8], aorist passive indicative, ‘to have an opinion’; to attribute high status to’; ‘to honour’;
§ God is glorified in the work of the Son: “now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him” [13:31-32].
§ φέρητε - “bear fruit” [15:8], present active subjunctive, ‘to carry, bring forth, lead’;
b. The Proof of Discipleship
This is evidence of true discipleship: “so shall you be my disciples” [15:8].
§ γένησθε - “be” [15:8], aorist middle subjunctive, ‘to come to exist’; ‘to happen’;
§ ἐμοὶ μαθηταί - “my disciples” [15:8], ‘follower’; ‘pupil, student’; μαθητής denotes the man who directs his mind to something’;
Application
2. Prevailing Prayer
a. The Prayer
The prayer of faith: “you shall ask what you will…” [15:7].
§ αἰτήσασθε - “ask” [15:7], aorist middle imperative, ‘to request’; ‘to demand’;
§ θέλητε - “you will” [15:7], present active subjunctive, ‘to will, purpose, decide’;
§ A prayer conformed and bound by the word of Jesus: “if my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will…” [15:7].
b. The Answer
The response of God: “it shall be done…” [15:7].
§ γενήσεται - “shall be done” [15:7], future middle indicative, ‘to come into being’; ‘to come to exist’;
§ The content of prevailing prayer: “whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do…” [14:13].
§ Unanswered prayer: “you ask and receive not because you ask amiss…” [Jam.4:3].
Application
It is important to notice how the promise of the absolute fulfilment of prayer is connected with the personal fellowship of the believer with Christ
§ Their prayer is only some fragment of His teaching transformed into a supplication, and so it will necessarily be heard; as He has spoken so they speak.
3. Joy
The ultimate goal of all that Jesus has said is defined in terms of joy.
a. The Presence of Joy
The purpose of Jesus’ words is now defined: “these things have I spoken unto you…” [15:11].
§ ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμὴ - “my joy” [15:10], ‘to rejoice’; ‘to be merry’;
b. The Joy of Jesus
Our joy is the joy of Jesus: “my joy…” [15:10].
§ ἡ χαρὰ ἡ ἐμὴ - “my joy” [15:10], possessive adjective, ‘belonging to me’;
§ The joy of Jesus is the joy that arises from the sense of a finished work. It is creative joy, like the joy of the artist. It produces a sense of unexhausted power for fresh creation.
§ This joy in the heart of Jesus is both the joy of victory, and the sense of having brought His church into being: “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled” [3:29].
§ A joy Jesus finds in being loved and sent by the Father and in carrying out the Father’s commandments.
c. The Disciples’ Joy
The joy of Jesus was to be: “in you” [15:10].
§ ἐν ὑμῖν - “in you” [15:10],
§ The Christian life is ‘a life characterised by ‘unexhausted (and inexhaustible) power for fresh creation’.
i. The Fullness of Joy
The fullness of joy: “that your joy may be full” [15:10].
§ ἡ χαρὰ ὑμῶν - “your joy” [15:10], ‘the joy that you will possess’;
§ The joy of Jesus now becomes their joy; they share in his joy so that it is now classed as their own.
§ πληρωθῇ - “full” [15:10], ‘to be complete’; ‘to be full up’;
Application
It is Christ’s “joy” because it is given to us by him; for he is both the Author and the Cause of it.
§ The concept of joy is far from their experience at this time: “let not your heart be troubled…” [14:1].
§ The promised Comforter: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” [Gal.5].