DEVOTIONS WITH PASTOR BOB The Gospel of John Chapter 15 “Remain in Me”

DEVOTIONS WITH PASTOR BOB

The Gospel of John Chapter 15

“Remain in Me”

The Book of John in Song - Chapter 15 - "Remain"

https://youtu.be/G1LiqjGKfzo

Jesus said in John 15:1-8 (NLT),

 ¹ “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 

² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 

³ You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 

⁴ Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

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 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.

JESUS DECLARES THAT HE IS “I AM”

Throughout the Gospels you will notice that Jesus is slowing revealing His deity by saying, “I AM”.

1. “I Am the Bread of Life.” (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)
2. “I Am the Light of the World.” (John 8:12)
3. “I Am the Door of the Sheep.” (John 10:7,9)
4. “I Am the Resurrection and The Life.” (John 11:25)
5. “I Am the Good Shepherd.” (John 10:11, 14)
6. “I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6)
7. “I Am the True Vine.” (John 15:1, 5)

John 15:1-8 is an allegory (a work in which the characters represent other things, and symbolically express a deeper meaning). 

THERE ARE FOUR ACTORS IN THIS LITTLE DRAMA

1 - Jesus Identifies himself as “The True Vine”

2 - God the Father is identified as the “Gardener.”

3 - The followers of Jesus are identified as the “Abiding Branches.”

4 - There are also the branches that is thrown away and wither, which are unbelievers.

THE GARDENERS
Vineyards were familiar to everyone during the time of Jesus. 

People pass vineyards as they walk from place to place. 

Some owned their own vineyard or work in a vineyard. 

These vinedressers as they were called were able to discern fruitful branches, from those that were only draining the vine’s energy. 

These gardeners would trim unfruitful branches away, all the while feeling good about the surgical purpose of their work. 

The pruning might appear cruel, but the process renews the vine’s vitality. 

These useless vines drain a plant’s strength. 

To leave them in place serves no purpose and reduces the value of the vineyard. 

The gardener cuts away unfruitful branches, and then finding them unusable, burns them.

JESUS IS THE VINE WHO BRINGS SPIRITUAL LIFE TO US.

Through his death upon the cross, Jesus has brought life to us.

Saving us from our sin and grafting us into the True vine (Romans 11:17)

As the “Vine”, Jesus brings to us The Living Water (The Holy Spirit).

Jesus said in John 7:38 (NLT),

“Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!

For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.

When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.

But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.”

Jesus said in John 4:14 (NLT),

“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again.

It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

GOD THE FATHER IS A HEAVENLY GARNER IN OUR LIVES.

God the Father is the Gardener who prunes away those things in our live that are keeping us from abiding in the Vine (Jesus).

Just like cholesterol can clog up our arteries, restricting blood flow, so can un-repentant, un-confessed sin, they restrict the flow of the Spirit in our life.

1John 1:8-10 (NLT)

⁸ If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 

⁹ But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 

¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

JESUS SAYS 4 TIME “REMAIN IN ME”

Jesus is declaring that it is through Him that life flows.

He is saying that it is important to remain connected with Him if we want that life giving flow.

Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.

No one can come to the Father except through me.

This is why it is so important to remain connected with Jesus the life giver.

PRAYER

Dear Father we are so grateful for the work of God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) that are at work in our lives. We are in awe of your wonderful works that you have done on our behalf. May we every day of our lives find ourselves abiding and remaining in Christ the True Vine, where light and life come from. Amen!