Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that bears not fruit He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you. 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.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples." (John 15:1-8)
At this point, Judas Iscariot has already left to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. The Word that Jesus is speaking here, in response to a question from another Judas (not Judas Iscariot) -- as He has stated, "and the Word which ye hear is not Mine but the Father's which sent Me. These things have I spoken unto you, being [yet] present with you." (John 14:21-22)
The Word which we are hearing at this point in the scriptures, as Jesus points out, is not the man Christ Jesus' word but rather the Father's through Him. Remember, the scripture tells us that Jesus is the Word made flesh. (John 1:1, 14) That Jesus is the visible image of the unseen God. (Hebrews 1:1-13) That Jesus was God in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself. (II Corinthians 5:19) And that Jesus was God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16) God our Saviour! (Titus 2:13)
Thus, when Jesus tells His disciples that the things He is speaking is the Word of the Father, and Jesus is the Word that was made flesh and dwelt among us -- the only begotten Son -- Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us -- we need to understand that the Father is being glorified here. That the Word of God -- the seed that is being planted in people's hearts -- is so that you and I can have abundant, everlasting life in Him.
Throughout the Old Testament the Lord God continued to speak His Word through the prophets and the psalmist but the people would not hearken their hearts to listen. How many times did the prophets repeatedly state: "Hear ye the Word of the Lord!" (Isaiah 66:5; Isaiah 1:10; Isaiah 28:14)
From Jeremiah -- "This evil people, which refuse to hear My words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing." (Jeremiah 13:10)
From Peter -- "For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the SAME WORD are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (II Peter 3:5-8)
So much so, in fact, that the Lord God decidedly came forth as a mighty man to bring to us His oh so costly gift of salvation. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6) In order to get our attention, God willingly became flesh and dwelt among us. "He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11) Yes, after the kindness and love of God toward man appeared so that His glory and magnificence and everlasting love could be witnessed by one and all. (Titus 3:4-7)
This is why we are called to make a heart decision for Jesus --"If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)
What is the truth that shall make us free? Thy Word is truth. (John 17:17) God personally gave us His Word so that we might hear His love resonating in our hearts. But are we listening? Do we understand that when the Word was made flesh, it was God clothing Himself in sin-prone flesh (yet without sin) so that we could find our life-long purpose in Him? This is why we can do nothing without Jesus. This is why the Word cleanses those who believe in Him and keep His love commandments.
As Jesus said, "I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me!" (John 14:6) We need to understand that if we have seen Jesus, we have seen the Father and know Him. As Jesus said, "I and My Father are One!" (John 10:30; John 14:6-12) All authority on earth and in heaven belongs to Jesus, for without Him there is no salvation. (Matthew 28:18; Revelation 1:8) But I digress somewhat.
Do you remember when the Jews sought the more to kill Jesus -- not only because He had broken the law of the sabbath but that He said also that God was His Father making Himself equal with God? Then answered Jesus and said unto them, "Verily, verily, I say unto you -- the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do: for what things soever He doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him all things that Himself doeth: and He will shew Him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. For as the Father raises up the dead, and quickens, even so, the Son quickened whom He will." (John 5:18-21)
Indeed, we know at this point in the scriptures, time is short. Soon, the betrayer Judas Iscariot will return with soldiers to take Jesus away. Herein, Jesus is instructing those who love Him that He is the true vine -- "without Me ye can do nothing!" (John 15:5)
Therefore, those who abide in Jesus expect Jesus also to abide in them. Specifically, as Jesus said, "If ye abide in Me and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you. Herein, is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples." (John 15:7-8)
Let those with ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
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