INTRO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, Sarah Barry
JESUS THE TRUE VINE
Passage: John 15:1~8  
Key verse: 5
The Vine and the Branches
15 “I am(A) the true vine,(B) and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit,(C) while every branch that does bear fruit(D) he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.(E) 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you.(F) No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;(G) 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.(H) 7 If you remain in me(I) and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.(J) 8 This is to my Father’s glory,(K) that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.(L)
Footnotes
- John 15:2 The Greek for he prunes also means he cleans.
Cross references
- John 15:1 : S Jn 6:35
- John 15:1 : Ps 80:8-11; Isa 5:1-7
- John 15:2 : ver 6; S Mt 3:10
- John 15:2 : Ps 92:14; Mt 3:8; 7:20; Gal 5:22; Eph 5:9; Php 1:11
- John 15:3 : Jn 13:10; 17:17; Eph 5:26
- John 15:4 : S Jn 6:56
- John 15:5 : ver 16
- John 15:6 : ver 2; Eze 15:4; S Mt 3:10
- John 15:7 : ver 4; S Jn 6:56
- John 15:7 : S Mt 7:7
- John 15:8 : S Mt 9:8
- John 15:8 : Jn 8:31
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. The Gardener prunes (1-4)
Jesus wants his disciples to be fruitful. There are several kinds of fruit: the inner fruit of Christian character; the fruit of good influence; the fruit of disciple-making. God prunes us to make us fruitful. He prunes us by his word. He leads us to repent of sinful habits, deeds and thoughts. Good branches must also be pruned by God's training. God disciplines us because he loves us (Heb 12:6,11).
2. Remain in Jesus (5-8)
In order for a branch to bear fruit, it must remain connected to the vine. In the same way, we must remain in union with Jesus. Branches severed from the main Vine are dead, and fit only for firewood. Verse 7 is God's promise. If we remain in Jesus and have his word in our hearts, he will give us whatever we ask in prayer. So we must walk with Jesus through prayer and Bible study. Then we will bear much fruit and prove to be his disciples. This is the life that glorifies God
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Prayer: Lord, help me to glorify you and enjoy you forever, for this is the chief purpose of mankind.
One Word: Remain in Jesus and bear fruit