The Fruit of Love John 14:15 – 15:17

Moving into Lent A season with a double focus on: Our human weakness We are “dust” and will die We are sinners Our hope in Jesus Christ He overcomes (our) death He overcomes (our) sin

During Lent we walk with Jesus to the Cross, in anticipation of Easter and our celebration of his Resurrection victory. This walk includes serious reflection on both our human need and God’s provision for our need through Christ.

John 14:15 – 15:17 The context: Jesus’ “Discipleship Sermons” (John 13-17). Jesus symbolizes his unshakable love for his disciples by humbly washing their feet. He then gives them the command to “love one another” as evidence of their connection to him.

Jesus then predicts (chapter 13): his impending death his betrayal by Judas, and his denial by Peter. Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home . . . John 14:1-2 (NLT)

The Tapestry of John 13-15

The Tapestry of John 13-15 Five strands: Trust Jesus Keep Jesus’ commands Love each other Remain in Jesus Bear fruit

Strand 1: Trust Jesus 1 Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home . . . John 14

The way that we “love God” with our heart, soul, mind, and strength is simply by putting our confidence in Jesus as our source of true life. He is the True Vine (there are false vines). He has already called and cleansed us, so the relationship is based on his action (love), not ours.

Strand 2: Keep Jesus’ Commands 34 “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13

First commandment: Love God (by trusting his Son, Jesus). Second commandment: Love one another.

Jesus sends us the paraclete in his place to encourage and challenge us. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth . . . You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14

Jesus sends us the paraclete in his place to encourage and challenge us. “the One called alongside” “the Encourager” “our True Friend”

“To want to believe is an authentic form of believing . . . to want to love is a legitimate way of beginning to love.” Frederick Dale Bruner

“Those Christians are most filled with the Holy Spirit who are least conscious of it. All they know is they want to serve Jesus Christ; and they feel that they are ‘unprofitable servants’ (Luke 17:10).” Charles R. Erdman

Strand 3: Love Each Other 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends . . . 17 This is my command: Love each other. John 15

To love each other is the complement of loving God by trusting Jesus. To love each other is to keep Jesus’ commandment. To love each other is to remain in the True Vine. To love each other is the “mark” of the Christ-follower.

Strand 4: Remain in Jesus 5 “Yes, I am the (true) 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.”  John 15

9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.  10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.  John 15

(Frederick Dale Bruner paraphrase) “Just as much as the Father loved me – there! that is how much I have loved you. Make your home in this special love of mine (and relax).” John 15:9 (Frederick Dale Bruner paraphrase)

Jesus is the True Vine (our source of Life, through the Spirit). The Father is the loving Gardener. There is the possibility of branches being “cut off.” There is the benefit of branches being “pruned” (by the Truth/Word).

There is the necessity that we cultivate the life of Jesus in us so that we might “bear fruit.” The context is Jesus’ transforming love for us, the same depth of love with which he is loved by the Father. Make your home in this special love of mine (and relax).

Strand 5: Bear Fruit 8 “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” John 15

16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other. John 15

We produce fruit only as we remain in the True Vine. We remain in Jesus by trusting him as our true source. Jesus has chosen us, not we him; his love is the “root of the matter.” The fruit of remaining in Jesus is that we love each other.

Weaving the Strands Together Our calling as God’s children is to trust Jesus and to love each other. By doing so we keep Jesus’ commands. At times all we can do is want to trust and to love; we struggle fall far short. Jesus has given us the help of His Spirit, who is not only with us but in us.

The fruit we bear is loving each other. We cannot bear the fruit of love unless we consciously cultivate our connection to the True Vine. We cultivate this connection through personal and corporate prayer our response to the Word being fed at the Table seeking to act in love towards one another.

27 Peace I leave with your fellowship; my peace I give to you 27 Peace I leave with your fellowship; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. John 14 11 I have told your fellowship these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! John 15