We now move on to John chapter 15:1-8
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.
2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. 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; 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.
Questions for discussion:
- What does Jesus mean about a pruned branch being more fruitful?
- Jesus says “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Can you name a place in the Bible that talks about the “fruit” and its meaning?
- Are you bearing good “fruit” for the Kingdom?
1. What does Jesus mean about a pruned branch being more fruitful?
Jesus tells us that we have to eliminate some part of our lives to be fruitful, and those could be sinful behavior (remember gouging out your eye if it causes you to sin?) (Matthew 5:29-30). The passage can also mean that our life will not be easy proclaiming the Gospel, which would result in unfortunate events in our lives, sometimes our lives. Look at the martyrs throughout the centuries? “Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.” (John 15:20)
2. Jesus says “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Can you name a place in the Bible that talks about the “fruit” and its meaning?
Jesus expands on the “fruit” analogy by comparing his followers with those who profess a false gospel. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (John 7:15-20)
3. Are you bearing good “fruit” for the Kingdom?
Regardless of what “fruit” we think we bear, there is always more work to be done. Jesus said in Matthew 9:36-38, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”