Abide Together: Reflections on John 15

In John 15,  Jesus speaks of Himself as the true vine and teaches that all those who are rightly related to Him are branches that will bear fruit.  Those who do not bear fruit are not rightly related to Jesus through faith and are cast away.  The fruit is the proof of a person’s right relationship with Jesus.  Jesus calls the disciples to love each other and reminds them that He chose them to bear fruit. Although the disciples’ relationship to each other will be characterized by love, their relationship with the world will be characterized by hate, as the world will hate them.  He reminds them that they will be able to testify of Him in this hate filled world, because He is sending the Holy Spirit to live in them.  The thing that sticks out to me is Jesus’ promise to those who abide in Him and His words – “If you abide in Me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”  The only way to abide in Jesus is through faith and the only way for his words to abide in His people is by reading, studying, memorizing and applying them.  When His word abides in His people, then their requests will be according to His will and will be granted.  Lord, help me to daily abide in You and your words abide in me, so that I will ask only according to Your will and bring You glory.

– Bryan McKenzie