A Tour Through John, Lesson 27

<p>For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ <a href="https://www.douglasjacoby.com/tour-john-lesson-27/" target="_blank"><strong>website.</strong></a></p><p>Chapter 15 tells us about our relationship to Jesus (vv.1-17), using three different analogies.</p><p>15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunesto make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansedby the word that I have spoken to you.</p><ul><li>15:1 is the last of the 7 "I Am" statements. The 7 signs concluded in John 11, the 7 "I Am" statements here in John 15. The 7 confessions of faith will not conclude until John 20.</li><li>Israel is often represented in the OT by a vine or vineyard. See Psalm 80:8-18; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:1-5; 17:1-21; 19:10-15; Hosea 10:1-2.</li></ul><p>4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and becomemy disciples.</p><ul><li>First analogy: Jesus is the vine; we are the branches (v.1ff).<ul><li>We are therefore wholly dependent on him.</li><li>Pruning (v.2) is literally <i>cleaning.</i></li><li>There is a word play in the original Greek: <i>hairei </i>(takes away) v. <i>kathairei</i> (cleans). Consider the right and wrong understandings of <a href="http://douglasjacoby.com/articles/1529">pruning</a>.</li><li>The fruit, in context = those who believe the message.</li><li>The vine is Jesus, not the church.</li></ul></li><li>Second analogy: Jesus is the teac