John 15:1-27
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 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 keep yours also.
21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
23 He who hates Me hates My Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.
25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
There is such a great contrast between the world’s love and the love that comes from the Father. The world imposes its will now with the threat of immediate excommunication and even death for non-compliance. The Father, however, embraces now in forgiveness, mercy and acceptance, with the consequences coming as a natural result of failure to return that embrace. The world always threatens with the removal of temporary pleasures and infliction of temporary discomforts, while hope in the Father’s love provides for an immediate security that will transcend any immediate, lasting through eternity. There is a benefit and reward for each, but there is no comparison in ultimate outcomes. If it can only be made clear what the difference is, the choice would be a no-brainer. It’s kind of like those high-school options for long-term relationships – if you could only see then how fifty years changes things, the choice might be greatly effected. Attractive now does not equal attractive and livable later.
The presentation of this truth, just as with Jesus, is subject to positive effect only upon its application. Love presents without fear of rejection or requirement of acceptance – only with assurance in love received and its unending rewards of faithfulness. Some will hear, apply and embrace the Father’s love, while probably many more will not allow the Word to bring any alterations to a heart embracing the world’s attractions. Much better to clearly see, respond to, and share the love that will reward far after those minuscule enticements have rotted and passed away. And, how rewarding to press past the world’s inflictions for the joy of those that will receive and be transformed by the Father’s love.