[:en]SCRIPTURE: JOHN 15
“I am the true vine. You are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5)
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you” (John 15:7)
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:12)
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command” (John 15:13-14)
THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES (vs. 1-17)
Jesus is the true vine and the Father is the gardener. Those without fruits will be cut off while those with fruits will be pruned to make it more fruitful.
We should remain in the vine in order to bear much fruit because apart from Christ, we can do nothing. To remain in Christ is to bear fruits (v. 4), live in His Word and pray (v.7),, and to obey His commands (v. 10).
THE WORLD HATES HIS DISCIPLES (vs. 18-27)
If you belong to Christ, the world will hate you because they hate Christ. Christians are in this world physically but they are not of the world spiritually. A Christian is like a ship. The world is the water. The ship being in the water is ok. But when the water gets into the ship, there is a sign of danger.
SUMMARY:
Our relationship to Christ is like the vine and the branches. The branch must remain in the vine to produce fruits. We have to abide in Him so that we can live a fruitful life to glorify Him.
Our relationship to fellowmen must center on love. To love God is to love one another as God has loved us.
We must be cautious in our relationship with the world. Do not be friends with the world (James 4:4) and do not conform to the world (Rom 12:2). As the world hates Christ, they also hate those who belong to Christ. The more we are like Christ, the more the world oppose us. Since we enjoy God’s love, we must also take up the cross and follow Him.[:]