Jesus is the Vine and we are the branches. We derive our whole life from him; we are who and what we are because we are in him. Without him we are nothing and can do nothing; remaining in him, we are called and enabled to bear fruit that will glorify God.
Such we read in vv.1-8. But that is not the end of Jesus’ discussion about our relationship to him and what must proceed from that. We’re going to pick up that discussion again this morning in vv.9-17.
1. Loved by the Son
The depiction of the relationship between Jesus and his disciples as a vine to its branches is very bracing – it is easily grasped and makes its point powerfully. But it does not, can not, tell the whole story; the image as it stands is rather impersonal. But Jesus straight away makes good on that in a statement of profound proportions: he tells his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.”
In this gospel, the relationship between Jesus and his Father has been seen to be of the deepest, most rewarding nature. The love they share has no comparisons. So when Jesus tells us that he loves his own just as the Father has loved him, we’re perhaps lost for words and taken aback: can that really be true?
Wonderfully, the answer is yes, it can be and it is! The love of Jesus for all his people is of the same nature as the love between the father and the Son. Being loved in this way, we are caught up into the very life and love of God in the most deeply personal way.
The imagery of vine and branches which on its own might have seemed mechanical and merely functional has now given way to a plain statement of glorious reality: we are loved by God with the love that exists within the relationships of the Trinity.
But whilst the fact of that love is secure and settled, our enjoyment of that love is not a static reality. Jesus calls us here to remain in his love, just as he remained in the Father’s love. And the way Jesus did that, and that we are also to do so, was through obedience. Just as he obeyed his Father, so we are to obey the commands of our Lord.
In no way is Jesus here describing a merit-theology in which we earn his love; that could never be and would utterly rob love of its meaning and vitality. What he is saying is that our enjoyment of his love for us will be conditioned by our obedience to his commands. As someone has said, “This obedience is not what makes them friends; it is what characterises his friends.” (Carson)
The upshot of our taking Jesus at his word and remaining in his love (by obeying his commands) is that his joy will be in us and our joy will then be complete (v.11). Although Jesus was known as a man of sorrows, he was also a man of joy, great joy, in his relationship with his Father. Doing the will of the Father meant so much to Jesus because of his relationship to the Father; it was for the joy set before him – the joy of completing his assigned task and so honouring his Father – that Jesus went through the terrible suffering of the cross.
If we remain in his love by obeying his commands, we will share in that joy, fully. To put Jesus first, to give your all for God, is not to suffer loss; it is great gain. Just as the man who discovered treasure in a field and sold all he had to obtain it didn’t lose out, so we don’t lose out when we seek first God and his kingdom. Rather, we are blessed by sharing in Jesus’ joy.
2. Jesus’ command: Love each other
We might want to ask our Lord at this point what his commands are that we are to obey to remain in his love for us. There are, of course, many commands in scripture and we are to take all the will of god seriously; it isn’t a pick’n’mix affair. But Jesus here summarises our response to his claims upon us in this way: “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” (v.12).
Essentially, Jesus here repeats the call he made back in 13:34 and the standard is still as high and as demanding: “as I have loved you”. Our love for each other must rise above mere sentiment; it is instead to be patterned on and reflect the self-giving sacrifice of our Lord for us. That is going to take some working on but we can’t dodge it if we want to be true disciples of Jesus.
But why does Jesus reduce his commands to this? Why this one and not the command to love God with heart, soul, mind and strength? Clearly, that command is presupposed and everything else builds on and flows from it. The reason for fixing on this command by way of summary would seem to be because “love is the fulfilment of the law” (Rom. 13:10) and love, as Paul tells us, binds every other virtue together in perfect unity (Col. 3:14).
The call for disciples to love each other is made on the basis of the example of Jesus, “as I have loved you”. But here also is the reality which gives not just the example but the energy for us to love each other, that Jesus laid down his life for his friends and we are his friends (by the grace of adoption).
We have tasted and seen that the Lord is good; we have been rescued from our sin by a love which went all the way for us. Knowing that love and rejoicing in it gives a power and an impetus to our lives as believers, such that we are enabled to love each other as Jesus loved us.
But it must be worked out in practical detail in our lives. We need to pray as Paul did for the Philippians, that our love “may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight” (Phil. 1:9).
3. Being friends and bearing fruit
We are loved by Jesus as his friends and are called to love each other as he has loved us. Our Lord has brought us into the most rewarding relationship imaginable. In vv.15,16 Jesus explains why he is now calling them ‘friends’ and what it means for their mission.
They are no longer called servants but friends on account of what has been revealed to them: “I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” Servants are not in that position of intimacy; they don’t know their Master’s business but Jesus has held nothing back from them – everything he has heard from the Father he has told them (although they haven’t grasped its full import).
It’s important to see what Jesus means by this new description of his relationship with the disciples. In calling them friends he isn’t leaving behind the vine and branches imagery; they are his friends but he is still their Master.
Yes, he is our friend – that is a precious truth – but not in the sense of the friendship of equals. They are no longer called servants because they have been brought into the truth that only friends know – but Jesus remains their Lord.
As someone has said, “Jesus’ absolute right to command is in no way diminished, but he takes pains to inform his friends of his motives, plans, purposes.” (Carson)
And it is as their Lord who has made known to them the will of the Father that he has both chosen and appointed them to go and bear fruit.
As we’ve seen, fruitfulness is a very comprehensive notion but in this specific context, with the emphasis on going and bearing fruit, it seems that Jesus is highlighting the evangelistic ministry of the church. His purpose is that they should bear fruit that will last – seeing the gospel make a lasting impact in the lives of many people.
With this in mind, Jesus reiterates that his disciples can petition the Father and he will give them whatever they ask in Jesus’ name. As we seek to do his will, as his friends, reaching out to others, we can ask for whatever we need and be assured of God’s help, according to his purposes.
And with this emphasis on the outreach of the church it is no accident that Jesus repeats in v.17 his command to his disciples that they love each other. The mission of the church is not a matter of words only; the world must see in the unity and love of the church something of the reconciling ministry of God.
May God grant that our life together would show that kind of fruitfulness, for his glory and praise. Amen.
