ABIDE WITH JESUS

by Kristen West McGuire

John 15:4-17

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine: you the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.

6 If any one abide not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burneth. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask whatever you will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 In this is my Father glorified; that you bring forth very much fruit, and become my disciples.

9 As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; as I also have kept my Father’s commandments, and do abide in his love.

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled. 12 This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you. 15 I will not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends: because all things whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you.

16 You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 These things I command you, that you love one another.1​

Context: The craft of the master winemaker is instructive here. Good grapes take years to develop into abundant fruit. They are not to be watered too much, and they must be planted in soil that is free of weeds. The new vine will wither and die without the main graft. Young vines must be pruned back of new fruit at regular intervals, and little fruit is expected at first. The fruit of the mature vine is coaxed forth by a patient heart.

The Love of Jesus is divine, and precedes the love of his friends. It is the Love that Mary received first and brought forth. Jesus commands the disciples to love, and to receive His Love just as Mary received and brought forth Jesus himself.

Translation: The Old Testament is full of references to Israel as the vineyard of God, subject to his care. And yet, in Psalm 80, Isaiah 5, and Jeremiah 21, Israel is portrayed as unfaithful to the Lord and as wild grapes that are growing outside of the cultivation required for full fruit.

In Ezekiel 15, the residents of Jerusalem are portrayed as vine branches that did not become fruitful and thus are worthless. And even so, in Ezekiel 16, Israel is described as the Bride in God’s mercy. He does not abandon Israel, as Christ will never abandon His Chosen People or the Church.

Vocabulary (Greek):

• Menō (μένω): ‘Abide’ or ‘remain’ (vv. 4-10)—a recurring command for ongoing union, like sap flowing from vine to branch. Without it, we “wither” (v. 6 context); with it, we bear fruit.
• Agapaō (ἀγαπάω) and agapē (ἀγάπη): ‘Love’ (vv. 9-12, 17)—not mere emotion, but obedient, self-giving choice, modeled on the Father’s love for the Son and Christ’s for us.
• Phileō (φιλέω): ‘love’ (v.15) expresses friendship love (philia), a bond of affection, loyalty, and mutual delight, distinct from agapaō (selfless, divine love)
• Philos (φίλος): ‘Friends’ (vv. 13-15)—elevates disciples from “servants” (doulos) to intimate companions who share the Father’s secrets, yet obey out of love.
• Karpos (καρπός): ‘Fruit’ (v. 16)—lasting works of holiness, avoiding sin, sanctification, and building up others

Meditation: In John 15, Jesus presents the image of the vine and the branches to the apostles at the Last Supper. In all of the Old Testament, in all the stories of the Chosen People, only Abraham is called the friend of God. (Isaiah 41:8, II Chronicles 20:7)

And yet, it is our inheritance from the disciples to be called the friends of Jesus.

(John 15:13) Our love as Christians is both agapē and phileō. We obey and He calls us to follow Him. And His path leads to the Cross...and then to the Resurrection.

In some mysterious way, the Master asks us to become His friends by laying down our lives for Him. We love even when it hurts. It is not polite, and it is not nice, and it is not easy. And yet, somehow, as barren, thirsty, pruned vines, we will bear fruit and know that God’s Love is real!

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