John 15 - NKJV Study Bible

15:1 true vine: In this phrase the word true is emphatic. My Father: With such a vinedresser, the branches can experience complete confidence and security.

15:2 Every branch is said to be in Christ. Paul uses the phrase “in Christ” to speak of a Christian’s legal and family position as a result of God’s grace. The emphasis of in Me in this passage, however, is on deep, abiding fellowship. Jesus’ purpose was to move His disciples from servants to friends (vv. 13–15). This would involve a process of discipline in regard to His commandments. not bear fruit: No plant produces fruit instantaneously; fruit is the result of a process. Such is also the case with believers. Prunes means “cleanses.” Once the fruit is on the vine, the vinedresser cleanses the fruit of bugs and diseases. The spiritual counterpart is cleansing which is done through the Word (v. 3).

15:4 For the branch to produce more fruit, it must abide, which means to dwell, to stay, to settle in, to sink deeper. The way to abide in Christ is to obey (see 15:10; 1 John 3:24). The believer who lovingly obeys the Word of God produces much fruit.

15:5 can do nothing: Apart from Christ, a believer cannot accomplish anything of permanent spiritual value.

15:6 Not abiding in Christ has serious consequences: (1) The person is cast out as a branch, indicating the loss of fellowship; (2) the person is withered, indicating a loss of vitality; (3) the person is burned, indicating a loss of reward. The fire here is figurative, symbolizing either fiery trials (see 1 Pet. 1:7; 4:12) or the fire at the judgment seat of Christ (see 1 Cor. 3:11–15). Failure to abide produces spiritual disaster. they gather them: Note the movement from “He” (the Father who is the vinedresser, v. 2) to “you” (the believer who does or does not abide, v. 4) to “they” (unbelievers looking for signs of life; see 13:35).

15:8 By this: Notice the striking parallel between this verse and 13:35. The love of 13:35 is pictured as fruit here. The text has come full circle in showing how strategic it is for disciples to love each other, as Christ’s method of evangelizing the lost. “They shall know” becomes so you will be Christ’s disciples. Where there is good fruit, there are also seeds for propagation.

15:9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you: The love of God the Father for God the Son is the measure of the love of the Son for believers.

15:10 abide in My love: Christ loves believers unconditionally (v. 9). But as believers obey Christ’s Word and abide in His love, they come to experience and understand His love for them more and more (see Eph. 3:14–19).

15:11 That your joy may be full is an expression peculiar to John (see 3:29; 16:24; 17:13; 1 John 1:4; 2 John 12). It describes a believer’s experience of Christ’s love: complete joy.

15:12 love one another: To abide, a believer must obey (v. 10). To obey, a believer must love other believers (13:34,35).

15:13 lay down one’s life: In rashness and with confidence in the flesh, Peter had offered to lay down his life for Jesus. In actuality, he was not ready to die for Jesus; he was not even ready to live for Him (18:17,18, 25–27). The supreme example of love is Jesus’ humility in sacrificial service (13:15).

15:14 if you do: Jesus is our model for love (v. 13). Intimacy with Him is the motive for loving as He loves. If believers obey His command to love, they enjoy the intimacy of His friendship. Note that friendship, unlike sonship, is not a once-for-all gift, but develops as the result of obeying Jesus’ command to love.

15:15 No longer . . . servants: Until this point, Jesus had called His disciples servants (12:26; 13:13–16). A servant does what he is told and sees what his master does, but does not necessarily know the meaning or purpose of it. friends: A friend knows what is happening because friends develop deep fellowship by communicating with one another.

15:16 I chose you: Jesus had initiated the relationship with His disciples (see 1 John 4:10). It started with selection, moved to servanthood, and grew to friendship. that you should go and bear fruit: Having chosen the disciples, Jesus commissioned them to bring forth permanent fruit through prayer.

15:18 hated Me: As Jesus spoke these words, the Pharisees were planning to kill Him (11:45–57). The world hated Him, so it should not be surprising that the world hates His followers.

15:22,23 no sin . . . no excuse: The world’s hatred of Jesus was a sin against God, for He revealed the Father Himself to them. My Father also: Since Christ and the Father are one, those who hate Christ hate the Father.

15:26,27 He will testify . . . you also will bear witness: As the disciples spoke, the Holy Spirit would bring inner conviction to unbelievers concerning Christ. This in turn would make the disciples witnesses for Jesus.