John 15 - The King James Study Bible

15:1–16:4. In John 14 Jesus tells His disciples what He would be doing for them, and in John 15 He tells them what they would be doing for Him. Probably the words of chapters 15 and 16 are spoken as they walk from the upper room (14:31) through the streets of Jerusalem toward Gethsemane (18:1).

15:1–9. Jesus explains the divine-human relationships by the analogy of a grapevine. Jesus is like the main vine. The disciples are compared with branches. The Father tends the branches like a gardener. At that time of year, branches of grapevines would be budding in Jerusalem.

15:2. Taketh away: He is not dealing here with the loss of salvation, but with the bearing of fruit (cf. Gal. 5:22–26).

15:6. This refers to the judgment of believers at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10).

15:7. See the note on 14:13,14.

15:10–17. Several results of obedience are indicated here: (1) abiding in His love (v. 10); (2) full joy (v. 11); (3) love for one another (vv. 12,13,17; cf. 13:34,35); (4) friends, not servants (vv. 14,15); (5) fruit remains (v. 16); and (6) answered prayer (v. 16).

15:16. I have chosen you: By Christ’s appointment, not by their choice, they were taken out of the world (v. 19) and sent out to bear fruit.

15:26,27. The Comforter refers to the Advocate beside us as we bear witness to Christ (cf. 14:15,16). Compare verse 27 with John 18:21. See also Luke 1:2. Proceedeth: The Holy Spirit, like the Son, is God from God. The Son is “generated” or “begotten,” whereas the Holy Spirit “proceeds” from God. Again, while the Trinitarian relationships are a mystery to us, they are nonetheless very evident in the New Testament.