John
Lesson 14John 15:1-27
Continuing our study of Jesus’ teachings in the Upper Room during the last evening before his betrayal, we now find ourselves in Chapter 15 of John’s Gospel. We recall from our previous lesson that the disciples came into the Upper Room with a completely different view of Christ and his ministry than Jesus did. However, we see that Jesus has been opening their eyes all evening to new truths, and the teachings that we will be examining in this lesson will continue this process.
Read through John Chapter 15 and consider the following:
- Read John 15:1-11 and note the focus of Jesus’ teaching in this passage. We need to take a close look at these verses, as they very much apply to us today. Namely, what does Jesus mean when he instructs the disciples and us to "remain in me," or to "abide in me?" List below each time Jesus uses the terms abide in me or remain in me, and note what he teaches each time that he uses these expressions.
- Jesus states that he is the "true vine" and that God, his father, is the one who takes care of the vine. Before Jesus’ earthly ministry, who was God’s vine and what happened to it? (Read Isaiah 5:1-7)
- What fruit did the vine dresser expect of the original vineyard? (see Isaiah 5:7)
- What fruit does the vine dresser expect of his new vineyard? What does he expect of us? (See Galatians 5:22 and Matthew 7:15-27)
- Let’s consider for a moment the difference between the branch and the vine in a vineyard. What is the purpose of the branch itself, and what does it need the vine for?
- Jesus then tells the disciples that, as they become fruitful followers of Him, they will be hated. Why is this? How could honest fruit–bearing followers of Christ be hated when they seek to love one another and live a life pleasing to Him? What does he say will happen to his disciples, and why? Does this specific teaching still apply today, or only to the original disciples? (see John 15:18-25)
At this point in our study, Jesus is now close to having completed his teaching of the disciples, and he is also close to the end of his earthly ministry. In our next lesson, we will examine his further teachings regarding the coming "Helper." After this, he will close with a prayer—some might even call it the Lord’s Prayer—and he will lead them out of the Upper Room and across the Kidron valley to the Garden of Gethsemane.
As we leave this lesson, let’s focus on abiding in Jesus, walking with him and talking with him, as the Holy Spirit, the Helper, leads us. Let’s also pray that God will cause us to be a blessing to someone this week as we physically and spiritually take Jesus into a lost and dying world.
In Christ,
Wes
[2018]