The Disciples of Christ
12 - Your Kingdom Come
For our next study I would like you to look in John’s Gospel chapter 15 at some more of Christ’s teaching for His disciples. In the previous studies we’ve looked at “The Master’s Example in chapter13, and at “The Master’s Enlightenment” in chapter 14. Now, in chapter 15 we have the subject of “The Master’s Expectation”.
This expectation is seen clearly in verse 8 of John chapter 15 where Jesus says: "This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." The Master’s expectation, then, is fruitfulness in the lives of His followers. I’m going to say more about this later, but first let us note the words of the Lord in verse 1: "I am the Vine and my Father is the gardener." The disciples, being of the nation of Israel, would probably have wondered why the Lord would make such a statement. They would have been taught that Isaiah the prophet had said: "The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the House of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden of His delight." You’ll find that in Isaiah chapter 5 verse 7. And, in Psalm 80 v.8, the psalmist writes of his God: "You brought a vine out of Egypt. You drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land." Here the psalmist is again speaking about the nation of Israel. But, if you read on in Psalm 80, verse 16 says: "Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire, at your rebuke your people perish." Sadly, the nation of Israel did not come up to God’s expectations for them. However, in the Lord Jesus Christ God had ALL His expectations fulfilled. He is the true and perfect vine. So, in verse 5 of this chapter, Jesus says again to His disciples: "I am the vine, YOU are the branches." This is wonderful teaching!
As the vine, Christ is the only source of our lives as disciples. The Lord Jesus is the very essence of spiritual life, energy and fruitfulness. It is from Him alone that these can be possessed and produced. He goes on to say: "If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit." What does it mean to ‘remain’ or to ‘abide’ in Christ?
It means, exercising the will, and it is a voluntary and conscious perseverance.
Then Jesus makes another important statement. He says: "Without Me, or apart from Me, you can do nothing." Little wonder then that the apostle Paul says in one of his Letters: "I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me." The disciples knew that the Lord was about to leave them. Their world was about to be turned upside down. So here the Lord says to them - Rely on everything I have told you. Stay true to Me. Live in my love, and if you do this your lives will produce fruit. In Romans chapter 7 verse 4 we are told: "You belong to Christ in order that you might bear fruit to God." In Philippians chapter 1 v.11 Paul prays that the believers there might be filled with the fruit of righteousness, that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." And Paul has a similar prayer for the Colossian believers in chapter 1 verse 10 of that letter. He prays that they might live a life worthy of the Lord, and may please Him in every way, bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God." Someone has said, "No one can be a branch in Christ, or a living member of His body, who does not bear fruit." I find it very challenging to think about the statement in verse 1 of John chapter 15 where Jesus said "My Father is the gardener." This statement tells me that God is interested in every plant growing in His garden. You see He has placed us there for HIS glory!
In Ephesians chapter 1 verses 8 to 10 we are reminded that it is by grace that we have been saved, through faith, and that is not from ourselves, it’s the gift of God. It is not by works, so that we cannot boast. For we are GOD’S workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do.
God, then, wants to see the results of His grace in your life and in my life. These will be seen as we show in our lives what Paul calls ‘The Fruit of the Spirit." You will find nine examples of these fruits of the Spirit in the Letter to the Galatians chapter 5. They can be divided into three groups: The first three are basic GODWARD fruits, those of LOVE, JOY and PEACE. The second three are BENEVOLENT fruits, they are outward to others, and are LONGSUFFERING, KINDNESS and GOODNESS. The last three fruits of the Spirit are MORAL fruits. These result from self-control and are FAITHFULNESS, MEEKNESS and TEMPERANCE. These, then, are to be characteristics of those who are disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are fruits which, when seen in our lives, will bring pleasure to God and honour to His name.
And now a final thought on this subject of fruitfulness. Note again the words of the Master in verse 10 of our chapter: "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full." Jesus summarises His teaching on being fruitful in verse 16 where he says: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit. Fruit that will last!"
In the Acts of the Apostles we have the record of the progress of the disciples who had listened to this teaching of Christ in John 15. As they spread the gospel, they saw thousands converted and brought into the Christian church as true believers in the Saviour. Those first disciples of the Lord Jesus did indeed bear much fruit to His glory. So may you also, listen to and obey His words, and seek to serve Him faithfully, and be fruitful as you follow Him as a disciple.