In today’s Daily Devotional on John 15, Jesus emphasizes the importance of abiding in Him, the true vine, as apart from Him, we can accomplish nothing. This chapter invites us to examine our relationship with Jesus, asking if we truly abide in Him and whether our lives bear lasting fruit. As we delve into John 15, let’s recall how Jesus taught us to love, keep His commandments, and depend on the Holy Spirit for guidance. If your heart is troubled, check out the Daily Devotional on John 14.
How Can I Produce the Fruit of the Spirit?
In this devotional, we will ponder the necessity of spiritual pruning to bear more fruit. We will look at complete dependence on Jesus and the joy that comes from abiding in Him. We will understand that a daily practice of Bible reading, prayer, and awareness of the Spirit, reinforces the truth that apart from Jesus, we can do nothing.
John 15 Offers the Promise of the Bearing of Spiritual Fruit
As we explore John 15, we see the promise of bearing fruit through our connection to Jesus. He assures us that if we abide in Him and keep His commandments, our prayers will be answered, and our joy will be complete. Despite challenges and persecution, abiding in Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to work within us leads to lasting fruit and enduring joy. This chapter serves as a powerful reminder to remain steadfast in our faith and commitment to Jesus, the true vine.
John 15 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
Today, in John 15, Jesus reminds us to abide in Him as the true vine because apart from Him we can do nothing. Do you abide in Jesus? If so, you will bear fruit. Are you bearing fruit for Jesus? Does your fruit remain? Please read or listen to John 15.
John 15:5
In 1990, at thirty-five years old, I read John 15 (NASB) and wrote in my personal Bible reading journal concerning verse 2, “Have you been pruning me so that I can bear more fruit? Verse 4, abide in Jesus. Verse 5, ‘apart from Me you can do nothing.’ Amen! Verse 8, glorify the Father by bearing much fruit. Verse 11, joy comes from obedience and bearing fruit. Love one another, ask for help from Jesus.”
Apart From Me You Can Do Nothing
Fifteen years later, in 2005 (NASB), at fifty years old, I wrote, “‘For apart from Me you can do nothing’ (v. 5).I have always believed that. I am completely dependent on Jesus, therefore, I want to stay connected to Him, to abide in Him. How can I glorify God? ‘Bear much fruit’ (v. 8). How can I be joyful? By abiding in Christ, verse 11. Thank You for choosing me, verse 16. You put me in the game, thank You.” In my prayer that day, I wrote, “Praise and thanks. You are the vine; I am a branch. For abiding in me and I in You. For helping me bear fruit.”
I Want to Bear Much Fruit to Glorify God
Thirteen years later, in 2018 at sixty-three years old, I wrote, “Prune me, Jesus, to bear more fruit for You. I abide in You. Abide, a daily personal relationship with Jesus, with Bible reading, prayer, trust, and faith in You. Daily awareness and spiritual thoughts. Apart from You, I can do nothing, and I get that. If I don’t abide in Him, hell, according to verse 6.” I continued to write, “God is glorified when I bear much fruit. May I bear much fruit for You, Lord. Abide in Your love. Give me joy. Help me love people. Thanks for choosing me. If anyone hates Jesus, he or she will also hate God, for they are one. The Helper, the Spirit of truth, bears witness for Jesus.”
Jesus Is the Vine and We Are the Branches
Let’s take a look at John 15. As we begin our look at John 15, let’s go back and remember those verses in John 14 where it said we can do greater things than Jesus did. At the end of that chapter, He told us how to love, and keep His commandments, and keep His Word. He told us the Holy Spirit would teach us all things, and that continues here in John 15. He reminds us He is the vine; we are just the branches. We cannot do anything without being connected to the vine. If we think we are going to do greater works than Jesus did, we must be connected to the vine. We must abide in Him.
Verse 5 says, “for apart from me you can do nothing.” I wrote in my journal, I believe that. I absolutely believe apart from Jesus, I can do nothing. I cannot do greater works than He, and I cannot do anything without abiding in Him. And, yes, I have been pruned over my life. I pray the pruning has resulted in more fruit for Jesus.
What Is the Promise in John 15:7?
After He says all that, He goes back to the promise in verse 7, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” That promise is just like John 14:14, “If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” As a reminder, between those two statements is, if you love Me, keep My commandments, if you love Me, keep My Word. Let the Holy Spirit dwell in us because He will teach us all things. And abide in Him as He abides in us, then those two verses come true, 14:14 and 15:7.
Be Joyful
If we live a life like that, then verse 11 comes true, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” So keep His Word, let the Holy Spirit dwell within us, stay connected to the vine, bear much fruit, and we will have joy. Are you joyful? Do you have joy? How much fruit are you bearing for Jesus?
We Are Chosen to Bear Fruit | John 15:16
He concludes these thoughts in verse 16, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide”. Look back on your Christian life. Did you start out fast but fall like a comet? Have you endured, have you sustained? Is your fruit abiding or is your fruit remaining?
Bearing Fruit May Not Be Easy
In the later part of the chapter, He reminds us it will not be easy. The world will hate us. He reminds us, in verse 20, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you”. Bearing fruit may not be easy. It was not easy for Him either. He went to a cross, but His fruit abides, His fruit remains thousands of years later.
Thanking God for the Promise in John 15
Jesus, thank You that You are the vine. Thank You that You even allow us to be your branches, You allow us to work for You and bear fruit. Bless us as we abide in Your Word. Bless us as the Holy Spirit dwells within us. Bless us as we stay connected to You, the vine. Father, prune us so we can bear much fruit for You, so our fruit might remain. Thank You for choosing us. We did not choose You, You chose us. Thank You for using us. May You find us faithful. In Jesus’ name, amen.
