John

Chapter 15

27 verses — switch translations with the toolbar below.

Scripture

KJV

1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

17These things I command you, that ye love one another.

18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

21But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.

22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.

23He that hateth me hateth my Father also.

24If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.

25But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

27And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Study DepthThemes, questions, and connections
Key VerseJohn 15:5

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Overview

Using the imagery of a vineyard, Jesus declares 'I am the true vine' and teaches that believers are branches who must abide in Him to bear fruit. Branches that do not abide are removed, while fruitful branches are pruned to bear more fruit. He commands His disciples to love one another, warns them that the world will hate them as it hated Him, and promises that the Spirit of truth will testify of Him.

Key Themes

1

Abiding in Christ as the True Vine

Spiritual fruitfulness is impossible apart from a living, dependent connection to Jesus — just as a branch cannot bear fruit if severed from the vine.

2

Sacrificial Love as the Mark of Friendship

Jesus redefines the disciples' relationship with Him from servants to friends, and defines the greatest love as laying down one's life for others.

3

The World's Hatred of Believers

Jesus warns that faithfulness to Him will provoke the world's hostility, because the world hated Him first — persecution is an expected part of discipleship.

Study Questions

1.

What does it mean practically to 'abide' in Christ (v. 4), and how can a believer tell whether they are abiding or not?

2.

Jesus says, 'Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away' (v. 2). Who do the fruitless branches represent, and what does removal mean?

3.

How does Jesus' statement 'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends' (v. 13) point to the cross?

4.

Why does Jesus say 'Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you' (v. 16), and what does this teach about the source of salvation?

5.

How should the promise that the world will hate believers (vv. 18-20) shape our expectations and priorities as followers of Christ?

Connection to Christ

Israel was often called God's vine in the Old Testament, yet it failed to bear fruit. Jesus declares Himself the TRUE vine — the faithful Israel, the perfect Son. All spiritual life flows from union with Him. His coming sacrifice ('lay down his life') is the ultimate expression of the love He commands His followers to share.

Personal Reflection

Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through John 15. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?

John

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