Were in our study of John where Jesus comforts his disciples on the night before his death. Several of these upper room passages are misinterpreted for works, and theyre used with guilt to make people afraid. However, everything we find here is for comfort and joy (v. 11), and thats possible simply because of our relationship with Christ. He describes it as a vine and branches. The vine really does all the work, but the branches bear its fruit as a natural result. Christ is the vine, and we are the branches in him that bear spiritual fruit, so we can rightly say that hes the source of all spiritual life.
God isnt waiting for us to get things right before hell start working in us; rather, it is he who works in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure (Phil 2:13). He starts this process while were sinners (Rom. 5:7-8) and before we start looking for him, so that we are purely his handiwork, and he alone gets the glory for the good works he prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10).
If we move away from that as the foundation then the rest of these verses become works-oriented and cause fear, but if we stay centered on it, then we rejoice knowing that Christ loves us and is as pleased with us as the Father is with him.
Now he says:
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Now, we could forget all about the vine and the branches, and I could tell you that you need to straighten up and start loving your brother, but that would miss the point. Hes already said his disciples are clean and that hes pleased. Commandment-keeping isnt a threat of do or die; its indicative of his work in us. Youll have joy when you see my fruit in you because youll know that I love you.
Now, specifically one commandment and fruit is that we love one another. We dont just have a feeling for each other, and our love isnt reserved for those who treat us the best. Even the Gentiles love their mothers, but Christs disciples love each other the same was he has loved us. Again, its not just an empty command or threat: its an indication!
Think of it this way: the vine pushes nutrients on down through the branches, and thats how they bear fruit. Well, Christ pushes his nutrients through us. We were dead but now were alive. Were a new creation with a new heart. Once we were hostile enemies, but now were friends and sons. This life and mind and attitude is shared with us so that it says:
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall (2 Pt. 1:2-10).
Hes given us everything that pertains to life and godliness, and by these were partakers of the divine nature; if these are in us then well never be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus, and if we do them then well never fall! Again, this isnt about works; its about proof.
Now, theres no example of love greater than when a man lays down his life for his friends, and this is what Christ has done for us. If love defines him (or if he defines love), then we expect to find that nutrient in the vine, and we expect that nutrient to be passed along through the branches and result in good fruit:
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. 15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him (1 Jn. 3:14-19).
If a man doesnt love his brother, then he abides in death. Think about that in relation to the vine and branches. The fruit isnt there, so the branch is gathered up and thrown into the fire. The branch abides in death because it receives nothing from the vine. Apart from me you can do nothing (Jn. 15:5).
However, hereby perceive we the love of God. In other words, this is how we see Gods love: he laid down his life for us. He says ask what ye will. The vine sets the example, and it pushes its nature on through the branches.