Good morning again. What a great afternoon yesterday after the fog burned off! We did get some outside work done and it was good to get some tasks completed. Sherri and I participated in Trunk or Treats for a friend of ours who works for Achieve. We were in the Park Terrace parking lot with about 5 or 6 other cars. The clients in their group homes had a great time. Little Meadows Trunk or Treats is Sunday night 6:30 until 8PM! It will be so much fun!!
In this chapter, Jesus talks about what Life in Him is meant to be. It is the "true vine" statements. Remember we are hearing Jesus talk to just the disciples. Judas has left the group and we are "waiting" for the betrayal and arrest (chapter 18). These final words are Jesus' farewell address and his mission for the disciples.
Authors throughout the Bible have used the "vine" as a symbol of God's people. It was a familiar motif to the people of the day. Jesus talks about being the true vine (v 1). We are to be rooted in Him- not Israel, not the church, not our beings- but be rooted and part of Jesus. We are the branches, we are dependent upon Jesus, just like the branches of a tree are dependent upon the entire structure for food and nourishment. God is the One who cultivates and cares for the vine- the vinedresser.
Sherri and I have some grape vines in the back field. It is part of our "orchard" and every year we go and cut back and trim and cleave off branches. Like God, we try to keep the good producing vines and get rid of the vines that do nothing. Our goal (like God's( is to get more fruit, to have better production. It is a time consuming task that takes the better part of a day (we only have about a dozen vines). Throughout the growing season, we are also trimming off stray shoots and shoots that are not producing. Similar to Jesus' statement (v 3) about how He has begun cleansing the disciples.
Our relationship with Jesus is mutual (v 4), like a grape vine and its shoots. The shoots and leaves produce the sugars that travel down the main stem to the ground where they are stored during the winter; as spring comes, the roots send the sugars back up the main stem to the new growing shoots. We are like that with Jesus- dependent upon each other. Take the main stem away, the shoots all die (vv 5-6). There is a warning from Jesus. The shoots that do not produce and are cut away will be thrown into the fire (or in our case the compost pile!). The goal of pruning any plant is for bigger harvests. Branches of the vine that bear much fruit bring glory to God (v 8).
Jesus goes on saying that the love he had for them (the disciples) is the same love that God had for Jesus. Jesus is expressing God's love to Him through Jesus' love for us. How profound that Jesus is the expression of God's love! Jesus connects true discipleship with keeping the commandments (v 10). Stay true to Jesus' commandments and Jesus' love will stay true in you.
Jesus then reminds them of the commandment he gave earlier- love each other (v 12)! We are sent out to love each other too. Do we do that? Or are we competing against each other for something? Or do we fight with each other? Or do we hate each other? Or do we fear each other?
Jesus' ultimate illustration of His love will be expressed through death (v 13). We know that, however, I am sure the disciples were confused by that statement. Were they thinking that Jesus was going to war (like a real fighting war) and may be killed for their safety? In addition, Jesus "modifies" their relationship to friendship status. The typical rabbi- student relationship wasn't a friendship- it was almost master-slave relationship. They are now more of a partnership.
Jesus prepares the disciples for life after Jesus. We know, and the disciples knew, how the world "hated" Jesus; they knew of the stonings that almost happened, they were aware of the plot to kill Jesus. The disciples should expect the same, especially after Jesus departs. Eventually, all of the disciples (except John) would be killed as martyrs; they will know the full hatred of the world. Do we fell that sometimes? The world and Jesus are antagonists to each other. Is tat still true today?
Much of the hatred comes from not knowing God (v 21). We fear what we do not know. That continues to this day! There was no reason to hate Jesus, other than He wanted to change the world. Paradigm shifts are tough for everyone, look at how churches and other institutions resist change- and Jesus was trying to change the world! Jesus references back to the Holy Spirit (v 26); Jesus knows that the disciples will need the peace and comfort and guidance offered by the Holy Spirit.
As a sidenote, v 26 is a source of controversy between the eastern and western branches of the church! "The Spirit of truth who comes from the Father"- does that mean the Spirit comes just from God or from both God and Jesus? The Nicene Creed for us reads "...who proceeds from the Father and the Son..." The clause "and the Son" (the filoque clause) was added in the 6th C by Rome; Eastern Orthodox churches refuse to say those words because of this text in John!
Always something going on!
Enjoy the weekend and enjoy the readings- lots to unpack in today's chapter again!
Shalom+
Pastor Paul
Jesus talking about the vine makes me think of the fig tree parable in the synoptic gospels. There, He is talking about a fig tree and here, a grape vine, The lesson is basically the same – the branches that grow and prosper will be kept and the ones that do not produce will be cut off and thrown on the compost pile (2021 version). The difference is that John makes it clear that the main stem is God, and the branches are the disciples, or us. He also says that we are “… rooted in Him – not Israel, not the church, not our beings, but …” we are rooted in Jesus and, therefore, God. I want to note here that I am not sure that the church has been mentioned as yet.
ReplyDeleteI must admit the I was taken aback by Jesus comments that the world hates God and Jesus, and the disciples as well. Pastor, you cleared that up when you spoke about the stonings that Jesus almost suffered. Although Paul was not one of the original disciples, he received some stonings that we have read about in prior epistles. I was not aware that all the disciples, save John, were killed as martyrs. To this day, the world is full of hate.
When I was in training to be an acolyte in the Episcopal Church, we had to memorize the Nicene Creed as it is spoken at every service of Holy Communion. I was never taught, however, about the filioque clause that was added in the sixth century by Rome. Similarly, I never knew that the Eastern Orthodox churches refused to say this clause because of verse 26. Thank you for the knowledge.
Good memory Jack with the fig tree and bearing fruits!
DeleteAlthough the "origin" Of the Christian church is the first Pentecost after Jesus' resurrection, "Church" as an establishment and building wasn't "invented" or developed until several centuries later.
The world has always had hate in it, and it will always have hate in it- unfortunately. We can do as best as we can to get rid of the hate that exists.
There are some other differences between the Western and Orthodox churches that seem trivial to us. Eg- All Saints' Day is Nov 1 for the western church, but May `3 for the orthodox church!
Always room for learning!
Jesus continuews to teach the disciples. He is the vine and they are the branches they are fruitful because they have been with Jesus and have followed him If we aren't fruit ful our branches will be cut off and trhown into the fire sometimes we are fruitful but because of our faults(sins) we need to be pruned. Jesus tell the disciples that because he has been hated they will also be hated i think he is talking about after jesus has ascended into heaven and the disciples go out into the world to teach of the Good News and Jesus that there are those that will not believe and hate the also Jesus doesn't want us to be alone in this so he is sending his advocate to be with us. Thinking I have this at least partially right.
ReplyDeleteLooks like we are going to get into some much colder weather next week Trying to get our bodies ready for winter I think.
Pruning is good- it allows for greater growth and production!
DeleteThere has always been hate and fear in the world- and it will continue but we are to do what we can- with the guidance of the Holy Spirit- to stop as much hate as we can
Thanks Clara
There is so much hatred in the world often because of religious beliefs. All religions have such different ways and yet they all feel that they are doing the right things and that they are pleasing to God. Just this morning I heard a reporter ask President Biden if, in his talks with the Pope, the Pope had told him that it was OK for the President to take communion- even though he supports a woman's right to choose. Apparently the Pope said that it was OK for the President to take communion. It's hard for me to believe that anyone would deny someone a sacred sacrament which is between Jesus and the person.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that all the disciples died as martyrs. A sad thought. Often times change is upsetting to people but sometimes change means growth. Looking at things a new way can cause one to think things through again, to look at things from another point of view. Maybe see something that we didn't see before.
You bring up a good point- we all think our religion is the right way, yet, like you say, it is between an individual and God! Boy do we have things wrong!
ReplyDeleteI did hear the news report about the President and the Pope meeting. The reporter sounded surprised (?) about the Pope's response!
Thanks Cathy