John 15:1-17
The Vine and Branches
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Truth exists because God exists...God is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive...God's Word is Truth...And the Word of God is living and active...The Truth is sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart...Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight...Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account...
God is LOVE...Eternal LOVE is the Truth and maybe the One Absolute Truth that the Eternal Truth that mankind lives off of...Should we be surprised that the Son of God, who is LOVE, would say, “As the Father has LOVED Me, so have I LOVED...Now remain in My LOVE...If you keep My commands, you will remain in My LOVE, just as I have kept 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 complete...My command is this: Love each other as I have LOVED you...Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends...You are My friends if you do what I command...I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know His Master’s business...Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you...You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in My name the Father will give you...This is My command: Love each other?...And should we be any more surprised that Son of LOVE would say, I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life...No one comes to the Father except through Me?...
Of the Great Virtues and Traits of Jesus, I think of Truth, love, joy, kindness, faithfulness, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, self-control, mercy, hope, and forgiveness...But, according to St. Paul, the greatest of these is love...
Once St. Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them — that is, following Peter and Jesus...And then it is written, “This is the disciple [namely, the one who was following St. Peter, the one whom Jesus loved] who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things” (John 21:24)...So, there is an Scriptural Claim in the Gospel of St. John that this particular disciple, the one whom Jesus LOVED, is the author of the Gospel of St. John...So in a Way, the Gospel of John is a LOVE story...A story of LOVE for a Disciple, and all His Disciples, because Jesus LOVES all His Disciples...And each Disciple loved Jesus...They would remain is Jesus with their love for Him...St John knew the best LOVE stories and the Greatest stories of Truth were the ones that had never be written...For at the time of the Disciples, no books were written about Jesus...And like many love stories this would have a tragic ending on a cross...Yet, this Man who taught LOVE and forgiveness and mercy would die, His story was not complete and would never come to an end in its entirety...LOVE did not die in the end...LOVE will never die...This Man did not die at the end of St. John's LOVE Story, or in any of the gospels...The story really just began, as eternal life begins...As long as there is faith this LOVE and faith the story will never end...