John 15

John 15:9-17

In this chapter, 1. Christ pleads of himself under the figure of a vine, ver. 1—7. 2. Command them to descend in fruits of love, ver. 8—17. 3. Conform them against the world’s hatred, ver. 18—27.

1. Am the true vine, and my Father is the hullbandman. 2. Every branch in me that beareth not

not fruit, he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4. Abide in me, and I in you, in the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine: no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the fame bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and if he withered, and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. 8. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples.

9. 1—8. We have here a continuation of Christ’s farewell discourse to his disconsolate disciples.

10. He represents himself to them under the figure of a vine. I am the true vine; as a wine, mean and weak in his outward appearance, yet spreading on every side; sending his salvation to the ends of the earth, and bringing forth the most reviving fruits, grading to God, and cheating to man: the true vine, the life-giving source of spiritual influences, conveyed from him to all the branches of his body mythical; and those who are ingrained upon him, will never find him to fail or deceive them: and my Father is the husbandman, who planted it in the earth, and with watchfulness and care every moment previews and waters it; supporting Christ in the exercise of his mediatorial office, with complacency delighting in him, and guarding him and every member of his church, who are grafted upon him, from every evil.

11. His protecting people are the branches, on whom the great husbandman employs his care. Every branch in me that beareth my fruit, he taketh away. Some protecting members of Christ are only nominally disciples, not vitally united to Jesus by faith and love, and bearing no true fruits of grace and holiness; these the Lord taketh away. In time of persecution they fall off; or they turn abide into such errors in principle, or immoralities in conduct, as discover their hypocrisy; or, if they are spared to the last, by death they are cut off, and then the hypocrisy’s hope periseth. And every branch in me that beareth fruit, truly engrafted into Christ, partaking of the quickening influence of his Spirit, and bringing forth the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ to the praise and glory of God; he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit: by his word, his Spirit, his afflictive providences, he continues to cut off the luxuriant and noxious shoots of pride, lust, and worldliness, which would still spring from the remanders of in-dwelling corruption, even in the hearts of the faithful; and to encourage, cultivate, and increase the gracious dispositions he hath implanted, that they may show more vigorously, and bring forth more abundantly in all good conversation and godliness.

12. As he had now purged out Judas from among them, he exhorts them to approve their fidelity. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you; your hearts being purified by faith, in which way the word becomes effectual to all Christ’s disciples in every age, purging out the deeds of in-dwelling evil, and sanctifying the soul. Abide in me, as the root and flock from whence all spiritual supplies of grace are drawn; placing all your dependance on my blood and righteousness, my Spirit and power; and I will then abide in you, as the living principle of all goodness. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, and maintain a constant communication with the roots, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. The best of men have no flock of grace within themselves, but must maintain habitual communion with Jesus, if they would continue to bring forth fruit unto God. I am the vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in me, in the constant exercise of faith, and I in him, by the powerful operation of my Spirit, the fame bringeth forth much fruit: for without me, separate from me, and for a moment destitute of my quickening influence, ye can do nothing truly good and acceptable to God, but must wither, droop, and die, as a branch deprived of communication with the living root. Without Christ we can do nothing towards our justification, sanctification, or glorification; he must be to us all and in all.

13. He warns them of the fatal consequences of departure from him. If any man abide not in me; lately detest my cause, and make shynereck of faith and a good conscience; or, whilst he hath a cause to live, he really found dead in trefoilies and fear; he is cast forth as a branch; excommunicated from the company of the faithful here below, if his iniquities are brought to light; or, at farthest, cut off at death from the society of the blessed, and is untamed; his gifts wither; his zeal grows cold; his devotion dies; his reputation decays; his hopes perish; and men gather them and cast them into the fire, and they are burned; and thus shall the angels of God at the last gather out of Christ’s kingdom all that offend and do iniquity, when hypocrites will

have their portion with the unbelievers and impenitents, and be cast together into the everlasting burnings. Let us read and tremble.

5. He assures them the prayers of all his faithful people should be heard and answered. If ye abide in me, steadily clearing to me under all discouragements; and my words abide in you, and habitually influence your conduct; ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you; whatever is for his glory and our good shall be granted. And herein is my Father glorified, by your abiding in me, and asking and receiving out of my fulness; that ye bear much fruit of grace, which will redound to his praise; ye shall ye be my disciples; evidently proved to be such by your good conversation and approved fidelity, and shall be acknowledged by me in the day of my appearing and glory.

6. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love: even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. 11. These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12. 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. 14. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you. 16. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, but you 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. 17. These things I command you, that ye love one another.

We have here,

1. The love of Christ towards his people. As the Father hath loved me, ye have I loved you; and this love of his apostle’s most eminent and singular:

(1.) In his laying down his life for them. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends: but greater even than this hath been the love of Jesus; when we were enemies Christ died for us.

(2.) In his kindness towards them, admitting them into his favour and friendship. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you, and herein shew yourselves faithful to me. Henceforth I call you not servants; though to be employed by such a Master, and that he condescends to accept of our services, in abundant honour; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth, nor is admitted to any such intimacy and familiarity as you have been indulged with: but I have called you by the honourable name of friends, and have treated you with the most cordial affection and confidence; for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you; all things that as Mediator he came to preach and teach, respecting the salvation of sinners, and the counsels of grace; he had kept back nothing from them, and his Spirit would shortly give them a clearer knowledge of what he had revealed to them.

(3.) In his ordaining them to the high dignity of apostleship, as well as to eternal life and glory. Ye have not chosen me, and by your choice laid any obligations on me to return the kindness; but I have chosen you, of my sovereign will and pleasure, and to manifest the riches of my grace and love; and ordained you, both to your office as apostles, and to salvation, as elect vessels; that ye should go and bring forth fruit, in the purity of your conversations, and the abundant success of your ministry; and that your fruit should remain, when your fidelity shall receive an eternal recompense, and the blessed effects of your labours, preaching, and writings, remain to the latest ages.

(4.) In his granting them all their petitions. That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you; and the assurance of being heard is the great inducement and encouragement to us to pray. How can we but be happy to draw near to God, when we are thus constantly assured of receiving an answer of peace?

2. He exhorts them, from the consideration of his love to them, to make the due and grateful return to him, by loving and serving him, and one another. Continue ye in my love; meditatively cleave to me, and believe my regard to you will be invariable and unchangeable. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; if you approve your fidelity, you shall have the unutterable satisfaction of my approbation, and have increasing supplies of grace manifested to you, yet further to establish, strengthen, and settle you. Even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, with unchanging honor and confidence; and abide in his love, am now, and shall for ever be, the object of his highest delight and completeness, as you shall be of mine. And next to your love of me, this is my commandment, that ye

love

leve our another, as I have loved you. And again, v. 17. this being among the best proofs of real love to Jesus, and the great commandment which he especially enjoins, as the distinguishing badge of true discipleship. Note, (1.) The love of Christ known and believed, can alone engage our hearts to a return of love. (2.) The purpose of universal obedience to Christ’s commands, is the sure evidence of love without dissimulation. (3.) No duty is more frequently and earnestly urged upon us, than christian charity, because nothing is more ornamental to our profession; nor do we in any thing more resemble him, whose nature and name is love.

18. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but ‘because ye are not of the world, but I have choden you out of the world, therefore the world hated you. 20. Remember the world that I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than the lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: ‘if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21. But ‘all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that lost me. 22. ‘If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: ‘but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23. ‘He that hated me, hated my Father also. 24. If I had not done among them the world which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now they have both seen, and hated both me and my Father. 25. But this cometh ye past, that the world might be fulfilled that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.

John 15:18-25

They who will be faithful to the Saviour, must expect the enemy of a faithful world; where wicked men, many and mighty, will unite in hatred, opposition, and persecution against them.

1. The followers of Jesus may expect to be hated, persecuted, dequised. Since the original enmity put between the seed of the terpene, and the seed of the woman, never was there one truly godly man, but more or less experienced the like treatment.

2. So dealt they with our great Lord and Master, whose example should reconcile us to suffer with him. If the world hate you, men of not; ye know that it hated me before it hated you: never was character so spotless as his, never one suffered so much from the enmity of the world.

3. The reason for the world’s hatred of us is evident. If ye were of the world, conformed to it in your tempers, manners, and practices, the world would lose his own, would excite and esteem you; but because ye are not of the world, but I have choden you out of the world, therefore the world hated you; because by my distinguishing grace I have taken you for my own, and ordained you to eternal life and glory; your heavenly minds and conversation cannot but witness again, and reprove their vain and wicked ways, and therefore their anger rises. Note, The men of the world have not only a hatred of real chaffians in general, but an especial enmity against gospel-ministers, whose preaching and rebukes exasperate those who reject the counsel of God against their own souls.

4. He reminds them, that this was no more than he had all along taught them to expect. Remember the word that I find unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than the lord, nor may expect more respectful treatment. If they have persecuted me, with all manner of cartoons, reviling, and injuries, they will also persecute you, my ambaffadors, who bear the same message, and go forth into the same world that lords in wickedness. If they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also; the gospel you preach will be dequised and rejected, and your words be misrepresented, cavilled at, and ridiculed, as mine in general have been. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because you have an interest in my love, vindicate my honour, and preach my gospel, whatever other pretences they may reign as the ground of their opposition; because they know not him that lost me, their minds are blinded by pride and prejudice, ignorant of the true God and his Messiah. Note, (1.) All who will live godly in Christ Jesus, may expect persecution of one kind or other. (2.) The faithful ministers of the gospel may not be surprised, if their preaching is treated with contempt or ridicule; their Lord was so inflicted. (3.) Persecutors often pretend other causes to cover their enmity against God’s people; but whatever he their pretext, the true reason is his image in them which they cannot bear, and his gospel which they abhor.

5. Christ suggests the inexcusable guilt of those who rejected him and his gospel. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin, comparatively speaking; but now they have no sake for their sin, their infidelity is wilful, their impersonate obstinacy. He that hated me, hated my Father also; the hatred shown to his person, ministers, and gospel, ultimately ceases in God himself. If I had not done among them the world which

none other man did, such stupendous miracles, as uncomethably proved my divine mission, they had not had sin; they might have had some cloak for their unbelief, but now they have both seen, and hated both me and my Father; rejecting the testimony he thus hath born to me, and fixed in a rooted aversion to me and him. But this cometh to past, that the word might be fulfilled that is written, Pfal. Ibid. 4. in their law, They hated me without a cause. Note, (1.) They are left most inexcusable, and their guilt most aggravated, who persist in unbelief, and go to hell with bibles in their hands. (2.) They who hate the gospel, and Christ, the author of it, whatever they may pretend, truly hate God. Enemies to the christian religion, are enemies to all religion; and Deist is really but another latter name for Atheth. (3.) Enmity against Christ and his gospel is most absurd and unreasonable; it is quarrelling with our own mercies, and being, in fact, the worst enemies to ourselves.

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

v. 26, 27. Though the enemies of Jesus and his people are many and mighty, he hath provided such support for them, as shall enable them to triumph over all opposition.

1. His Spirit shall be their comfort and strength. But 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. On the day of Pentecost, the most abundant influences of the Holy Ghost were to be poured forth upon them, he being the third person in the sacred Trinity, proceeding from the Father and the Son, whose peculiar office in the ceremony of man’s salvation is to testify of Christ, as the Spirit of truth speaking in the apostles, and bearing witness to the divine glory and grace of the Redeemer, and making the preaching of the gospel effectual to the consciences of men. He is the advocate, convincing men of sin, righteousness, and judgment; the Comforter, filling the souls of Christ’s faithful people with joy unspokable and full of glory.

2. They shall themselves hereby be enabled to bear a noble testimony for Christ. To give shall bear witness, preaching my gospel in the face of all opposites, and confirming it by the miraculous powers with which you shall be invested: and your evidence cannot be justly excepted against, because ye have been with me from the beginning, and speak the things of which you have yourselves the most undoubted assurance. Note, Ministers can then powerfully preach Christ, when they have themselves experimentally known him, have been with him in faith and love, and for a season have walked in a state of communion with him.