What Jesus Did

[Jesus said,] "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."

—John 15:4-5 NLT

Key Thought


The key to fruitfulness is not effort, though effort will be necessary. The key to fruitfulness is not circumstance...

 

[Jesus said,] "I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener."

—John 15:1 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus' statement is radical. The vine was a symbol of Israel (Psalm 80:8-11). Jesus is saying that he is the place God's people will find their life. We need to be attached to the true vine and take our spiritual sustenance from it — as followers of Jesus, our nourishment must come from him. When people are in Christ, they will find themselves tended and cared for by...

 

[Jesus said, "The Father] cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you."

—John 15:2-3 NLT

Key Thought


God is at work in the vine and in each individual branch of the vine. He does exactly what is needed so that the vine, and each individual branch, can be productive. He longs to enjoy the abundant...

 

[Jesus said,] "I have told you these things [about my going to the Father] before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe. I don't have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let's be going."

—John 14:29-31 NLT

Key Thought


The principle here is tough. Jesus gives in to an enemy...

 

[Jesus said,] "I am leaving you with a gift — peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am."

—John 14:27-28 NLT

Key Thought


The Holy Spirit, our Comforter and Counselor, will bring us peace. This peace is not an absence of...

 

[Jesus said,] "Anyone who doesn't love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative — that is, the Holy Spirit — he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you."

—John 14:24-26 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus' words are God's words. When we obey Jesus, we...

 

[Jesus said,] "Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them." Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, "Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?" Jesus replied, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of...

 

[Jesus said,] "No, I will not abandon you as orphans — I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you."

—John 14:18-20 NLT

Key Thought


Jesus' return to the Father is essential. He is going to prepare a place for us. He is at the Father's side to intercede for us. However, even though he has gone...

 

[Jesus said,] "If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you."

—John 14:15-17 NLT

Key Thought


It is so hard to adequately translate the term Jesus uses for the Holy Spirit...

 

Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus replied, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe...