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John

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Day 216

John 15:1-17 "A FURTHER WORD OF WARNING"

Day 216 – John 15

A FURTHER WORD OF WARNING

As much as Jesus explained to His Disciples how they could be very fruitful in their life and ministry, He also had to give them a further word of warning concerning the problem of unfruitfulness. Solemnly, Jesus said,

“If anyone does not abide in Me,
he is cast out as a branch and is withered;
and they gather them and throw them into the fire,
and they are burned.”
John 15:6

There was no mistaking the gravity of the words that Jesus used to give this word of warning! These words were as vital and significant as the ones where He spoke about bearing fruit.

“IF ANYONE DOES NOT ABIDE IN ME…”

This was another way of describing those who did not really believe in Jesus as the Saviour! Two very clear examples may be cited to illustrate what Jesus meant when He described people who did not abide in Him.

1. The Case of Those Who Tried to Manipulate Jesus

There were many who seemed to be very keen about following Jesus. There was one multitude of over 5000 men who followed Jesus, apparently out of sincere interest. However, when Jesus presented Himself as the Living Bread from Heaven, and when He urged them to believe in Him, without giving them any promise whatsoever that He would be their King, this group of “disciples” left Him (John 6:66). These did not abide in Jesus, even though they seemed to be followers or disciples (John 6:61, where John even used the word “disciples” to describe this mass of followers).

John described Jesus as being totally unperturbed. He made this astute observation concerning Jesus.

“For Jesus knew from the beginning
who they were who did not believe,
and who would betray Him.”
John 6:64

Those who truly believed in Him would surely want to abide in Jesus! Those who tried to take advantage of Jesus were not true believers in the first place. It was a matter of time before they showed their true colours!

There were always those who would try to manipulate their religion, imagining that they could do that. A true understanding of what it means to have faith in Jesus however does not allow for such foolish thoughts!

If genuine faith could be distilled into just one thought, then it might well be this word “abide”. If a believer does not desire to abide in his Saviour who gave His life for him, what kind of a believer is he? Could he even be called a believer in the first place?

2. The Case of the Jews who expressed belief, but showed no signs of abiding in Jesus and His Word

The second classic case that may be cited was that of the Jews. On some occasions, they opposed Jesus. On one occasion they feigned belief. John noted their expression of faith.

“As He spoke these words, many believed in Him.”
John 8:30

John wisely tracked the way Jesus spoke to those who said that they believed in Jesus. The test given by Jesus was whether these so-called believers would continue in His Word. At the end of the discussion, the Jews who were supposed to have believed in Him reacted violently against Him. John wrote,

“Then they took up stones to throw at Him…”
John 8:59

There was another group that did not abide in Jesus! How clearly the true spiritual state of the heart was revealed.

“HE IS CAST OUT AS A BRANCH AND IS WITHERED…”

Few things are as sorry-looking as a withered branch. Sometimes, the withered branch is not clearly identified as one that is withered, because it may be hidden from view, because of the healthy and fruitful branches.

As the Vinedresser does His work diligently, He removes the branches that are in fact already withered. The full effect of a branch that is withered becomes most obvious when it is “cast out”. The cast-out branch is withered. In appearance it is dry and of course fruitless!

“AND THEY GATHER THEM AND THROW THEM INTO THE FIRE, AND THEY ARE BURNED”

The picture Jesus painted was a sobering one. However it was not a new one. John the Baptiser had already spoken about it. John’s imagery was to distinguish between wheat and chaff (Luke 3:17). The difference between wheat and chaff was an easier distinction to make. The difference between fruitful branches and unfruitful branches was a more complex imagery.

Ultimately, Jesus will make a distinction between those who are true believers and those who are not in fact genuine believers. One of the key ways in which Jesus is going to judge between those who are true and those who are false would be the question of whether they would bear fruit in their life. If they do indeed bear fruit, then a closer examination into their life would reveal that they had learned how to abide in Christ. Let us take time to examine our faith in Jesus! Are we abiding in Jesus? Are we bearing fruit? We dare not take these questions lightly.