John 15

King James Version

Full text for John Chapter 15

1¶ ‹I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.›

2‹Every branch in me that beareth 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. As 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 same 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 is 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 ye 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¶ ‹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 doeth: 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, that ye 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.›

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 chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.›

20‹Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his 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 sent 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 hateth me hateth my Father also.›

24‹If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.›

25‹But [this cometh to pass], that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.›

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.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Jesus declares Himself the true vine and His Father the husbandman, emphasizing that disciples must abide in Him to bear fruit, for without Him they can do nothing. He commands them to love one another as He has loved them, calling them friends rather than servants. Jesus also warns that the world will hate them, just as it hated Him, but promises the coming Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who will testify of Him, and they too shall bear witness.

Medium Summary

In John 15, Jesus presents the metaphor of the true vine, with God the Father as the husbandman and His disciples as the branches. He explains that abiding in Him is essential for bearing spiritual fruit, warning that unfruitful branches are removed, while fruitful ones are pruned to yield more. Disciples are assured that if they remain in Him and His words, their prayers will be answered, and the Father will be glorified through their fruitfulness. Jesus then speaks of His love for them, mirroring the Father's love for Him, and commands them to love one another with a sacrificial love, even laying down their lives for friends. He elevates their status from servants to friends, having revealed the Father's will to them. Furthermore, Jesus prepares them for the world's hatred, explaining that as He was hated, so too will His followers be persecuted because they are not of the world. He concludes by promising the arrival of the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who will bear witness of Him, and empowers the disciples to also testify, having been with Him from the beginning.

Long Summary

John 15 opens with Jesus identifying Himself as the true vine and His Father as the husbandman, establishing a profound metaphor for the relationship between Himself and His disciples. He teaches that every branch (disciple) that does not bear fruit is taken away, while those that do are purged by the Father to produce even more fruit. Jesus emphasizes the critical necessity of abiding in Him, stating that just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself, neither can disciples without remaining in Him, for "without me ye can do nothing." He promises that if they abide in Him and His words abide in them, they shall ask what they will, and it shall be done, thereby glorifying the Father through their abundant fruitfulness and proving themselves His disciples. Transitioning to the theme of love, Jesus declares that His love for them is as the Father's love for Him, urging them to continue in His love by keeping His commandments, just as He kept His Father's. He reveals His primary commandment: that they love one another as He has loved them, defining this love as one willing to lay down one's life for friends. Jesus then elevates His disciples' status, calling them friends rather than servants, because He has made known to them all things He heard from the Father. He reminds them that He chose and ordained them to go and bear lasting fruit, ensuring that their prayers in His name would be granted. The chapter then shifts to the world's inevitable hatred, explaining that if the world hates them, it is because it first hated Him. Jesus clarifies that His disciples are not "of the world," and therefore the world's animosity is a consequence of His choosing them out of the world. He reminds them that a servant is not greater than his lord, thus expecting persecution as He Himself was persecuted. Jesus asserts that the world's sin is without excuse, as they have seen His works and heard His words, yet hated both Him and the Father, fulfilling the prophecy of being hated without a cause. Finally, Jesus promises the coming of the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, whom He will send from the Father to testify of Him. He also commissions His disciples to bear witness, as they have been with Him from the beginning.

Core Concepts

  • The True Vine and BranchesJesus identifies Himself as the true vine and God the Father as the husbandman, with disciples as the branches. This metaphor illustrates the essential connection disciples must maintain with Christ to bear spiritual fruit.
  • Abiding in ChristDisciples are commanded to "abide in me, and I in you," meaning to remain in close, continuous union with Jesus. This abiding is crucial for fruitfulness and for having prayers answered.
  • Love CommandmentJesus gives a new commandment: "That ye love one another, as I have loved you." This sacrificial love, exemplified by laying down one's life for friends, is the hallmark of His disciples.
  • Friendship with ChristJesus elevates His disciples from servants to friends, having revealed the Father's will to them. This signifies a deeper, more intimate relationship based on shared knowledge and mutual affection.
  • The World's HatredJesus warns His disciples that the world will hate them because it first hated Him. This persecution is a consequence of their being chosen out of the world and not belonging to it.
  • The Comforter (Spirit of Truth)Jesus promises to send the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, from the Father. This Spirit will testify of Jesus and empower the disciples to also bear witness.
  • Bearing FruitBearing fruit is presented as the purpose of the branches and the means by which the Father is glorified. It signifies spiritual productivity and obedience resulting from abiding in Christ.