With the solitude of the upper room now over and the agony ahead, Jesus talked as he made his way to Gethsemane. First to his followers, then to His Father. This talk with his followers gave them information about God the Son (Himself) God the Spirit, and God the Father. The Bible uses many analogies to depict God’s relationship to His people. Here in our text of John 15:1-17, Jesus does exactly this in depicting our relationship with him. As they walked, perhaps their journey took them through a vineyard, and Jesus Begins to talk to them about the importance of abiding with Him. Just as a branch depends entirely on the vine for life, sustenance, growth, and fruit, so believers depend completely on the diving Lord as the source of their spiritual life and effect. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit unless it is connected to the vine, so believers cannot bear spiritual fruit apart from their life-giving union with Christ. The central truth the Lord wanted to communicate in this symbol is the importance of abiding in Him. IN the most basic sense, whether or not a person abides in Christ reveals whether they have a relationship … READ MORE

The sum of all that Jesus’ death meant to Him was joy! The path to that eternal joy led through suffering. Having triumphed over death, Jesus has returned to the glory that He had from all eternity in heaven at the Father’s right hand. There He received forever the unceasing and undiminishing praise of the Living creatures and the elders as seen in Revelations 4:11. Jesus wanted the disciples to understand, that us through them, that He was not leaving them for no reason, but because he was leaving them, they would be stronger, and have a better grasp on the things that He had taught them. If you truly find yourself struggling to know peace, and understand truth, perhaps it is because you have no true relationship with God through Christ. Maybe it is time for you to come to a proper understanding of that relationship offered to you through Jesus Christ.… READ MORE