last minute words

Jesus is speaking to his disciples.

It's Thursday night of Holy Week.

Jesus knows Judas is going to betray him in a few hours,

& then Jesus will be arrested,

setting into motion the whole purpose for which Jesus came.

He & the remaining disciples are walking from the upper room to the Garden of Gethsemane.

I'm sure as they walk toward the garden, Jesus would stop & talk to them.

Since Jesus knew He is about to die, He's probably trying to share as much as He can in the time remaining.

And here He makes a big statement about the connectivity with God that they are fixin' to have.

Read this slowly, more than once.

There's a WHOLE LOT of stuff in these 17 verses.

John 15

1 "I am the true grapevine,

and my Father is the gardener.

2 He 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.

3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.

4 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.

  5 "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.

6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers.

Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.

7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you,

you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!

8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples.

This brings great glory to my Father.
  

9 "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me.

Remain in my love.

10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love,

just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love.

11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy.

Yes, your joy will overflow!

12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.

14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn't confide in his slaves.

Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.

16 You didn't choose me.

I chose you.

I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit,

so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.

17 This is my command:

Love each other.