Jesus redirects the Disciples in John 14

They believed Him to be the King who would take over. He tells them He
is going to His death.

They believe His triumph would be seen by the world. He tells them that
the world will no longer see Him. That rules out public triumph.

They believe He will be King, and He tells them the
ruler of this world is coming.

That means He will not be the King they thought
He would be.

Observations by Bruce Wilkerson

• “Little children” – they are feeling small and weak.
• “I have loved you” – they are staring at Him in disbelief, mistrust, and fear.
• “Let not your heart be troubled.” – They’re sinking in anxiety and dread.
• “I will not leave you orphans” – they are slumping before Him like abandoned children, defenseless in a hostile world.

John 15:1-4

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 15:5-6

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

John 15:7-8

“7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for
you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Summary

1. Jesus is the vine. Most people think the vine is what you see at a vineyard, trailing along the trellis. But the vine is actually the trunk of the plant, growing out of the ground. What you see trailing along the trellis is the branches. Jesus says He is the vine.
2. God the Father is the gardener. The King James uses the word “vinedresser.” The gardener is the one who tends to the vine and the branches. The gardener’s goal is to coax as much fruit as possible out of the plant. He focuses on the branches as they are what carry the fruit. In John 14 verse 12, Jesus says “and greater things will you do than I have done.” Jesus is the vine. There is no fruit on the vine; the fruit is on the branches.
3. We are the branches. God is looking to us to produce the fruit of His Kingdom.

Fruits of the Spirit

We are told the fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Titus 3:14

“Let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be
unfruitful.”

Psalm 1:3
“The righteous man shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in
its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.”

John 15:16
Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit–fruit
that will last.”

God’s plan for us is to bear fruit. And that plan has four potential yields.

1. No fruit
2. Fruit
3. More fruit
4. Much fruit

Greek: Airo translates to ”Taken up” or “Lifted up”

May the Gardener tend to each of us in such a way that we all bear much fruit for His Kingdom