Thoughts on the Gospel of John (143) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
John 15:3–5

Thoughts on the Gospel of John (143)
The Lord had previously said to His disciples: “You are clean”, and then added: “but not all of you” (ch. 13:10). Except for Judas, in the upper room the Lord called His disciples “clean”. But Judas had gone out. So now He says without qualification, “You are clean.” Judas was not clean because he had not heeded Jesus’ words. He had only followed Jesus outwardly but had not obeyed divine truth from the heart (cf. 1 Peter 1:22).

Then the Lord comes back to the subject of “bearing fruit”. Remember, the first thing here is not that we do many good works, but that the characteristics of Jesus become visible in our lives: love, joy, peace, longsuffering ...

Some people strive to keep the commandments of the Old Testament. Others try to be pious through self-imposed rules. But both these approaches can only lead people astray. By our own efforts, we will never succeed in pleasing God.

Isn’t it then a logical consequence that we shouldn’t even try?

The Lord makes it simple for His disciples both then and now: He is the vine, we are the branches. We must remain in Him, that is, remain very close to Him, have Him always before our eyes and look at His “image”. Then we will become more like Him and will automatically bear fruit.

Today’s reading: 1 Samuel 30:1-10 · Colossians 2:1-5