Be with Jesus

City Harbor Church – Hampden, Baltimore, MD

“I am the true vine, remain in me, and I will remain in you.” – John 15:1, 4 NCV

What did Jesus mean when he said, “I am the true vine, remain in me, and I will remain in you.” – John 15:1, 4, and what should we do about it?

We can all start 2024 with more peaceful joy, as we stay in a close relationship with Jesus, receive his love, follow his guidance, and share his love with each other.

“4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit alone but must remain in me. 5 “I am the vine, and you are the branches. If any remain in me and I remain in them, they produce much fruit. But without me they can do nothing.” – John 15:4-5 NCV

1. What did Jesus mean when he said this?

It’s important for us to understand the context. Jesus Christ is at the Last Supper with his close followers in an important conversation, preparing them for the future that would include suffering. Jesus references a well known grapevine analogy that they would have been introduced to in Isaiah 5:1-7 and Psalms 80:8-9.

Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ is the “true” vine, and we are the branches in his analogy, in John 15:1.

“True” – real thing in comparison to those who claimed to be, Jesus is the authentic, trustworthy, genuine life-giving source

“Vine” – grapevine, bush producing grapes

“Branch” – tender more than the grapevine

Stay/abide/remain this one Greek word was common in the Greek and Roman literature that’s been found from the century of Jesus’ time on earth, including Homer. Also as, “to stay alive in a place,” “to remain in a sphere,” “To stand fast, hold out, to stand against opposition,”

Abide Bible Word Study:

“Rabbi, where are you staying?” – John 1:38 “to dwell”

Remain inhabited undisturbed – Zechariah 14:10

“he waited for a harvest,” – Isaiah 5:2

“Stay there until you leave that place.” – Mark 6:10

“the room where they were staying,” – Acts 1:13

“If these sailors don’t stay on the ship,” – Acts 27:31

“For two years he stayed in the place he rented for himself,” – Acts 28:30

“I will stay here in Ephesus.” – 1 Corinthians 16:8

Stay Connected: Abide – Jesus in John 15:1-17 Jesus calls us to stay connected to Him.

Abide: remain in the same place over a period of time, “tarry”, stay with, to stay still, living with, maintain a connection with, keeping a connection that is: direct, close, active, healthy, and uninterrupted

“Abide” or “Remain in me, and I will remain in you” – John 15:4….could also be translated as, “Stay with me, and I will stay with you.” as well as “Stay close to me, and I will stay close to you.”

Jesus is talking about a close personal connection.

Not a shallow new way of selfish emotionally presumptuous thinking, but centuries-long held Christian belief.

“The vine is a living parable of the life-giving nourishment the Spirit provides for those who remain attached to that vine by remaining in intimate union with Christ.” – Cyril of Alexandria 375-444

2. What do we learn?

A. To “be in” Jesus is to have received him as Savior.

B. To “remain in” Jesus to stay in a close relationship with him.

3. What questions should we be thinking about?

A. What is helping your relationship with Jesus? How does the Holy Spirit see this?

B. What is hurting or crowding your relationship with Jesus? How does the Holy Spirit see this?

4. What should we do?

A. Spend time and energy to be with Jesus, available for His influence. “Remain in me, and I will remain in you” – John 15:4

B. Listen to Jesus. “my words remain in you,” – John 15:7 (pray the words of Jesus)

C. Walking out your spiritual life in community (out in the open) so that they may encourage your decisions to grow closer to Jesus. “Love each other in the same way I have loved you.” John 15:12

5. How does this work?

“Quality Relationship Time” BE WITH JESUS – FIRST prayer and fasting January 7 – 27

Less ___ for More ___ Less activity, food, media, so that you have room for more time and energy interacting with God.

Closing Seed thought: Choosing to stay in close contact with Jesus, will cultivate joy in your life.

“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy.” John 15:11

…this is essential to fulfillment of the good things that we yearn for…will be fulfilled in Jesus.