(John 15: 9-17)
Growing up I had my fair share of friends based upon whatever our common interests were, and the friends would come and go as mine or their interests changed, but we always remained friends because of that common bond. I had this one friend that was a little hard to take. I liked him fine, but he could, without even trying, rub you the wrong way. He could be loud and more than just a little sarcastic in his humor, but it didn’t bother me as much as it bothered others who would tell me they didn’t understand why I was friends with this guy. I couldn’t explain it other than the fact that he was my friend, and I knew there wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for me out of that friendship, no questions asked, or I for him. And, even though more than 45 years have passed since we ran the roads together, we’re still friends and could easily take up where we left off.
And that special relationship and bond of friendship is what Jesus is talking about in our scripture reading for this morning. This was a turning point in his relationship with his disciples as he no longer referred to them as his servants, but as his friends. The relationship he had with them had transformed into something deeper, more abiding, and lasting.
Our scripture reading for this morning comes after the conclusion of the Last Supper where Jesus now talks to the disciples about him being the true vine and his Father being the gardener who cuts off every branch in him that bears no fruit. He tells them that the branches that do bear fruit are pruned so that they will bear even more fruit. He tells them: I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. He tells them that it is to his Father’s glory that they bear much fruit, showing themselves to be his disciples. What I think is significant in this passage about the vine is that Jesus doesn’t just say “bears fruit’” he says bears “much fruit.” As disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world he doesn’t want us to just bear fruit, he wants us to bear much fruit after pruning those things from our lives that inhibit growth, but more on that later.
Jesus says: As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. He’s telling them that he loves them as much as God loves him, and for those who are already grasping the concept, he’s telling them that God loves them just as much as He (God) loves him. This love of God the Father for God the Son is the measure of the love of the Son for the believers. It just doesn’t get any more loving than that. He tells them that if they obey his commands they will remain in his love, just as he has obeyed the commands of the Father and remained in his love. Love each other as I have loved you, he tells them. Jesus is laying it on pretty thick and I’m not sure the disciples truly grasp what he’s saying. To better understand, you have to put it in perspective. They’ve just eaten what would become known as The Last Supper where Jesus had communion with them, and he is about to go spend some time in deep prayer with God regarding his impending crucifixion. He then says: Greater love has no one that this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. He’s saying, in a rather dramatic fashion, that they are his friends, and he is about to lay down his life for them. I’ve often wondered if the meaning of these words came back to them as they witnessed the crucifixion. Jesus tells them that he no longer considers them servants because a servant does not know his master’s business. As a servant, you just have a job to do, and you aren’t much interested in or privy to the master’s or employer’s goal. For example, you may work for Microsoft and not even care about Bill and Melinda Gates’ philanthropic outlook. You and Bill aren’t friends and don’t have that common bond or goal. Instead, Jesus says; I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. A friend is someone you can talk to, someone you can confide in, someone you can bounce ideas off, someone who will reach out and pull you back from the ledge. Jesus is such a friend. Jesus is telling them that everything he has learned from the Father, he has passed on to them because it is just that important. Jesus closes out this very frank part of his discussion with the disciples by telling them it was not they who chose him, but he that chose them, and it was he that has appointed them to go out and bear the kind of fruit that will last. He tells them that if they will do this one thing, bear fruit that will last, the Father will give them whatever they ask for in his name. He’s telling them that in their efforts to bear lasting fruit, whatever they ask for in his name to get the job done, the Father will provide. I see that in our efforts here when we work to bear fruit that lasts in clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and housing the homeless in Jesus’ name. Not only have we spent our own money and cleaned out our closets, but God has moved perfect strangers to seek us out with donations of food, clothing, blankets, and money because they know what they give us will go where it is needed the most. God is giving us what we need to get the job done when we ask in Jesus’ name. And then Jesus closes with: This is my command: Love each other.
Jesus knows that life for us mortals can be an emotional roller coaster where it seems like it takes a long time to slowly get to the top and then the ride to the bottom is quick and terrifying. When things are going well, we feel elated, but when hardships come, we sink into depression. Jesus wants us to know that we can experience the true joy of life that will transcend these great low points in our lives if we maintain a consistent relationship with Jesus, Jesus our friend forever, our BFF, our best friend forever. When we live our lives intertwined with his, he will help us through adversity without sinking into debilitating lows and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs. The joy of living with Christ daily will keep us levelheaded, no matter how high or low our circumstances. And with Jesus as a calming and reassuring constant in our lives we will be able to love others as Jesus loved us. We may not be called upon by Jesus to actually die for someone, but he will show us many other ways to practice sacrificial love, such as listening to someone who just needs to talk, helping someone who just needs a helping hand, encouraging someone who is experiencing a low in their life, giving out of our excess to someone who is in need, or giving of our time and talents to missions. Give all the love you can, and then try to give a little more so you can bear much fruit.
And remember, Jesus won’t ask you to do anything he wouldn’t do or hasn’t already done himself. So, when you find yourself asking what kind of fruit is it that Jesus would have you bear, the best answer is the opportunity that God has placed right in front of you. Do that and you’ll bear much fruit and you’ll come to realize what a friend you have in Jesus.
Let us pray.
What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear, and what a privilege it is to carry everything to God in prayer. O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer. Gracious and loving God, how grateful we are that we have such a friend in your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ who stands by us during our many trials and temptations. With Jesus by our side, we will never be discouraged because we could never find another friend so faithful who will willingly all our sorrows share. When we are weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care, our precious Savior is our refuge if only we bring it to our Lord in prayer. In his arms he’ll take and shield us and in him we’ll find our solace there. We praise you, heavenly Father, for choosing us. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.