15 Jesus Is the True Vine
Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the
gardener. 2 He cuts away every branch of mine that does not produce fruit. But
he trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce
even more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of what I have said to you.
4 Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot
produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit
unless you stay joined to me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. If you stay
joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But
you cannot do anything without me. 6 If you don't stay joined to me, you will be
thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burnt in a
fire.
7 Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can
pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered. 8 When you become
fruitful disciples of mine, my Father will be honoured. 9 I have loved you, just
as my Father has loved me. So make sure that I keep on loving you . 10 If you
obey me, I will keep loving you, just as my Father keeps loving me, because I
have obeyed him.
11 I have told this to make you as completely happy as I am. 12 Now I tell
you to love each other, as I have loved you. 13 The greatest way to show love
for friends is to die for them. 14 And you are my friends, if you obey me. 15
Servants don't know what their master is doing, and so I don't speak to you as
my servants. I speak to you as my friends, and I have told you everything my
father has told me.
16 You did not choose me. I chose you and sent you out to produce fruit,
the kind of fruit that will last. Then my Father will give you whatever you ask
for in my name.(v) 17 So I command you to love each other.
(v) in my name: Or "because you are my followers."
The World's Hatred
18 If the people of this world(w) hate you, just remember they hated me
first. 19 If you belonged to the world, its people would love you. But you don't
belong to the world. I have chosen you to leave the world behind, and that is
why its people hate you. 20 Remember how I told you that servants are not
greater than their master. So if people mistreat me, they will mistreat you. If
they do what I say, they will do what you say.
21 People will do to you exactly what they did to me. They will do it
because you belong to me, and they don't know the one who sent me. 22 If I had
not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have
no excuse for their sin.
23 Everyone who hates me also hates also hates my Father. 24 I have done
things that no one else has ever done. If they had not seen me do these things,
they would not be guilty. But they did see me do these things, and they still
hate me and my Father too. 25 That is why the Scriptures are true when they say,
"People hated me for no reason."
26 I will send you the Spirit who comes from the Father and shows what is
true. The Spirit will help(x) you and will tell you about me. 27 Then you will
also tell others about me, because you have been with me from the beginning.
(w) world: See the note at 12. 31. (x) help: See the note at 14. 16.
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