Next Step Christian Church
Worship 7/25/26
      • Bible Trivia
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  • Ancient Of Days
  • God So Loved (Live At The Wheelhouse)
  • Reckless Love
  • How He Loves
  • Jesus commands his disciples to abide in him and in his love by keeping his commands. He emphasizes the First Command of Love from which all other commands follow. Abiding is obeying is loving is abiding. Jesus gives a clear reason for his teaching: that your joy may be full. The disciple of Jesus discovers full joy in abiding loving obedience. The disciple of Jesus passes on the joy of Jesus by leading people into abiding loving obedience.

    Tommy Boy

    Last month, I made an offhand Tommy Boy reference in a sermon. “It’s Herby Hancock”. Abigail and her sister Hannah were in town right before camp… and we discovered after the sermon that neither of them had seen the movie.
    Well… I was so excited. Because that meant I got to be there with them the first time they saw it… and they NEEDED to see it.
    So as we approach the Scripture this morning, I need you to keep three people in mind.
    The first is this guy. Tommy Boy. And it’s okay if you haven’t seen it… for now you just need to know that I love it, I think it is hilarious… and we can schedule the watch party later.
    Tommy boy and… you may remember the other two from the “Marks of a Disciple” series just back in March.
    Two disciples of Jesus we know almost nothing about, so I imagine them like this:

    Thaddaeus

    Thaddeus - aka Thad the Chad - the Hippy Christian, just live and love, man! Abide in the presence!

    Bartholomew

    Bartholomew - aka Bart - the SUPER Christian, the try-hard, doing all the things, doing them right, and doing them more right then you. Obedience, disciple, structure, the rules. Walk the Way!
    These two friends, both at the table. Are they really like that? No idea. But I know these disciples.

    Recap last week

    Now, here is Jesus, teaching these disciples and teaching us. And in his last hours before the cross, he is telling them of the Holy of the Spirit.
    Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life is giving the Spirit, internal forever indwelling of God. The Spirit will lead us on the Way, teach us all Truth, and be the very Life of God in us: Father, Son by the Holy Spirit.
    And in the midst of that teaching, that promise, Jesus kept weaving these ideas together: Presence (God with us) + Love (loving God) + Keeping the Commandments. Get ready for more of that!
    See it here, in the image, John 14:23-31. Love language in red, Word or Commandment language in blue, Presence life-together language in green.

    I am the Vine…

    Now see what’s coming… and we are going to read it and break it down. But this thread continues. Weaving together life presence together (green), keeping his commands (blue), and love (red).
    I think we have one all together, the big picture… Jesus’ last night with his disciples before the cross.
    Why is this so important for Jesus to get across????
    Doesn’t he know the cross is coming and all that “obedience” and “keeping commandments” stuff will be null and void? Thus says Thad, the Chad.
    Doesn’t he know that “fruit of the Spirit” will come effortlessly and automatically?
    Why is Jesus wasting such valuable time communicating things, commanding things like “abide in me” as if it something we can even do on purpose?
    Recall our last verse from last week. Jesus emphasizes his own obedience to the Father, and then:
    John 14:31 ESV
    31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

    Walking towards the Mount of Olives

    Jesus invites his disciples. Now the picture we have is of them leaving the upper room. And by John 18:1 they will go, or have gone, from Jerusalem, down across the brook Kidron, and up to a garden on the Mount of Olives. And on that whole walk, down one hillside and up another, walking past grapevines.
    I picture Jesus pointing at the vines.
    John 15:1–2 ESV
    1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
    Gardening 101, pruning to help produce more and BETTER fruit.
    John 15:1–10 ESV
    3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.
    This is an odd word to use. “Clean” because of the logos. It is a word used for moral or ritual purity, but there is a bit of word play here. A pun. The word “to prune” in verse 2 also refers to ritual cleansing. So this is God cleansing, pruning, from sin and stupid… and the Father has already been at work on the disciples through the Logos, the Word, through Jesus himself.
    John 15:4 ESV
    4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
    “Abide” means to stay, either for a minute, or to live. To dwell. Just like in English “stay” can mean for a second or “I am staying with family”… or “I am staying in Thornton.” I live here.
    Similarly, in English, Abide has the same root as Abode, a home. It is the language of home, staying and continuing to stay. Just as the branch abides, stays connected to the vine, and if it gets disconnected it dies.
    And Jesus drops one of his 7 “I Am” statements, the 7th, in fact. The last one. Even more intimate that shepherds and sheep:
    John 15:5 ESV
    5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
    Stay in Christ, abide in Christ, live in him… connected. Love those words. I picture worship and prayer, reflection, just kind of loving on Jesus. This is the “Thad”, just be, man vibe. It’s just me and Jesus, not about rules, right? And then there’s just fruit popping out, effortlessly, easily, wow. I like that.
    Except… there’s another bit:
    John 15:6 ESV
    6 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
    I don’t like that. Not really a picture of hell as eternal conscious torment here, branches are burned up, gone, ashes.
    So what makes the difference between fruitful and fruitless here?
    John 15:7 ESV
    7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
    That “if” implies that the disciples might or might not continue to abide. So does the command to “abide” itself. Why command something that is automatic?
    And linked to the abiding, now “Jesus’ words” are abiding.”
    But this is fun, the word for “word” has changed. This is not “Logos” as in “In the beginning was the Word, and was with God.
    This is “rhema”, Jesus’ spoken express word. Not just the big theological revelation of God, Jesus himself… but the words he has and is and will say. What he is saying right now. The commands he has given.
    If if the words are abiding, living, taking up home within you, then you can ask and get whatever you want. Echoing his words earlier “anything you ask in Jesus’ name… immediately followed by “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Same thing, Jesus is really underscoring this idea.
    Abiding. Love. Obeying.
    John 15:8–10 ESV
    8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
    This is the big summary. All those things together. Not for the first time, he is rephrasing what he said earlier, we read it last week, let’s read it again.
    John 14:23 ESV
    23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
    “our home”, same root as “abide”.
    Home is μονή
    Abide is μένω
    John 15:10 ESV
    10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
    Jesus pulls it all together.
    How do we abide in Jesus, in his love? Keeping his commandments. His words, letting it live in us, abide in us, obeying it, observing it.
    What does that have to do with producing fruit? That is the fruit Jesus is talking about here.
    In Jesus’ metaphor here, he is the vine… and the Father is the Farmer, the vinedresser. Who does what? Removes unfruitful branches.
    So how does one get disconnected from Jesus, stop abiding in Jesus, get disconnected from the vine? There is an explicit if statement here. And earlier, verse 2:
    John 15:2 ESV
    2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
    The fruit here is obeying Jesus’ commands. And if and as we obey his commands, we abide in him, and thus stay connected to him, rooted in Jesus… and abiding in His love.
    On his last night before the crucifixion, Jesus is deeply concerned that his disciples know how to stay connected, how to do life together, and it is this: obey his commands.
    And this is fun:
    Even taking the “fruit of the Spirit”, love, joy, peace… those first 3 are right here in this passage. Jesus says “Abide in my love”. Jesus said “Peace I give you”. He said “Rejoice” and is about to say “that your joy may be full!”

    Friends!

    John 15:12–14 ESV
    12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
    Wow, that is a surprising “if”
    John 15:15–17 ESV
    15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
    Now your fruit is abiding. He chose us for it. Appointed them, appointed us. And it is in THAT context that “whatever you ask the Father in Jesus name” he gives.
    So again, Jesus stresses a command. The big one. First and second greatest commandment, leading to their love.

    Joy!

    Why did Jesus say this? Why all these conditions? He says. Verse 17 is repeating a couple verses that we skipped:
    John 15:11 ESV
    11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
    We think that God is a kill-joy. Mister no-fun. Outlawing all the funnest things!
    That is a lie, literally from the devil. That is a lie. The original lie, perhaps. “God is keeping you from the good fruit… will you really die, or will you be like God?”
    Why, if these are his friends, and this is his final hours before the cross, Why is Jesus teaching this, stressing this, repeating it over and over. Weaving these ideas together.
    Obedience, Love and Presence.
    Abiding obedient love.
    Loving abiding keeping of the Word.
    Living in Love Word.
    Mix and shuffle, it’s all connected, fruit to branch to vine. And why did Jesus do this, say this, stress this?
    Jesus says I have joy! I want you to have it! To have it to the full! That your joy may be full.
    Joy Delight! Spark of the Divine. Pleasure. The word is next-door neighbor to “Grace”. This is the word of festivals, of weddings, this is the Great Party. Joy.
    This is the destination when Jesus commands Rejoice! Have joy, be glad, good news, Joy!
    Jesus has it… and he wants his beloved friends to have it. How do they get it?
    Abiding obedient love.
    Loving abiding keeping of his words.
    Listening to the Master of Life, and following in His footsteps. Doing as he does. Living as He lives.
    And what do his commands look like?
    John 15:12 ESV
    12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
    ALL of the commands of God, of Jesus, are for our good.
    And ALL of the commands of God are aimed at this: love God, love others. All the commands, all the law, all the prophets “hang” on these two. Every one of them.
    Sometimes we immediately understand how and why that works. “Don’t murder.” That’s loving, that makes sense.
    Maybe you struggle to see what “Don’t take God’s name in vain” is all about… or commands to “sexual purity” and “faithfulness in covenant marriage.”
    But you obey, and you learn, and you discover love and joy to the fullest there too.

    Thad, Chad and Tommy

    To Thad, Jesus says, it isn’t just about any kind of life, any kind of love. God knows what love really looks like… and he knows what life and life abundant and life FULL of joy looks like. That is what his commands are all about, live in them! Love like them!
    To Chad he says, you don’t obey these commands to earn anything, you are saved by the Vine. The commands are an invitation to life and life abundant and joy, not a TODO list and CERTAINLY never a way or reason to be better than anyone else.
    It’s just like Tommy Boy. Jesus looks at his disciples, and sees that their joy is NOT YET complete! Like Abigail and Hannah, they haven’t seen Tommy Boy yet, their life, their laughter, their joy is not yet complete!
    You haven’t tried living a life without worry and anxiety yet? Try this command “Do not worry!”
    You haven’t tried life with unconditional love yet? Oh man! You are missing out! Love one another, love God, receive the love of God!!!
    You haven’t tried peace?
    Oh, you are still running to sin like a dog to its vomit?? Have you tried NOT doing that? It’s awesome!
    Jesus sees that their joy is not complete, and invites them home. Into love. Into life. Into obedient loving abiding.

    Making Joyful Disciples

    As we make disciples, as Jesus made disciples… to the extent that we understand and have received the joy of Jesus, the love of Jesus.
    To the extent that we ourselves abide in him and have discovered life and life abundant in Jesus.
    The joy of obedience, which is just walking out life as it was meant to be. Avoiding the pain and heartbreak and brokenness of sin.
    How much did Jesus care? On and on he goes, with the moments he has left.
    So, in the Spirit of joy, let’s respond in Joy to the command of Jesus.
    3 Woohoos, we respond. Call and answer.
    Jesus says “Obey my words!” and we say “WOOOOOHOOOOO!”
    Jesus says “Love! Love God, and love others!” and we say “WOOOOHOOOOO!”
    Jesus says “Abide in me!” and we say “WOOOOHOOOO!”
    Now, let’s sing it:
    “This is my commandment, that you love one another, that your joy may be full!”

      • John 14:31NIV

      • John 15:1–2NIV

      • John 15:1–10NIV

      • John 15:4NIV

      • John 15:5NIV

      • John 15:6NIV

      • John 15:7NIV

      • John 15:8–10NIV

      • John 14:23NIV

      • John 15:10NIV

      • John 15:2NIV

      • John 15:12–14NIV

      • John 15:15–17NIV

      • John 15:11NIV

      • John 15:12NIV

  • This Is My Commandment
  • Abide
Next Step Christian Church
pastordusty@nextstepchurch.org
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