Asking For Anything: John 15:1-17
Focus Passage: John 15:1-17 (NIrV)
On the night Jesus was betrayed, as He and the eleven remaining disciples were spending their last hours together prior to Jesus arrest, Jesus uses an interesting metaphor for His followers being branches on a vine. In this metaphor, we catch a glimpse of what God wants for all of Jesus’ followers.
In this illustration, Jesus tells His remaining disciples, “I am the vine. You are the branches. If anyone remains joined to me, and I to him, he will bear a lot of fruit. You can’t do anything without me… If you remain joined to me and my words remain in you, ask for anything you wish. And it will be given to you. When you bear a lot of fruit, it brings glory to my Father. It shows that you are my disciples.” (v. 5, 7-8)
In these verses, Jesus describes how we can give glory to God by simply being fruitful – and the simple way to be fruitful is by remaining connected with Jesus.
Several verses later, Jesus reemphasizes this same point, but in a little stronger fashion. Jesus tells all of His followers that “You did not choose me. Instead, I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit. It is fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you anything you ask for in my name.” (v. 16)
God has chosen each of us, and He has called and appointed us to go and bear fruit. The only way this can happen is if we remain connected with Jesus. The promise we can claim is that when we are connected with Jesus and are bearing fruit, we can ask the Father for anything in Jesus’ name, and He will grant our requests!
This is one big thought I had on this passage. What do you think? What stands out to you in this passage as you read it today, and/or what are your thoughts on my big thought? Share your response below and join in on the discussion.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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