Revive Us, Lord: A Journey Through John 13-16Sample

One of the most significant rivers in Israel and in Scripture is the River Jordan. It stretches 251 km and passes through the Sea of Galilee before ending at the Dead Sea. During the wet season, the river has a mighty current. Crossing it would be impossible as one would be swept away. Have you ever wondered this - where does all the water come from? Upon research, I have discovered that the source of water for the River Jordan comes from a place that is 10,000 feet above sea level - Mount Hermon. At the peaks of Mount Hermon, there are gushing subterranean waterways that burst out into springs that flow down the mountain at 3 major points before merging to form the iconic River Jordan.

This picture of the River Jordan will help us to understand what Jesus is trying to say here in John 15. Let me summarise the words of Christ in today’s passage:

1. He is the vine, and we are the branches. (Flashback to a Sunday School song!)
2. As the branches come out of the vine, we cannot help but bear fruit.
3. If a branch is not bearing fruit, the Lord will prune it off so that the other branches can bear more fruit.
4. When we bear fruit, the Father is glorified!

One key question that we have to ask here is this - what do these fruits look like? Some have taken it to mean evangelism. Others have interpreted it as ministry in the church or doing one’s daily devotion. The key to answering this question actually lies in tomorrow’s passage. But, from the flow of content that we have been on these 2 weeks, it is no surprise then to know that Jesus is once again talking from the context of “loving one another”.

The fruit that Jesus is talking about here is in regard to how we relate to each other and to the world. If you think about it, a lot of Jesus’ teaching focuses on man’s relationship with each other. One of the first effects of the original sin was relational brokenness - mistrust, blame, and shame. Jesus came to restore this aspect of the fallen human race. Nothing matters more to him on earth than seeing His disciples loving one another. This is the fruit that He is looking for and the indication that we are still connected to the vine. Jesus desires our relationships to produce fruits that will last. When that happens, the Father is glorified.

As Christians, it is important not to gauge our love for each other by looking at what the world does. Our true measurement must always be what Scripture says. In a first world country like Singapore, we see a lot of superficial relationships out there. Many individuals are friends with you because they need something from you. Some would not bother to help the poor and needy among us (such as the cleaners in our housing estates and our offices) because it involves time and sacrifice. Still, there are others who paint a very vibrant social life (through their Instagram posts). But in reality, all their relationships are at the surface level, superficial at best. It is easy for a Christian to be in a culture such as this and blend in.

We should then ask ourselves - is our gauge the world, or the words of Christ? What is our source? In order to love like Christ, we need to come back to His instructions for us on how to relate with each other. Let us continually evaluate our words, motives and actions to see if they line up with the instructions of Christ. The Father can only be glorified if our love for each other mirrors the love of Christ. When that happens, our joy will be full!

Reflection

• What do you think is God’s gauge when relating with others? Why is that so?
• What gauge do you use when reflecting on how you relate with others? Is your gauge the words of Christ or something else?

Application

Do not cease to study the words of Christ, especially on how we should relate with others. When we do this consistently, the Holy Spirit can bring what we have read to remembrance so that we can know how to love as Christ loved us.