Friendship with Jesus in John 15
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- Опубліковано 19 вер 2024
- The lectionary reading for Easter 6 in Year B is the second half of what appears to be a single section of Jesus’ teaching, in his ‘Farewell Discourse’, John 15.9-17.
On the one hand, it seems strange to have divided this teaching into its two halves. On the other, whilst there is a continuing overarching theme of being fruitful whilst abiding in the vine, there are several big new theological ideas that are weaved into Jesus’ teaching here.
Come and join Ian and James as they explore all the issues here. Revd James Blandford-Baker is vicar of Histon and Impington, two villages just north of Cambridge. Revd Dr Ian Paul is Associate Minister of St Nic's, Nottingham, and writes the widely-read blog www.psephizo.com.
Full written commentary behind the discussion can be found on the blog each week.
A helpful video, as always, and great notes in the blog. Thank you!
Friends,
Thanks for this lively discussion you provided for us. It was a stimulating conversation indeed. I tend to think that the first part of the Vine and branches metaphor which we talked yesterday was setting the principle in our relationship with the Lord, in which we accept our place as branches whilst he is the Vine. The important that comes on is obedience; that was my stance yesterday's sermon and also an interplay between obedience and internalising his Word. As Psalm 37 says, "Let your delight be in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desire." in the process of obedience we are transformed into his likeness and likewise our desires ar refined and changed. This week I think is more of its fruit in relation to others. Love is over used term and I think I will have to be careful not to provide a cheesy sermon. But, one idea that helps me is that learning to love others becomes a means to obedience or abiding in Christ, and abiding in Christ also becomes a means to learn to love others. Again, another inter-play here. So, therefore, this is a challenge to individualistic expression of Christian faith. It does compel us to live in community, to learn from each other, to accept our differences.
Bless you guys.
Thanks! That’s a helpful reflection re love.
This was a great discussion. I have a question 'if I was chosen why was my friend not chosen?' I grew up in the faith and in the church but my friend didn't.
I like the parallel with deut 6… it feels like the binding of the commandments on the hand is a little like the tying of the branch as it is grafted into the vine. Is there something in this? A conscious act of the will like obedience and not an accidental one.
Hmm. Ended up listening through some of this three times. Here's a question for you... With the picture of the vine, though it's clear that the vine is Jesus, since us as individuals are in the vine (and a big one indeed it must be). With the link to ingrafted branches in Romans, to one side of possible, my question is, can people be in individual little vines as in not in the community of church? Are the individual branches not interlinked? I have many friends who are not in church, and they do seem to wither rather. Yet they will say they have their faith and are in the vine. A bit obtuse but hey.