WilliamBarclay'sDailyStudy

Bible
John15
Verses127
Chapter15
THEVINEANDTHEBRANCHES(John15:110)
15:110"IamtherealvineandmyFatheristhevinedresser.
Hedestroyseverybranchinmewhichdoesnotbearfruitand
hecleanseseverybranchwhichdoesbearfruit,sothatitmay
bearmorefruit.YouarealreadycleanthroughthewordwhichI
havespokentoyou.AbideinmeevenasIabideinyou.Asthe
branchcannotbearfruitinitsownstrength,unlessitabidesin
thevine,soneithercanyou,unlessyouabideinme.Iamthe
vineyouarethebranches.Themanwhoabidesinme,andin
whomIabide,bearsmuchfruit,becausewithoutmeyoucando
nothing.Ifanyonedoesnotabideinmehewillbecastoutlikea
witheredbranch.Andtheygathersuchbranchesandthrowthem
intothefireandtheyareburned.Ifyouabideinme,andmy
wordsabideinyou,askwhatyouwill,anditwillbegivento
you.Itisbythefactthatyoubearsuchfruit,andthatyoushow
yourselvestobemydisciples,thatmyFatherisglorified.As
theFatherhaslovedme,soIhavelovedyou.Abideinmylove.
AsIhavekeptmyFather'scommandments,soIabideinhis
love."
Jesus,assooften,isworkinginthispassagewithpicturesandideaswhichwere
partofthereligiousheritageoftheJewishnation.OverandoveragainintheOld
Testament,IsraelispicturedasthevineorthevineyardofGod."Thevineyardofthe
LordisthehouseofIsrael"(Isaiah5:17)."YetIplantedyouachoicevine"isGod's
messagetoIsraelthroughJeremiah(Jeremiah2:21).Ezekiel15:18likensIsraelto
thevine,asdoesEzekiel19:10."Israelisaluxuriantvine,"saidHosea(Hosea
10:1)."ThoudidstbringavineoutofEgypt,"sangthePsalmist,thinkingofGod's
deliveranceofhispeoplefrombondage(Psalms80:8).Thevinehadactually
becomethesymbolofthenationofIsrael.Itwastheemblemonthecoinsofthe
Maccabees.OneofthegloriesoftheTemplewasthegreatgoldenvineuponthe
frontoftheHolyPlace.Manyagreatmanhadcounteditanhonourtogivegoldto
mouldanewbunchofgrapesorevenanewgrapeontothatvine.Thevinewaspart
andparcelofJewishimagery,andtheverysymbolofIsrael.
Jesuscallshimselfthetruevine.Thepointofthatwordalethinos(Greek#228),true,
real,genuine,isthis.Itisacuriousfactthatthesymbolofthevineisneverusedin
theOldTestamentapartfromtheideaofdegeneration.ThepointofIsaiah'spicture
isthatthevineyardhasrunwild.Jeremiahcomplainsthatthenationhasturnedinto
"degenerateandbecomeawildvine."ItisasifJesussaid:"Youthinkthatbecause
youbelongtothenationofIsraelyouareabranchofthetruevineofGod.Butthe
nationitisadegeneratevine,asallyourprophetssaw.ItisIwhoamthetruevine.
ThefactthatyouareaJewwillnotsaveyou.Theonlythingthatcansaveyouisto
haveanintimatelivingfellowshipwithme,forIamthevineofGodandyoumustbe
branchesjoinedtome."JesuswaslayingitdownthatnotJewishbloodbutfaithin
himwasthewaytoGod'ssalvation.Noexternalqualificationcansetamanright
withGodonlythefriendshipofJesusChristcandothat.

THEVINEANDTHEBRANCHES(John15:110continued)
WhenJesusdrewhispictureofthevineheknewwhathewastalkingabout.The
vinewasgrownalloverPalestineasitstillis.Itisaplantwhichneedsagreatdeal
ofattentionifthebestfruitistobegotoutofit.Itisgrowncommonlyonterraces.
Thegroundhastobeperfectlyclean.Itissometimestrainedontrellisesitis
sometimesallowedtocreepoverthegroundupheldbylowforkedsticksit
sometimesevengrowsroundthedoorsofthecottagesbutwhereveritgrowscareful
preparationofthesoilisessential.Itgrowsluxuriantlyanddrasticpruningis
necessary.Soluxuriantisitthattheslipsaresetinthegroundatleasttwelvefeet
apart,foritwillcreepoverthegroundatspeed.Ayoungvineisnotallowedtofruit
forthefirstthreeyearsandeachyeariscutdrasticallybacktodevelopand
conserveitslifeandenergy.Whenmature,itisprunedinDecemberandJanuary.It
bearstwokindsofbranches,onethatbearsfruitandonethatdoesnotandthe
branchesthatdonotbearfruitaredrasticallyprunedback,sothattheywilldrain
awaynoneoftheplant'sstrength.Thevinecannotproducethecropofwhichitis
capablewithoutdrasticpruningandJesusknewthat.
Further,thewoodofthevinehasthecuriouscharacteristicthatitisgoodfornothing.
Itistoosoftforanypurpose.Atcertaintimesoftheyear,itwaslaiddownbythe
law,thepeoplemustbringofferingsofwoodtotheTempleforthealtarfires.Butthe
woodofthevinemustnotbebrought.Theonlythingthatcouldbedonewiththe
woodprunedoutofavinewastomakeabonfireofitanddestroyit.Thisaddstothe
pictureJesusdraws.
Hesaysthathisfollowersarelikethat.Someofthemarelovelyfruitbearing
branchesofhimselfothersareuselessbecausetheybearnofruit.WhowasJesus
thinkingofwhenhespokeofthefruitlessbranches?Therearetwoanswers.First,he
wasthinkingoftheJews.TheywerebranchesofGod'svine.Wasnotthatthe
picturethatprophetafterprophethaddrawn?Buttheyrefusedtolistentohimthey
refusedtoaccepthimthereforetheywerewitheredanduselessbranches.Second,
hewasthinkingofsomethingmoregeneral.HewasthinkingofChristianswhose
Christianityconsistedofprofessionwithoutpractice,wordswithoutdeedshewas
thinkingofChristianswhowereuselessbranches,allleavesandnofruit.Andhe
wasthinkingofChristianswhobecameapostates,whoheardthemessageand
accepteditandthenfellaway,becomingtraitorstotheMastertheyhadonce
pledgedthemselvestoserve.
Sothentherearethreewaysinwhichwecanbeuselessbranches.Wecanrefuse
tolistentoJesusChristatall.Wecanlistentohim,andthenrenderhimalip
serviceunsupportedbyanydeeds.WecanaccepthimasMaster,andthen,inface
ofthedifficultiesofthewayorthedesiretodoaswelike,abandonhim.Onething
wemustremember.ItisafirstprincipleoftheNewTestamentthatuselessness
invitesdisaster.Thefruitlessbranchisonthewaytodestruction.
THEVINEANDTHEBRANCHES(John15:110continued)
InthispassagethereismuchaboutabidinginChrist.Whatismeantbythat?Itis
truethatthereisamysticalsenseinwhichtheChristianisinChristandChristisin
theChristian.Buttherearemanymaybetheyareinthemajoritywhoneverhave
thismysticalexperience.Ifwearelikethat,wemustnotblameourselves.Thereisa
muchsimplerwayoflookingatthisandofexperiencingit,awayopentoanyone.
Letustakeahumananalogy.Allanalogiesareimperfectbutwemustworkwiththe
ideaswhichwepossess.Supposeapersonisweak.Hehasfallentotemptationhe
hasmadeamessofthingsheisonthewaydowntodegeneracyofmindandheart
andmentalfibre.Nowsupposethathehasafriendofastrongandlovelyandloving
nature,whorescueshimfromhisdegradedsituation.Thereisonlyonewayinwhich
hecanretainhisreformationandkeephimselfontherightway.Hemustkeep
contactwithhisfriendIfhelosesthatcontactallthechancesarethathisweakness
willovercomehimtheoldtemptationswillreartheirheadsagainandhewillfall.His
salvationliesincontinualcontactwiththestrengthofhisfriend.
Manyatimeadownandouthasbeentakentolivewithsomeonefine.Solongashe
continuedinthatfinehomeandthatfinepresencehewassafe.Butwhenhekicked
overthetracesandwentoffonhisown,hefell.Wemustkeepcontactwiththefine

thinginordertodefeattheevilthing.RobertsonofBrightonwasoneofthegreat
preachers.Therewasatradesmanwhohadalittleshopinthebackroomhekepta
photographofRobertson,forhewashisheroandhisinspiration.Wheneverhewas
temptedtocarryoutabitofsharppractice,hewouldrushintothebackroomand
lookatthephotographandthetemptationwasdefeated.WhenKingsleywasasked
thesecretofhislife,referringtoF.D.Mauricehesaid:"Ihadafriend."Thecontact
withlovelinessmadehimlovely.
AbidinginChristmeanssomethinglikethat.ThesecretofthelifeofJesuswashis
contactwithGodagainandagainhewithdrewintoasolitaryplacetomeethim.We
mustkeepcontactwithJesus.Wecannotdothatunlesswedeliberatelytakesteps
todoit.Totakebutoneexampletoprayinthemorning,ifitbeforonlyafew
moments,istohaveanantisepticforthewholedayforwecannotcomeoutofthe
presenceofChristtotouchtheevilthings.Forsomefewofus,abidinginChristwill
beamysticalexperiencewhichisbeyondwordstoexpress.Formostofus,itwill
meanaconstantcontactwithhim.Itwillmeanarranginglife,arrangingprayer,
arrangingsilenceinsuchawaythatthereisneveradaywhenwegiveourselvesa
chancetoforgethim.
Finally,wemustnotethatheretherearetwothingslaiddownaboutthegood
disciple.First,heenricheshisownlifehiscontactmakeshimafruitfulbranch.
Second,hebringsglorytoGodthesightofhislifeturnsmen'sthoughtstotheGod
whomadehimlikethat.Godisglorified,whenwebearmuchfruitandshow
ourselvestobedisciplesofJesus.ThegreatestgloryoftheChristianlifeisthatby
ourlifeandconductwecanbringglorytoGod.
THELIFEOFJESUS'CHOSENPEOPLE(John15:1117)
15:1117"Ihavespokenthesethingstoyouthatmyjoymight
beinyou,andthatyourjoymightbecomplete.Thisismy
commandment,thatyouloveoneanother,asIhavelovedyou.
Noonehasgreaterlovethanthis,thatamanshouldlaydown
hislifeforhisfriend.Youaremyfriends,ifyoudowhatI
commandyou.Inolongercallyouslaves,becausetheslave
doesnotknowwhathismasterisdoing.Ihavecalledyou
friendsbecauseIhavemadeknowntoyoueverythingthatI
heardfrommyFather.Youhavenotchosenme,butIhave
chosenyou,andIhaveappointedyoutogooutandtobear
fruit,ofsuchakindthatitwillremain.Ihavedoneso,sothat
theFatherwillgiveyouwhateveryouaskhiminmyname.
Thesearemyorderstoyou,thatyouloveoneanother."
ThecentralwordsofthispassagearethoseinwhichJesussaysthathisdisciples
havenotchosenhim,buthehaschosenthem.ItwasnotwewhochoseGod,but
Godwho,inhisgrace,approacheduswithacallandanoffermadeoutofhislove.
Outofthispassagewecancompilealistofthingsforwhichwearechosenandto
whichwearecalled.
(i)Wearechosenforjoy.HoweverhardtheChristianwayis,itis,bothinthe
travellingandinthegoal,thewayofjoy.Thereisalwaysajoyindoingtheright
thing.TheChristianisthemanofjoy,thelaughingcavalierofChrist.Agloomy
Christianisacontradictioninterms,andnothinginallreligioushistoryhasdone
Christianitymoreharmthanitsconnectionwithblackclothesandlongfaces.Itis
truethattheChristianisasinner,butheisaredeemedsinnerandthereinlieshis
joy.HowcananymanfailtobehappywhenhewalksthewaysoflifewithJesus?
(ii)Wearechosenforlove.Wearesentoutintotheworldtoloveoneanother.
Sometimesweliveasifweweresentintotheworldtocompetewithoneanother,or
todisputewithoneanother,oreventoquarrelwithoneanother.ButtheChristianis
toliveinsuchawaythatheshowswhatismeantbylovinghisfellowmen.Itishere
thatJesusmakesanotherofhisgreatclaims.Ifweaskhim:Whatrighthaveyouto
demandthatweloveoneanother?Hisansweris:"Nomancanshowgreaterlove
thantolaydownhislifeforhisfriendsandIdidthat."Manyamantellsmentolove
eachother,whenhiswholelifeisademonstrationthatthatisthelastthinghedoes
himself.Jesusgavemenacommandmentwhichhehadhimselffirstfulfilled.

(iii)Jesuscalledustobehisfriends.Hetellshismenthathedoesnotcallthem
slavesanymorehecallsthemfriends.Nowthatisasayingwhichwouldbeeven
greatertothosewhohearditforthefirsttimethanitistous.Doulos(Greek#1401),
theslave,theservantofGodwasnotitleofshameitwasatitleofthehighest
honour.Moseswasthedoulos(Greek#1401)ofGod(Deuteronomy34:5)sowas
Joshua(Joshua24:29)sowasDavid(Psalms89:20).ItisatitlewhichPaulcounted
itanhonourtouse(Titus1:1)andsodidJames(James1:1).Thegreatestmenin
thepasthadbeenproudtobecalledthedouloi(Greek#1401),theslavesofGod.
AndJesussays:"Ihavesomethinggreaterforyouyet,youarenolongerslaves
youarefriends."ChristoffersanintimacywithGodwhichnoteventhegreatestmen
knewbeforehecameintotheworld.
TheideaofbeingthefriendofGodhasalsoabackground.Abrahamwasthefriend
ofGod(Isaiah41:8).InWisdomofSolomon7:27Wisdomissaidtomakementhe
friendsofGod.Butthisphraseislitupbyacustomwhichobtainedbothatthe
courtsoftheRomanEmperorsandoftheeasternkings.Atthesecourtstherewasa
veryselectgroupofmencalledthefriendsoftheking,orthefriendsoftheEmperor.
Atalltimestheyhadaccesstotheking:theyhadeventherighttocometohis
bedchamberatthebeginningoftheday.Hetalkedtothembeforehetalkedtohis
generals,hisrulers,andhisstatesmen.Thefriendsofthekingwerethosewhohad
theclosestandthemostintimateconnectionwithhim.
JesuscalledustobehisfriendsandthefriendsofGod.Thatisatremendousoffer.
ItmeansthatnolongerdoweneedtogazelonginglyatGodfromafaroffwearenot
likeslaveswhohavenorightwhatevertoenterintothepresenceofthemasterwe
arenotlikeacrowdwhoseonlyglimpseofthekingisinthepassingonsomestate
occasion.JesusgaveusthisintimacywithGod,sothatheisnolongeradistant
stranger,butourclosefriend.
THELIFEOFJESUS'CHOSENPEOPLE(John15:1117continued)
(iv)Jesusdidnotonlychooseusforaseriesoftremendousprivileges.Hecalledus
tobehispartners.Theslavecouldneverbeapartner.HewasdefinedinGreeklaw
asalivingtool.Hismasterneveropenedhismindtohimtheslavesimplyhadtodo
whathewastoldwithoutreasonandwithoutexplanation.ButJesussaid:"Youare
notmyslavesyouaremypartners.IhavetoldyoueverythingIhavetoldyouwhat
Iamtryingtodo,andwhyIamtryingtodoit.IhavetoldyoueverythingwhichGod
toldme."Jesushasgivenusthehonourofmakinguspartnersinhistask.Hehas
sharedhismindwithus,andopenedhishearttous.Thetremendouschoicelaid
beforeusisthatwecanacceptorrefusepartnershipwithChristintheworkof
leadingtheworldtoGod.
(v)Jesuschosetobeambassadors."Ihavechosenyou,"hesaid,"tosendyou
out."Hedidnotchooseustolivealiferetiredfromtheworld,buttorepresenthimin
theworld.WhenaknightcametothecourtofKingArthur,hedidnotcometospend
therestofhisdaysinknightlyfeastingandinknightlyfellowshipthere.Hecameto
thekingsaying:"SendmeoutonsomegreattaskwhichIcandoforchivalryandfor
you."Jesuschoseus,firsttocomeintohim,andthentogoouttotheworld.And
thatmustbethedailypatternandrhythmofourlives.
(vi)Jesuschoseustobeadvertisements.Hechoseustogoouttobearfruit,andto
bearfruitwhichwillstandthetestoftime.ThewaytospreadChristianityistobe
Christian.ThewaytobringothersintotheChristianfaithistoshowthemthefruitof
theChristianlife.Jesussendsusout,nottoarguemenintoChristianity,stilllessto
threatenthemintoit,buttoattractthemintoitsotolivethatitsfruitsmaybeso
wonderfulthatotherswilldesirethemforthemselves.
(vii)JesuschoseustobeprivilegedmembersofthefamilyofGod.Hechoseusso
thatwhateverweaskinhisnametheFatherwillgivetous.Hereagainweareface
tofacewithoneofthosegreatsayingsaboutprayerwhichwemustunderstand
aright.Ifwecometoitthoughtlessly,itsoundsasiftheChristianwillreceive
everythingforwhichheprays.Wehavealreadythoughtaboutthis,butwemaywell
thinkaboutitagain.TheNewTestamentlaysdowncertaindefinitelawsabout
prayer.
(a)Prayermustbetheprayeroffaith(James5:15).Whenitisaformality,merely

theroutineandconventionalrepetitionofaformofwords,itcannotbeanswered.
Whenprayerishopelessitcannotbeeffective.Thereislittleuseinamanprayingto
bechanged,ifhedoesnotbelieveitpossiblethathecanbechanged.Topraywith
poweramanmusthaveaninvinciblebeliefintheallsufficientloveofGod.
(b)PrayermustbeinthenameofChrist.Wecannotprayforthingsofwhichwe
knowthatJesuswoulddisapprove.Wecannotpraythatweshouldbegiven
possessionofsomeforbiddenpersonorsomeforbiddenthingwecannotpraythat
somepersonalambitionshouldberealized,ifthatambitionmeansthatsomeone
elsemustbehurttofulfilit.Wecannotprayinthenameofhimwhoislovefor
vengeanceonourenemies.Wheneverwetrytoturnprayerintosomethingtoenable
ustorealizeourownambitionsandtosatisfyourowndesires,itmustbeineffective,
foritisnotrealprayeratall.
(c)Prayermustsay:"Thywillbedone."Whenwepraywemustfirstrealizethatwe
neverknowbetterthanGod.TheessenceofprayerisnotthatwesaytoGod:"Thy
willbechanged,"butthatwesaytohim:"Thywillbedone."Sooftenrealprayer
mustbe,notthatGodwouldsendusthethingswewish,butthathewouldmakeus
abletoacceptthethingshewills.
(d)Prayermustneverbeselfish.AlmostinthepassingJesussaidavery
illuminatingthing.Hesaidthat,iftwopeopleagreedinaskinganythinginhisname,
itwouldbegranted(Matthew18:19).Wearenottotakethatwithacrudeliteralism,
becauseitwouldsimplymeanthatifyoucanmobilizeenoughpeopletoprayfor
anythingyouwillgetit.Whatitdoesmeanisthisnomanwhenhepraysshould
thinkentirelyofhisownneeds.Totakethesimplestexample,theholidaymaker
mightbeprayingforsunshinewhilethefarmerisprayingforrain.Whenwepray,we
mustask,notonly:"Isthisformygood?"but:"Isthisforthegoodofallmen?"The
greatesttemptationofallinprayeristoprayasifnobodybutourselvesmattered.
JesuschoseustobeprivilegedmembersofthefamilyofGod.Wecanandmust
takeeverythingtoGodinprayerbutwhenwehavedonesowemustacceptthe
answerwhichGodinhisperfectwisdomandperfectlovesendstous.Andthemore
weloveGod,theeasieritwillbetodothat.
THEWORLD'SHATRED(John15:1821)
15:1821"Iftheworldhatesyou,youknowthatithatedme
beforeithatedyou.Ifyouwereoftheworld,theworldwould
loveitsownbuttheworldhatesyou,becauseyouarenotof
theworld,butIhavepickedyououtoftheworld.Rememberthe
wordwhichIspoketoyoutheservantisnotgreaterthanhis
master.Iftheypersecutedme,theywillpersecuteyou.Ifthey
keptmyword,theywillkeepyours.Buttheywilldothesethings
toyoubecauseofmyname,becausetheydonotknowhim
whosentme."
ItisalwaysJohn'swaytoseethingsintermsofblackandwhite.Tohimthereare
twogreatentitiestheChurchandtheworld.Andthereisnocontactandno
fellowshipbetweenthem.ToJohnitis,
"Standthouonthatside,foronthisamI."
Ashesawit,amaniseitheroftheworldorofChrist,andthereisnostagebetween.
Further,wemustrememberthatbythistimetheChurchwaslivingunderthe
constantthreatofpersecution.Christianswereindeedpersecutedbecauseofthe
nameofChrist.Christianitywasillegal.Amagistrateneededonlytoaskwhetheror
notamanwasaChristian,and,ifhewas,nomatterwhathehaddoneorhadnot
done,hewasliabletopunishmentbydeath.Johnwasspeakingofasituationwhich
existedinthemostclearcutandagonizingway.
OnethingiscertainnoChristianwhowasinvolvedinpersecutioncouldsaythathe
hadnotbeenwarned.OnthismatterJesuswasquiteexplicit.Hehadtoldhispeople
beforehandwhattheymightexpect."Theywilldeliveryouuptocouncilsandyou
willbebeateninsynagoguesandyouwillstandbeforegovernorsandkingsformy

sake,tobeartestimonybeforethem....Andbrotherwilldeliverupbrothertodeath,
andthefatherhischild,andchildrenwillriseagainstparentsandhavethemputto
deathandyouwillbehatedbyallformyname'ssake"(Mark13:913compare
Matthew10:1722Matthew10:2329Luke12:29Luke12:5153).
WhenJohnwrote,thishatredhadlongsincebegun.Tacitusspokeofthepeople
"hatedfortheircrimes,whomthemobcallChristians."Suetoniusgadspokenof"a
raceofmenwhobelongtoanewandevilsuperstition."Whywasthishatredso
virulent?
TheRomangovernmenthatedtheChristiansbecauseitregardedthemasdisloyal
citizens.Thepositionofthegovernmentwasquitesimpleandunderstandable.The
EmpirewasvastitstretchedfromtheEuphratestoBritain,fromGermanytoNorth
Africa.Itincludedallkindsofpeoplesandallkindsofcountrieswithinit.Some
unifyingforcehadtobefoundtoweldthisvariedmassintooneanditwasfoundin
Caesarworship.
NowCaesarworshipwasnotimposedontheworlditactuallyarosefromthepeople
themselves.AwaybackintheolddaystherehadbeenthegoddessRomathespirit
ofRome.ItiseasytoseehowmencouldthinkofthatspiritofRomesymbolizedin
theEmperor.HestoodforRomeheembodiedRomethespiritofRomefoundits
homeinhim.ItisagreatmistaketothinkthatthesubjectpeoplesresentedRoman
governmentforthemostparttheywereprofoundlygratefulforit.Romebrought
justice,andfreedthemfromcapriciouskings.Romebroughtpeaceandprosperity.
Thelandwasclearedofbrigandsandtheseaofpirates.ThepaxRomana,the
Romanpeace,stretchedoveralltheworld.
ItwasinAsiaMinorthatmenbegantothinkofCaesar,theEmperor,asthegodwho
embodiedRome,andtheydidsoinsheergratitudefortheblessingsRomehad
brought.AtfirsttheEmperorsdiscouragedanddeprecatedthisworshipthey
insistedthattheyweremenandmustnotbeworshippedasgods.Buttheysawthat
theycouldnotstopthismovement.AtfirsttheyconfinedittotheexcitableAsiatics
ofAsiaMinor,butsoonitspreadeverywhere.Thenthegovernmentsawthatthey
coulduseit.Herewastheunifyingprinciplewhichwasneeded.Sotherecamethe
daywhenonceayeareveryinhabitantoftheEmpirehadtoburnhispinchof
incensetothegodheadofCaesar.Bysodoing,heshowedthathewasaloyal
citizenofRome.Whenhehaddonethis,hereceivedacertificatetosaythathe
doneit.
Herewasthepracticeandthecustomwhichmadeallmenfeelthattheywerepartof
Rome,andwhichguaranteedtheirloyaltytoher.NowRomewastheessenceof
toleration.Afterhehadburnedhispinchofincenseandsaid,"CaesarisLord,"a
mancouldgoawayandworshipanygodheliked,solongastheworshipdidnot
affectpublicdecencyandpublicorder.ButthatispreciselywhattheChristians
wouldnotdo.Theywouldcallnoman"Lord"exceptJesusChrist.Theyrefusedto
conform,andthereforetheRomangovernmentregardedthemasdangerousand
disloyal.
ThegovernmentpersecutedtheChristiansbecausetheyinsistedtheyhadnoking
butChrist.PersecutioncametotheChristiansbecausetheyputChristfirst.
Persecutionalwayscomestothemanwhodoesthat.
THEWORLD'SHATRED(John15:1821continued)
ItwasnotonlythatthegovernmentpersecutedtheChristiansthemobhatedthem.
Why?Itwasbecausethemobbelievedcertainslanderousthingsaboutthe
Christians.ThereisnodoubtthattheJewswereatleasttosomeextentresponsible
fortheseslanders.Itsohappenedthattheyhadtheearofthegovernment.Totake
buttwoexamples,Nero'sfavouriteactorAliturus,andhisharlotempressPoppaea,
werebothadherentsoftheJewishfaith.TheJewswhisperedtheirslanderstothe
government,slanderswhichtheymusthavewellknowntobeuntrue,andfour
slanderousreportswerespreadabouttheChristians.
(i)Theyweresaidtobeinsurrectionaries.Wehavealreadyseenthereasonforthat.
ItwasfutilefortheChristianstopointoutthatinfacttheywerethebestcitizensin
thecountry.Thefactremainedtheywouldnotburntheirpinchofincenseandsay,

"CaesarisLord,"andsotheywerebrandedasdangerousanddisloyalmen.
(ii)Theyweresaidtobecannibals.Thischargecamefromthewordsofthe
sacrament."Thisismybodywhichisforyou.""Thiscupisthenewcovenantinmy
blood."Onthebasisofthesewords,itwasnotdifficulttodisseminateamongst
ignorantpeople,preparedtobelievetheworst,thestorythattheChristians'private
mealwasbasedoncannibalism.Thechargestuck,anditislittlewonderthatthe
moblookedontheChristianswithloathing.
(iii)Theyweresaidtopractisethemostflagrantimmorality.Theweeklymealofthe
ChristianswascalledtheAgape(Greek#26),theLoveFeast.WhentheChristians
meteachotherintheearlydaystheygreetedeachotherwiththekissofpeace.It
wasnotdifficulttospreadabroadthereportthattheLoveFeastwasanorgyof
sexualindulgence,ofwhichthekissofpeacewasthesymbolandthesign.
(iv)Theyweresaidtobeincendiaries.TheylookedtotheSecondComingofChrist.
ToittheyhadattachedalltheOldTestamentpicturesoftheDayoftheLord,which
foretoldoftheflamingdisintegrationanddestructionoftheworld."Theelementswill
bedissolvedwithfire,andtheearthandtheworksthatareuponitwillbeburnedup"
(2Peter3:10).InthereignofNerocamethedisastrousfirewhichdevastatedRome
anditwaseasytoconnectitwithpeoplewhopreachedoftheconsumingfirewhich
woulddestroytheworld.
(v)Therewasactuallyanotherchargebroughtandforthisfifthchargetherewere
understandablegrounds.ItwasthattheChristians"tamperedwithfamily
relationships,"dividedfamilies,splituphomesandbrokeupmarriages.Inawaythat
wastrue.Christianitydidbringnotpeacebutasword(Matthew10:34).Oftenawife
becameaChristianandahusbanddidnot.OftenchildrenbecameChristiansand
parentsdidnot.Thenthehomewassplitintwoandthefamilydivided.
ThesewerethechargeswhichwerespreadabouttheChristianswiththehelpofthe
Jews.ItislittlewonderthatthenameofChristianwashated.
THEWORLD'SHATRED(John15:1821continued)
Suchwerethecausesofhatredintheearlydays.butitisstilltruethattheworldwill
hatetheChristian.Aswehavealreadysaid,bytheworldJohnmeanthumansociety
organizingitselfwithoutGod.Thereisboundtobeacleavagebetweenthemanwho
regardsGodastheonlyrealityinlifeandthemanwhoregardsGodastotally
irrelevantforlife.Inanyeventtheworldhascertaincharacteristics,whicharealways
partofthehumansituation.
(i)Theworldsuspectspeoplewhoaredifferent.Thatcomesoutinthesimplest
ways.Oneofthecommonestthingsintheworldnowadaysisanumbrellabutwhen
JonasHanwaytriedtointroducetheumbrellaintoEnglandandwalkeddownthe
streetbeneathonehewaspeltedwithstonesanddirt.IntheearlydaysoftheBoys'
Brigade,theboyswhomarcheddownthestreetinuniformoftenreceivedsimilar
treatment.Anyonewhoisdifferent,whowearsdifferentclothes,whohasdifferent
ideas,isautomaticallysuspect.Hemayberegardedasaneccentricoramadmanor
adangerbutlifeislikelytobemadeuncomfortableforhim.
(ii)Theworldacutelydislikespeoplewhoselivesareacondemnationofit.Itisin
factdangeroustobegood.TheclassicinstanceisthefatewhichbefellAristidesin
Athens.HewascalledAristidestheJustandyethewasbanished.Whenoneofthe
citizenswasaskedwhyhehadvotedforhisbanishment,heanswered:"BecauseI
amtiredofhearinghimalwayscalledtheJust."ThatwaswhymenkilledSocrates
theycalledhimthehumangadfly.Hewasalwayscompellingmentothinkandto
examinethemselves,andmenhatedthatandkilledhim.Itisdangeroustopractise
ahigherstandardthanthestandardoftheworld.Nowadaysamancanbe
persecutedevenforworkingtoohardortoolong.
(ii)Toputitatitswidesttheworldalwayssuspectsnonconformity.Itlikesapattern
itlikestobeabletolabelapersonandtoputhiminapigeonhole.Anyonewhodoes
notconformtothepatternwillcertainlymeettrouble.Itisevensaidthatifahenwith
differentmarkingsisputamonghensthatareallalike,theotherswillpeckherto
death.

ThebasicdemandontheChristianisthedemandthatheshouldhavethecourageto
bedifferent.Tobedifferentwillbedangerous,butnomancanbeaChristianunless
heacceptsthatrisk,fortheremustbeadifferencebetweenthemanoftheworldand
themanofChrist.
KNOWLEDGEANDRESPONSIBILITY(John15:2225)
15:2225"IfIhadnotcomeandspokentothem,theywouldnot
beguiltyofsin.Asitis,theyhavenoexcusefortheirsins.He
whohatesmehatestheFathertoo.IfIhadnotdonedeeds
amongthem,whichnooneelsehadeverdone,theywouldnot
beguiltyofsin.Asitis,theyhaveseenandtheyhaveheard
bothmeandmyFather.Butithasallhappenedthattheword
whichstandswrittenintheirlawmightbefulfilled'Theyhave
hatedmewithoutacause.'"
HereJesushasreturnedtoathoughtwhichintheFourthGospelisneverfarfrom
hismind,theconvictionthatknowledgeandprivilegebringwiththemresponsibility.
UntilJesuscamemenneverhadtheopportunityreallytoknowGodtheyhadnever
fullyheardhisvoice,andtheyhadneverseenperfectlydemonstratedthekindoflife
hewishedthemtolive.Theycouldscarcelybeblamedforbeingsuchastheywere.
Therearethingswhichareallowableinachildwhicharenotallowableinanadult,
becausethechilddoesnotknowanybetter.Therearethingswhichareallowablein
someonewhoseupbringinghasbeenbadwhicharenotallowableinsomeonewho
hasbeenbroughtupinallthebenefitsofaChristianhome.Nooneexpectsthe
samekindofconductfromasavageasfromacivilizedman.Themoreknowledgea
manhasandthemoreprivilegesheenjoys,thegreatertheresponsibilitylaidupon
him.
Jesusdidtwothings.First,heexposedsin.Hetoldmenofthethingswhichgrieved
GodandofthewayinwhichGodwishedthemtowalk.Hesetthetruewaybefore
men.Second,heprovidedtheremedyforsinandhedidthatinadoublesense.He
openedthewaytoforgivenessforpastsin,andheprovidedthepowerwhichwould
enableamantoovercomesinanddotheright.Theseweretheprivilegesandthe
knowledgewhichhebroughttomen.Supposeamantobeillsupposeheconsultsa
doctor,andthedoctordiagnoseswhatiswrongandprescribesacure.Ifthatman
disregardsthediagnosisandrefusestousethecure,hehasnoonetoblamebut
himselfifhedies,orcomestoaconditionwhichmakeslifewretchedforhimself.
ThatiswhattheJewshaddone.AsJohnsawit,theyhadonlydonewhatitwas
foretoldtheywoulddo.TwicethePsalmisthadsaid:"Theyhatedmewithouta
cause"(Psalms35:19Psalms69:4).
Itisstillpossibleforustodothesame.NotmanyareactivelyhostiletoChrist,but
manylivetheirlivesasifChristhadnevercomeandsimplydisregardhim.Butno
mancanknowlifeinthisworldorintheworldtocomeifhedisregardstheLordofall
goodlife.
WITNESSDIVINEANDHUMAN(John15:2627)
15:2627"WhentheHelpercomes,theHelperwhomIwillsend
toyoufrommyFather,ImeantheSpiritofTruthwhocomes
forthfromtheFather,hewillbeawitnessaboutme.Andyou
willbewitnessaboutmebecauseyouhavebeenwithmefrom
thebeginning."
HereJohnusestwoideaswhichlieveryclosetohisheartandareconstantly
entwinedinhisthought.
ThefirstisthewitnessoftheHolySpirit.Whatdoeshemeanbythis?Weshallhave
occasiontothinkofthisagainverysoon,butforthemomentthinkofitthisway.
WhenthestoryofJesusistoldusandhispictureissetbeforeus,whatmakesus
feelthatthisisnoneotherthanthepictureoftheSonofGod?Thatreactionofthe
humanmind,thatanswerofthehumanheartistheworkoftheHolySpirit.Itisthe
HolySpiritwithinuswhomovesustorespondtoJesusChrist.
ThesecondisthewitnesswhichmenmustbeartoChrist."You,"saidJesustohis

disciples,"winbewitnessesaboutme."TherearethreeelementsinChristian
witness.
(i)ChristianwitnesscomesfromlongfellowshipandintimacywithChrist.The
disciplesarehiswitnessesbecausetheyhavebeenwithhimfromthebeginning.A
witnessisamanwhosaysofsomething:"Thisistrue,andIknowit."Therecanbe
nowitnesswithoutpersonalexperience.WecanwitnessforChristonlywhenwe
havebeenwithhim.
(ii)Christianwitnesscomesfrominnerconviction.Theaccentofpersonalinner
convictionisoneofthemostunmistakableintheworld.Amanhardlystartsto
speakbeforeweknowwhetherornothereallybelieveswhatheissaying.Therecan
benoeffectiveChristianwitnesswithoutthisinnerconvictionwhichcomesfrom
personalintimacywithChrist.
(iii)Christianwitnessissuesinoutwardtestimony.Awitnessisnotonlysomeone
whoknowsthatsomethingistrueheissomeonewhoispreparedtosaythathe
knowsthatitistrue.AChristianwitnessisamanwhonotonlyknowsChristbut
wantsotherstoknowhimtoo.
ItisourprivilegeandourtasktobewitnessesforChristintheworldandwecannot
bewitnesseswithoutthepersonalintimacy,theinnerconvictionandtheoutward
testimonytoourfaith.
Barclay'sDailyStudyBible(NT)
CopyrightStatement
Thesefilesarepublicdomain.
TextCourtesyofBibleSupport.com.UsedbyPermission.
BibliographyInformation
Barclay,William."Commentaryonjohn15"."WilliamBarclay'sDailyStudyBible".
"http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/print.cgi?bk=42&ch=15&vs=1".1956
1959.
20012015,StudyLight.org
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