Greater Love – Week 1

We’re taking a quick break from The Sermon On The Mount to spend the month of Easter looking into John 15 where Christ says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Our hope is to explore the depth and implications of this Greater Love as we look at our love for God, our love for each other, and God’s love for us.

This week we sat in vv. 1-8 and wrestled with Jesus’ teaching on the vine and the branches. We learned that Jesus, in contrast to a disobedient and often fruitless Israel, is the true vine. As such, those who belong to him are branches that produce fruit. What Jesus is describing in this chapter of the book of John is true Christianity. True Christians will abide in Christ, produce fruit, and thus glorify the Father. Those who think they are Christians but don’t abide in Jesus and, thus, don’t produce fruit are thrown into the fire.

Jesus’ language is strong for sure, but it’s preceded by his desire that none shall perish and that all shall trust and abide in him. Are you abiding in Jesus and producing fruit?