Cram Week

 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
   5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

   9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:1-17

Since Passover, I have been reading from John 12-17, as the Lord Jesus, in the last week before His suffering,death, and resurrection, poured into his disciples preparing them for their "final exams". Everything that they had observed and experienced with Him during His ministry was being summed up by Him, as he told them the secrets to the kingdom life using the various parables. I am amazed at how dull (daft, as the English would say) the disciples were at this time, prior to the baptism of the Holy Spirit(like I was any different!).
But in reading these words of life, the Vine and the Branches leapt out at me! The essence of my Christian life- to abide in Him so I can bear much fruit, that my prayers will be heard- and answered, that Jesus CHOSE me (I didn't choose Him), that Jesus knows me and calls me FRIEND...that He shows me extravagant love and teaches me to love extravagantly...not just a love for God, but for my brothers and sisters, and a burden for the lost/ /wandering hearts. Remain in His love, keep His commands, watch and experience the refreshing of the Lord's unspeakable joy made complete.
He is our shelter and dwelling place, in this life and the life to come...abide in Him.