John 15: 1-17
Jesus the True Vine15‘I am the
true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. 2He removes every
branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he
prunes* to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed*
by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in
you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides
in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine,
you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much
fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not
abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches
are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me,
and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be
done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much
fruit and become* my disciples. 9As the Father has loved me, so I
have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you
will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my
joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
12 ‘This is my commandment, that you
love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than
this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends
if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants* any
longer, because the servant* does not know what the master is doing;
but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you
everything that I have heard from my Father. 16You did not choose me
but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit
that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask
him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may
love one another.