“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full…” John 15: 11, NKJV.
Holy Father, here we are once more! We long to hear a Word from You. So please speak to us. These mercies we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
In John chapter 14, when Jesus tells His disciples that He will soon be going away, their obvious reaction is one of sorrow. We surmise this by His Words of consolation to them, “Let not your heart be troubled…” (1). Then He goes on to tell them that He will return and take them to be with Him (2, 3).
In chapter 15, He continues to encourage them; and in our verse for today, Jesus tells His disciples that the Words He has spoken to them, were spoken, in order that they might have a lasting joy! “…[T]hat My joy may remain in you…” In other words, Even in My absence, I want You to have My joy! Jesus’ disciples had spent approximately three and a half years with Him. From the moment He called them, they had left “everything” and followed Him. They had slept where He slept; shared meals with Him; they had traveled together; confronted dangers together. It was not going to be easy to say goodbye; and Jesus knew this. It is very comforting to know, that Jesus knows us better than anyone else does. He knows us better than we know ourselves! He knows; and He cares!
Let us look at some of the things that were spoken to them, and what role these things would play in their having a joy that would remain in them and be full, or according to the original, complete! The word for full, also seem to carry the meaning of fulfilling, fulfillment, or completion. If that were the case, then what Jesus was actually wishing for them was, a joy that satisfies! A joy, perhaps that had reached a certain maturity (the idea behind completion, or fulfillment). This would be a joy that was not dependent upon circumstances. This would be a joy that surpasses circumstances!
He had spoken about His relationship with the Father. He was the Vine, and the Father was the One who took care of the Vine; the Vine-dresser. He then went on to speak about the relationship between Himself, the Father, and His followers. As long as the branches (the followers) remained connected to the Vine, they prospered, and were fruitful, very fruitful (5)! All the care that the Vine received, the branches received; as long as they remained connected! The connection was vital!
A point of interest was the fact that there could be branches in the vine that did not bear fruit. They only looked as if they were part of the vine (“having a form of godliness…”); but they were not (“but denying the power thereof”)! Those branches were taken away (2)! They could not bear fruit if they were disconnected. Therefore, they would eventually wither, and be cast away and burned.
The rest of the Good News was, that those who *abided in the Savior, and His Word abided in them, could ask whatever they would of the Father, and it would be given to them! Then, by bearing much fruit, they would bring glory to the Father! But their blessing would be so much more abundant! Because they were connected to Jesus, they would be loved by both the Father and the Son. And through this love-connection, they would receive strength to keep His commandments, and remain in His love!
Is there anything that could produce a more lasting joy?
*past and past participle of the word abide.