207. The Farewell Discourse: Instructive Teachings. Jn. 15:1–27

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it, so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; because without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and withers; and such branches are gathered and thrown into the fire, and they burn. If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples.

As the Father has loved Me, so also have I loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, as also I have kept the commandments of My Father and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

This is My commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

You are My friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you all that I have heard from My Father.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give it to you.

This I command you: that you love one another. If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.

But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates also My Father. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and hated both Me and My Father. But the word written in their law must be fulfilled: They hated Me without cause (Ps. 68:5).

But when the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will testify concerning Me. And you also will testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.