Juan 15

1 YO SOY la vid verdadera, y mi Padre es el labrador

2 Todo pámpano que en mí no lleva fruto, lo quitará; y todo aquel que lleva fruto, lo limpiará, para que lleve más fruto

3 Ya vosotros sois limpios por la palabra que os he hablado

4 Permaneced en mí, y yo en vosotros. Como el pámpano no puede llevar fruto de sí mismo, si no permaneciere en la vid; así vosotros, si no estuviereis en mí

5 YO SOY la vid, vosotros los pámpanos; el que permanece en mí, y yo en él, éste lleva mucho fruto; porque sin mí nada podéis hacer

6 El que no permanece en mí, será echado fuera como mal pámpano, y se secará; y los cogen, y los echan en el fuego, y arden

7 Si permanecéis en mí, y mis palabras permanecen en vosotros, todo lo que quisiereis pediréis, y os será hecho

8 En esto es clarificado mi Padre, en que llevéis mucho fruto, y seáis así mis discípulos

9 Como el Padre me amó, también yo os he amado; permaneced en mi amor

10 Si guardareis mis mandamientos, permaneceréis en mi amor; como yo también he guardado los mandamientos de mi Padre, y permanezco en su amor

11 Estas cosas os he hablado, para que mi gozo permanezca en vosotros, y vuestro gozo sea cumplido

12 Este es mi mandamiento: Que os ameis los unos a los otros, como yo os he amado

13 Nadie tiene mayor amor que éste, que ponga alguno su alma por sus amigos

14 Vosotros sois mis amigos, si hiciereis las cosas que yo os mando

15 Ya no os diré siervos, porque el siervo no sabe lo que hace su señor; mas os he dicho amigos, porque todas las cosas que oí de mi Padre, os las he hecho notorias

16 No me elegisteis vosotros a mí, mas yo os elegí a vosotros; y os he puesto para que vayáis y llevéis fruto, y vuestro fruto permanezca; para que todo lo que pidiereis del Padre en mi nombre, él os lo dé

17 Esto os mando: Que os ameis los unos a los otros

18 Si el mundo os aborrece, sabed que a mí me aborreció antes que a vosotros

19 Si fuerais del mundo, el mundo amaría lo que es suyo; mas porque no sois del mundo, antes yo os elegí del mundo, por eso os aborrece el mundo

20 Acordaos de la palabra que yo os he dicho: No es el siervo mayor que su señor. Si a mí me han perseguido, también a vosotros perseguirán; si han guardado mi palabra, también guardarán la vuestra

21 Mas todo esto os harán por causa de mi nombre, porque no conocen al que me ha enviado

22 Si no hubiera venido, ni les hubiera hablado, no tendrían pecado, mas ahora no tienen excusa de su pecado

23 El que me aborrece, también a mi Padre aborrece

24 Si no hubiera hecho entre ellos obras cuales ningún otro ha hecho, no tendrían pecado; mas ahora, las han visto, y me aborrecen a mí y a mi Padre

25 Mas para que se cumpla la palabra que está escrita en su ley: Que sin causa me aborrecieron

26 Pero cuando viniere el Consolador, el cual yo os enviaré del Padre, el Espíritu de Verdad, el cual procede del Padre, él dará testimonio de mí

27 Y vosotros daréis testimonio, porque estáis conmigo desde el principio

Juan 15 Commentary

Chapter 15

Christ the true Vine. (1-8) His love to his disciples. (9-17) foretold. (18-25) The Comforter promised. (26,27)

Verses 1-8 Jesus Christ is the Vine, the true Vine. The union of the human and Divine natures, and the fulness of the Spirit that is in him, resemble the root of the vine made fruitful by the moisture from a rich soil. Believers are branches of this Vine. The root is unseen, and our life is hid with Christ; the root bears the tree, diffuses sap to it, and in Christ are all supports and supplies. The branches of the vine are many, yet, meeting in the root, are all but one vine; thus all true Christians, though in place and opinion distant from each other, meet in Christ. Believers, like the branches of the vine, are weak, and unable to stand but as they are borne up. The Father is the Husbandman. Never was any husbandman so wise, so watchful, about his vineyard, as God is about his church, which therefore must prosper. We must be fruitful. From a vine we look for grapes, and from a Christian we look for a Christian temper, disposition, and life. We must honour God, and do good; this is bearing fruit. The unfruitful are taken away. And even fruitful branches need pruning; for the best have notions, passions, and humours, that require to be taken away, which Christ has promised to forward the sanctification of believers, they will be thankful, for them. The word of Christ is spoken to all believers; and there is a cleansing virtue in that word, as it works grace, and works out corruption. And the more fruit we bring forth, the more we abound in what is good, the more our Lord is glorified. In order to fruitfulness, we must abide in Christ, must have union with him by faith. It is the great concern of all Christ's disciples, constantly to keep up dependence upon Christ, and communion with him. True Christians find by experience, that any interruption in the exercise of their faith, causes holy affections to decline, their corruptions to revive, and their comforts to droop. Those who abide not in Christ, though they may flourish for awhile in outward profession, yet come to nothing. The fire is the fittest place for withered branches; they are good for nothing else. Let us seek to live more simply on the fulness of Christ, and to grow more fruitful in every good word and work, so may our joy in Him and in his salvation be full.

Verses 9-17 Those whom God loves as a Father, may despise the hatred of all the world. As the Father loved Christ, who was most worthy, so he loved his disciples, who were unworthy. All that love the Saviour should continue in their love to him, and take all occasions to show it. The joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment, but the joy of those who abide in Christ's love is a continual feast. They are to show their love to him by keeping his commandments. If the same power that first shed abroad the love of Christ's in our hearts, did not keep us in that love, we should not long abide in it. Christ's love to us should direct us to love each other. He speaks as about to give many things in charge, yet names this only; it includes many duties.

Verses 18-25 How little do many persons think, that in opposing the doctrine of Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King, they prove themselves ignorant of the one living and true God, whom they profess to worship! The name into which Christ's disciples were baptized, is that which they will live and die by. It is a comfort to the greatest sufferers, if they suffer for Christ's name's sake. The world's ignorance is the true cause of its hatred to the disciples of Jesus. The clearer and fuller the discoveries of the grace and truth of Christ, the greater is our sin if we do not love him and believe in him.

26,27. The blessed Spirit will maintain the cause of Christ in the world, notwithstanding the opposition it meets with. Believers taught and encouraged by his influences, would bear testimony to Christ and his salvation.