John 15:1-17

1 [Then Jesus said,] "I am the true vine, and my Father takes care of the vineyard.

2 He removes every one of my branches that doesn't produce fruit. He also prunes every branch that does produce fruit to make it produce more fruit.

3 "You are already clean because of what I have told you.

4 Live in me, and I will live in you. A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me.

5 "I am the vine. You are the branches. Those who live in me while I live in them will produce a lot of fruit. But you can't produce anything without me.

6 Whoever doesn't live in me is thrown away like a branch and dries up. Branches like this are gathered, thrown into a fire, and burned.

7 If you live in me and what I say lives in you, then ask for anything you want, and it will be yours.

8 You give glory to my Father when you produce a lot of fruit and therefore show that you are my disciples.

9 "I have loved you the same way the Father has loved me. So live in my love.

10 If you obey my commandments, you will live in my love. I have obeyed my Father's commandments, and in that way I live in his love.

11 I have told you this so that you will be as joyful as I am, and your joy will be complete.

12 Love each other as I have loved you. This is what I'm commanding you to do.

13 The greatest love you can show is to give your life for your friends.

14 You are my friends if you obey my commandments.

15 I don't call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn't know what his master is doing. But I've called you friends because I've made known to you everything that I've heard from my Father.

16 You didn't choose me, but I chose you. I have appointed you to go, to produce fruit that will last, and to ask the Father in my name to give you whatever you ask for.

17 Love each other. This is what I'm commanding you to do.