v1: Jesus Christ the true vine. In the O.T., Israel was known as the vine, and is therefore a picture of Christ. There is a call for the lost sheep of Israel to be joined to the true vine.

There is a false vine, such as the vine of Sodom, thorns, bitter fruit, inedible, producing no wine. The word “true” carries the meaning of dependable, and real.

The Father is the gardener, or vine-dresser, to whom the Son was subject.

v2: The divine expectation, that there be fruit; those in Christ are chosen and appointed to bear fruit (v16). This refers especially to our likeness to Christ. It seems possible to be in Christ, but to bear little or no fruit for Him. There are conditions of fruitfulness in this chapter; cleansing, abiding, obeying.

Note that, in a vine, each branch grows directly from the stock, and is dependent upon the stock, rather than other branches. The original hearers would know this, and understand that Christ was teaching dependence upon Himself.

This chapter refers to fruit, more fruit, and much fruit; see also Rom 1.13; Gal 5.22-23; Phil 1.10-11. Fruit is a sign of growth, and growth is a sign of life. Fruit produces wine, to gladden man's heart; this is linked with the joy of Christ, v11.

It is necessary that we have purging and pruning, Heb 12.6-7. This comes through trials and hardship in our lives, Ps 119.67,71; Is 38.17; Heb 12.9-11. This is a proof of sonship, and a sign of God's live for us. This section (v1-7) does not answer the question as to whether a believer can lose his salvation, but rather challenges the believer to remain in Christ, and be fruitful in Him.

v3: 'Already clean,' see 13.10. Judas Iscariot was not with the disciples now.

v4-5: Abiding; direct dependence upon the vine. There is no need for an intermediary between us and Christ. Our abiding is in Christ, implying a security of relationship, in learning and growing. This demands a closeness with Christ, and a growing agreement with Him. Abiding is essential for personal fruitfulness; and obedience is a proof of abiding.

‘the real believer is a real branch of the true vine, and receives his fruit from it. The fruit shows the branch to be alive, but does not make it so – it bears fruit, because it is alive.’ (John Berridge, quoted in The Gospel Pedlar, page 136)

v6: See also 1 Cor 3.11-16; those who do not abide in Christ are cast out. But the true Christian cannot be lost.

v7: Abiding means agreement, and His desires become our desires. As we get to know His mind, we pray more according to His will.

v8: It is through our fruitful lives that the Father is glorified. This is the ultimate aim of our abiding in Christ. See Phil 1.11, and the command of Christ in Matt 5.16. See the note at Song of Solomon 2.5, where the citron tree blossoms almost constantly. The Christian, in faith, and abiding in Christ, can enjoy such uninterrupted fruit.

Our aim is “much fruit,” not just ‘fruit.’ Similarly, one showed “much love” to Christ (Luke 7.47). There is an abundance that Christ has for us, as we live in Him. Verse 11 speaks of our joy being “full,” which indicates a completeness and a maturity.

v9: As we abide in Christ, we share something of the Father's unity with the Son, and experience the love of God in our lives.

v10: Jesus insisted on obedience as a sign of our abiding, see 1 John 2.6. A disobedient Christian cannot be one who abides in Christ; abiding must promote obedience.

v11: Abiding and obedience promote joy in our lives; a disobedient Christian cannot be a joyful Christian. See Ps 16.11.

v12: Abiding, obedience, joy, may all be individual experiences, but there is an overflow to others, as we love God's people.

v13: The great example of self-giving love. Love demands personal sacrifice, and is perfectly and wonderfully illustrated by Christ Himself.

v14: Love demands obedience. Our claim to love Christ must be matched by a commitment to do His will. Christ's delight is to call His disciples "my friends." His commands here are to be seen in the context of friendship.

v15: The word servant/slave (DOULOS) appears more than 150 times in the NT. We can import our own understanding into this word, instead of seeing it in its Biblical context. To be restricted to the colonial/post-colonial defintion does not do justice to the more nuanced NT meaning, where followers of Christ are, at the same time, slaves of God and children of God.

Like Abraham and Paul, we are given to understand more of the mind of God. He confides in us as His friends. See Gen 18.17; 2 Cor 12.1-4.

v16-17: Summarising verses 1-15, the Father's plan is that we bear fruit, that we obey His commands, and that we love each other. These words are matched by Christ's one life and example; He loved His own, He kept His Father's word, He experienced abiding in the Father's love.

v18-19: The disciples had to learn that persecutions would come. This conflict is consistent with abiding in Christ, and is a consequence of abiding in Christ.

Opposition is promised, and we should be surprised if we receive none. There is personal rejection and animosity; physical cruelty; a lack of interest in the things of Christ; opposition from those who follow false religion; and also animosity from those who profess to know God but who are unspiritual.

We are chosen out of this world, and therefore our interests, desires, and ambitions, must be different. We find that the world hates us.

v20: Persecution is to be expected. The Lord repeated this truth as part of His preparation of His disciples, see 13.16. ‘Unfortunately, we are bombarded by an unbiblical painless theology that wants a crown without a cross.’ (Tokunbah Adeyemo, African Bible Commentary)

v21: Persecution comes for Christ's sake. Simply to be mocked or picked on is not the same; the Lord specifically referred to persecutions which come because we belong to Him. It is clear that persecutions come from those who do not know God.

v22-24: The Lord's words expose people's sins. They either repent or reject. But to reject Christ means to hate Him (v23). If we proclaim Christ, then we will also receive that hatred. Both Christ's words and His works (v24) expose men's sins.

v25: Persecution is unjustified and malicious; but that is what the word "hate" infers. It is not 'fair' that the ungodly treat the godly in such ways, but it is prophesied of Christ, and of those who follow Him.

v26-27: In these difficult circumstances, we have the Helper, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth. He will testify of Christ, and enable us to stand for Him.