Jesus and Servanthood, John 15, part 2

Whenever jesus taught, he used familiar illustrations to insure the hearers would understand. Here He used A VINE, BRANCHES, A VINEDRESSER. This chapter also explains what happens when we don’t listen and obey. Read verses 1-6, and notice He says THE FATHER does two things: 1) He takes away branches that do not bear fruit…2) He prunes brances that do bear to increase production. The whole chapter is pocess we will ALL go through if we are indeed, IN CHRIST! One of the things I like in these chapters is that they do away with the notion that anyone who says they are a Christian…is. What What the Scripture says is that is we say we are a Christian, we will live like one, according to what is in the Scripture as a measuring rod. We will bear fruit to God’s glory by abiding, being obedient and evidencing a changed life. Galatians says “it is no longer I that lives, but Christ lives in me”…Gal 2:20. It also says, “I” am crucified with Christ. We use those words, but do they have meaning to us? I think not…Jesus said, “whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, an follow Me. “ Matt 16:24; Mk 8:34; Lk 9:22-26. What does this mean?????  Denying myself does not mean doing without something, or giving more to the needy. It is giving up my right to run my own life…it is saying to God and meaning it, (as Isaiah did) “here am I, send me”…it is being willing to do things God’s way no matter the cost. And bear in mind, God’s way is usually contrary to the world’s way. Taking up our cross isn’t putting up with a nasty wife or boss, enduring a painful illness, etc., which is what most people think it means. What it DOES mean is being willing to be identified with the cross and He whose life was given up there. In Roman times only the most vile thief or murderer was crucified. And mind you, Jesus wasn’t very popular with the “in” crowd, the religious leaders as well as the worldly gang. Scripture says, “He was despised and rejected of men”…His family didn’t understand Who He was, and in fact thought Him crazy. His disciples didn’t comprehend His Messiahship, nor that He was God in the flesh. He ma have been the most solitary person that ever lived. Taking up your cross is being willing to assume that kind of identity and life…are you willing??? I have found over the years that most people have trials of one kind or another, but for some reason unknown to me, do not see those trial or circumstances as an opportunity to identify with the Lord of Glory.