As we complete our investigation into the words of Jesus, we find the most powerful evidence yet affirming that he is truly God. We are considering the seventh of the I AM statements of Jesus revealed in the Gospel of John. In using these statements to define his character, Jesus is showing us the consistency between he and God the Father. God revealed himself to Moses in Exodus 3, as I AM, showing his eternity, power, and ability to know all things, past, present, and future. Jesus shares these same traits because he is truly divine.
In John 15:1-5, we see an amazing mystery unfold. If you read last week’s post, you remember that Jesus was in the upper room with his disciples the night before his crucifixion. He told them that he was leaving to prepare a place for them in eternity. This caused them concern since no one wants to lose a good friend. But Jesus assures them that they can follow him and be where he is in heaven. The formula for doing this is seen in his declaration, “I AM the way, the truth, and the life.”
We find Jesus and these followers still in the upper room in chapter 15. After just telling them that he was leaving and that they needed to trust him by faith to someday follow him, he makes this amazing revelation. John 15:1-5, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Wait a minute Jesus, which is it? Are you leaving and encouraging us to follow, or are you staying so we can remain closely connected to you? This is the mystery of God. The answer to these questions is yes. Jesus did die, rise from the dead, and ascend to rejoin the Father in heaven. These words we just read answer two significant questions. Why did you leave us, your followers behind on this earth, and how are we supposed to stay connected if you are in heaven?
The answer to the first question is simple. Jesus left the disciples, and then us on this earth to continue the work he began. We are now the hands, feet, and voice of our Lord, responsible to show the same kind of compassion for the hurting and spiritually lost that he had. The fruit of this responsibility will be those we convince to follow us to heaven by an act of faith in Jesus.
However, Jesus says we cannot expect any success in this endeavor unless we remain closely attached to him. Again, how do we remain in him if he has left us? He answers this question later in this same chapter. John 15:26-27, “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning”.
The Counselor Jesus mentions is the Holy Spirit. By linking the empowerment of the Spirit of God to the injunction to stay connected to Jesus, we learn that the Holy Spirit is also, I AM, he is also God. Jesus came to earth as Immanuel, God WITH us. When he returned to the Father, he sent the Holy Spirit who is God IN us.
This new relationship that is part of the hope of every believer on earth is the way we stay connected to the Vine. The Holy Spirit lives in us, empowers our work for the Kingdom, and allows us to bear the fruit of our witness to others.