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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conference, Conference With the Disciples, Part XXXI, John 15:2 - Lesson 139
Read John 15:1: for review: I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
As we go into this verse remember that Jesus Christ is talking about fruit bearing of believers.
He is not talking about salvation because he refers to branches already in him.
This is past the new birth, this is past salvation.
He is not talking about losing one's salvation because the Bible is very clear that believers are secure in Christ Jesus.
In verse two he said: "Every branch in me!"
These are branches that are attached to the vine.
All of their strength and nutrients come from the vine.
He is talking about a union of vine and branches.
He is talking about the same thing as 2 Cor 5:17 talks about: ...if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation.
He is talking about the same thing as Paul relates to us in Gal 3:27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
This vine has no branches that do not belong there.
There are no branches pretending to be attached to the vine.
And this is a verse that describes the work of the husbandman attending the vine.
The husbandman is interested in quality fruit.
He knows that his vine is the finest quality and he intends for that vine to produce quality fruit so his actions are all toward that end.
He examines each branch to find fruit.
He finds a branch that has not fruit.
John records the words of Jesus Christ: Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away:
The King James translation says he takes the branch away.
Normally this is thought of as indicating a severing of the branch from the vine.
But it could also mean a separating of the branch from other branches.
The husbandman takes away a branch from other branches.
The word translated "taketh away" is from the Greek word:
airo, ah'ee‑ro; a prim. verb; to lift; by impl. to take up or away; fig. to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind); spec. to sail away (i.e. weigh anchor); by Heb. [comp. H5375] to expiate sin:‑‑away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make to doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up).
In other verses this word is translated into the English in several ways:
Matt. 4:6 bear thee up Matt. 9:6 take up thy bed Matt 11:29, take my yoke Matt 13:12, shall be taken away Matt 14:12, took up the body Matt 16:24, take up his cross John 5:8, take up thy bed and walk John 5:10, to carry thy bed John 8:59, then they took up stones John 10:18, no man taketh it from me John 11:39, take ye away the stone John 11:41, and Jesus lifted up his eyes Acts 4:24, and when they heard they lifted up their voice Acts 20:9, and was taken up dead 1 John 3:5, take away our sins Rev 10:5, lifted up his hand to heaven
Considering that this word can be translated into the English in various ways and considering the context of its usage in this verse it appears to me that it could be written:
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he lifteth up:
So perhaps the husbandman is lifting up the branch that is not bearing fruit so it is in a better position to receive more sun or less sun.
Perhaps it is choked by other branches and needs repositioning or separation from other branches.
Perhaps other branches are keeping it from bearing fruit.
It appears that the husbandman is making effort to see that the branch becomes a fruit bearing branch.
Another indication that this is the proper translation is the order of the husbandman's work.
This branch is not a fruit bearing branch.
He works to make it a fruit bearing branch.
The last phrase of this verse brings fruit bearing to the next level.
He now talks about a branch that is bearing fruit, but he wants it to bear more fruit.
Every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
The husbandman examines the vine and finds fruit.
The condition of this vine needs to be improved so it may bring forth more fruit.
The word purgeth means cleanseth.
The husbandman washes the vine to rid the vine of insects and moss and parasites which drain the strength of the vine.
This is not a pruning but a cleaning of the vine.
A purging of the vine by water and careful washing of the vine.
Did not Jesus Christ insist that Peter had to yield his feet to him for washing if he expected to maintain fellowship with him?
This same principle is taught here.
The branch yields itself to the cleansing of the husbandman if much fruit is to result.
The right relationship with the vine must be maintained if fruit is to result in the branch.
This is amplified by the next verse where the Lord says to his disciples:
John 15:3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. |