John 15,1-8 2523
Jubilate 39
Eutropius, Bishop of Saintes, France. Martyr middle of the 3rd c.
30. April 2023
1. ℣ Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
℟ Sing forth the honor of His Name; make His praise glorious (Psalm 66,1-2).
O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou hast redeemed Thy people; You have risen, so that bound to Your resurrection You will raise us up too on the last day. Amen. (Psalm 111,9; Luke 24,46 Versicles)
2. »Jesus said to His disciples: „I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Every branch of Mine that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be My disciples.“«
3. Jesus spoke these words to His apostles during their final Passover together. There is so much Jesus wants to teach His apostles, but there was so little time left. One of the things Jesus focuses on is His connection to them and their connection to Him: those abiding in Him, and He in them, bears much fruit. This is pure gospel!
4. Our earthly life is fraught with distractions. Too often we try to do things on our own by our own strength and ability. Often we turn to Jesus after we have no other recourse, or after we have made a shambles of what we tried to accomplish. The apostles were no different. Peter relied on his own courage to stand beside Jesus. Judas thought he could manipulate events to get Jesus to reveal himself as a conquering Messiah. James and John thought they could edge out the others by forthrightly asking Jesus to grant them the places of honor at His side. They each failed miserably.
5. Many people learn the same lesson over and over again throughout their lives: without Jesus, we are incapable of doing or accomplishing anything. Jesus restores and revives those who have been humbled by failure or sin. Though our sins are like scarlet, they have been washed white as snow. We make ourselves servants to people and ideologies, but Christ has made us sons and daughters. We sacrifice for many things or idols in our lives, but Christ sacrificed Himself for us. There is forgiveness and healing for our sins. Christ has shed His blood, has been crucified, and has risen from the dead to make sinners into siblings (https://youtu.be/uSv4vBcFyvo).
6. Jesus is the Vine, and we are the branches. We are the people of the cross; we are the people of the resurrection. We have the gospel to share and the love to bring to those separated from Jesus, to those hateful of Him or to those simply hurting without the balm of peace.
7. Jesus told His apostles on the eve of His crucifixion: »Greater love has no one in this: that someone lay down his life for his friends« (John 15,13). Jesus laid down His life for both His friends and enemies, yes, for the entire world, for those who believed in Him and those who rejected Him. Jesus showed His steadfast merciful love to all people on the cross. He is the first fruits of the resurrection. Those abiding in Him will be raised to live with Him for all eternity.
8. God’s great, unfathomable love far surpasses all the things we think keep us separated from Him. His mercy and grace overflow upon us, particularly when we feel ourselves suffering or separated from Him. Jesus tells us these things and reminds us of His promises so that we may have peace; in the world we will have tribulation, but we take heart for He has overcome the world (John 16,33).
9. Jesus, my Savior, does live,
This I know certainly;
Give, you redeemed, give
Praise to His Name thankfully!
Sing Hallelujah joyfully,
Freely shout: „victory“!
Sing and shout in all lands:
Christ now risen stands! (Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen elkg 456,6 2021 Erdmann Neumeister 1718)
This is most certainly true.
10. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.
11. Let us pray. O God of hope, fill Thy children with all joy and peace in believing, that we and they may abound in hope in the power of the Holy Ghost. Amen. (Jubilate, Vespers Collect 2. The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.)
To God alone be the Glory
Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm
✠
All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.
Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch. Copyright © 2021 Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Hannover.
No comments:
Post a Comment