Three Years That Changed the World – Lesson 17

Words About Proper Relationships

(Jesus in John 15)

Jesus continues teaching his closest disciples just hours before he is to be crucified and in this chapter of John he teaches them about the importance of proper relationships.

He begins with the importance of having a proper relationship with God and it is no accident that he makes his seventh “deity claim” in which he declares “I am the true vine”. Each of these “I am” statements found in the gospel of John are his undeniable claims to deity. As such he is declaring himself to be God.

1. “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35)
2. “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12)
3. “I am the door/gate” (John 10:7)
4. “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11)
5. “I am the resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25)
6. “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6)
7. “I am the true vine” (John 15:1-5)

Understanding who God is helps in our having a proper relationship with Him. A true believer recognizes they belong to the vine (Christ) and will choose to abide (remain) in Christ by following him and being obedient to his words. This is the evidence of a genuine follower (disciple of Christ) and results in the blessings found in God’s will (His glory).

We must also maintain proper relationships with one another and one of the primary marks of a Christ follower is shown by how we love one another. It’s not optional – it is a command and love for one another is to be mutual. True Christian love is the churches most powerful example to an unbelieving world. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12-14)

The final instruction found in John 15 is to maintain a proper relationship with the world. We are to be in the world but not of the world so the world can see the difference. This will allow us to properly declare the truth that Jesus is God, the promised Messiah!