John 15, 16, and 17

1. 15:1-8 What is necessary before we can bear fruit? What do you think it means to bear fruit?
   Class comments: In order to bear fruit, we must first be part of the vine. We must be one with Christ. We can’t do it alone.
   Bearing fruit includes taking opportunities to teach others, being educated in the Word, showing others we care.
   Galatians 5:22-23 identifies the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.
   
2. 15:9-17 What commands does Jesus give in this passage? Obeying his commands makes us _________, not ________.
   Class comments: All the commands in this passage have to do with love. Verse 9: “Abide in my love.”
   Verse 12: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
   Verse 17: “Love one another.”
   In verse 15, Jesus told the disciples that no longer would he call them servants, but friends. Since he’s addressing the disciples, it’s possible that that friendship was limited to those he had spent so much time with, and to whom he had revealed himself.
   On the other hand, might not the same principle apply to us? “You are my friends if you do what I command you.”
   Being a friend of Jesus doesn’t mean we no longer serve him. If we are his friends, we will want to please him and therefore would serve him out of love, not out of duty.
   
3. 15:18-26 Who was Jesus talking about when he refers to the “world”?
   Class comments: Human systems that oppose God’s purpose; those who don’t recognize Jesus as the Savior.
   Second question: “What would they do to the Christians?” They would 1) Hate the disciples (v. 19) and 2) Persecute them (v. 20). They would also hate the Son and the Father (v. 23).
   Note from FHU class: 5 Major Reasons Christians Were Hated (5 Accusations)
   a. They were arsonists (blamed by Nero) – 2 Peter 3:10
   b. They were atheists (didn’t believe in gods) – Acts 17
   c. They broke up families (love me more…) – Matthew 10:34,35
   d. They were cannibals (“Eat my body, drink my blood”) – John 6; 1 Cor. 11:24,25
   e. They were Immoral (they celebrated with love feasts) – Jude 1:12
   
4. 16:1-4 Who are “they”? Why would they persecute believers? Consider: Is conscience a safe guide when it comes to our religious beliefs?
   Class comments:  “They” refers to the Jewish leaders and Romans. They wanted to get rid of the things believers taught. Jesus was a threat to them. A conscience is useful to us only if it’s been trained in the Word – the only absolute standard.
   
5. 16:5-15 Who is this “Helper” or “Comforter” that Jesus talked about? What purpose will He serve? Of what three things will He convict the world?
   Class comments: The Holy Spirit would guide the disciples to all truth, to convict  them of sin, righteousness, and the judgment.
   The different translations gave us different understandings of verses 8-11. The NASV uses the phrase “convict the world of guilt,” whereas the other translations read merely “convict the world,” which could also carry the connotation of “convince.”
   In Strong’s, the definition of the Greek word is to convict, refute, confute 1) generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted; 2) by conviction to bring to the light, to expose. Note: The People’s New Testament explains it more simply than some of the other commentaries.
   
6. 16:16-24 What does Jesus mean when he tells them they won’t see him, but then they will? To what does he compare it?
   Class comments: His death and resurrection. Like a woman in labor, they would suffer distress at his leaving them and because of his trial and crucifixion, but his resurrection would be like the birth of a child. Out of grief will come joy.
   
7. 16:25-33 Jesus spoke of peace in this passage. From verses 27, 32, and 33, what are possible sources of this peace?
   Class comments: v. 27 – The Father loves us (Greek phileo); v. 32 – The Father would be with the Son when all others have scattered; v. 33 – Jesus has overcome the world.
   
8. 17:1-5 What was Jesus’ prayer for Himself? According to verse 2, what was the work that Jesus came to do?
   Class comments: He prayed the glorify the Son. He came to give eternal life to those God had given Him.
   
9. 17:6-19 What did Jesus ask for on behalf of the men that God had given Him?
   Class comments: He prayed 1) that they would all be one (11); 2) that they would have His joy (13); 3) that they would be kept from the evil one (15); 4) that they would be sanctified in the Truth (17).
   
10. 17:20-26 For whom did Jesus pray in these verses? What did He pray for?
    Class comments: He prayed for those who would believe through the apostles’ words (us!). He prayed that we would be one (v. 21); that we would be in unity, so that the world would know that God sent Christ (v. 23); that we would be with him where he his, to behold His glory (v. 24); that His love would be in us.