Add a headingLENT EDITION:
Lent 3 – John 15 and 16
THE OPPOSITE OF LOVE ISN’T HATE…IT’S APATHY 


“I am the true vine….remain in me…no branch can bear fruit on its own”

I can see out of my study window now. The hedge in front of it had grown very tall and full. But this Christmas I got a hedge cutter! I stare over these pruned back branches with little green in sight and lots of grey/brown. I do hope that it survives.

The branches and leaves that I cut off are in a couple of garden bags. They will die. They will not grow again. But the ones in front of me live to grow another summer.

The lessons so far this lent have been:

1. Receive anointing in power for service

2. Centre on Jesus and obey the commands

Moving onto John 15 and 16 the message seems to be about stamina. Completing the course and being fruitful. “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (15:8)

The word Jesus uses is remain.

Remain in me..

Remain in the vine…

Remain in my love….

Jesus spoke about those who had seen the miracles, had heard the teaching and hated him. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first” (15:18) They hated him because of his claims, because of fear, because of what he had stirred up in them. They hated him because he had made an impression. They hated him because they could not bring themselves to love him. He had stirred an emotion in them and it was not a positive one.

They did not ignore him or hold him in disdain. Love him or hate him. People were not apathetic.

Jesus tells the disciples clearly “you also must testify (about me)” (15:27) In essence, they will hate you because you talk about me.

Don’t talk about me. Don’t tell them my commands. Don’t convict of sin. And they will ignore you. They will be apathetic.

If the world ignores us. Is apathetic about the church. Knows nothing of Jesus. ….we have disobeyed a command. To make him known.

And that is the opposite of love.

“It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away the Counsellor will not come to you” (16:7)

The Spirit of truth comes to (16:8-11):

  • Convict people of sin

 

  • Point to righteousness

 

  • Condemn evil


And the Spirit of truth gives us the words too. “when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears”. (16:13)

When the opportunity arises “the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:12). To condemn evil, speak clearly of sin and point to Jesus and the love of God.

Lent preparation lesson 3: Listen to the Spirit, speak of Jesus.

Blessings all

Doug

vicar@christchurchpurley.org.uk


LENT EDITION: Lent 2 - John 14  INCLUSIVE EXCLUSIVITY… 

LENT EDITION: Lent 1 - JOHN 13-21  BOTH/AND….HOLD THEM IN TENSION..