John 15:9-17 is our text this morning. Jesus has just explained to them the Vine and Branch relationship He has with His church. He now transitions to the fruit of that relationship.

We read that His love for us is to be understood and copied. As He has loved His Father and does those things which He was instructed to do, so we should do also. We do this not out of obligation following some how-to manual with which we blindly comply, but simply following where He leads and instructs.

He has taught them a great many things and knowing and doing such things will produce joy. He says joy and not happiness. There is a great deal of difference between the two. In short, joy in not situational. In fact we can have joy in the midst of great trouble. Happiness is in the moment, joy looks past the moment into what is to come, thus producing joy.

Finally, He calls us "friend." He makes the contrast with "servant" and elaborates that a servant, no matter how high up the ranks, never knows what the master is doing. However, Jesus The Son has made known to us all that The Father had sent Him to make known.


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