Chosen to Bear Fruit – John 15:9-17

A tect – John 15:9-17

15:9 As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.
15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
15:11 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
15:13 No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
15:14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
15:15 I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.
15:16 You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.
15:17 I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

A reflection:

Look at all the familiar words in this passage from John! But there is a verse we sometimes forget. Verse 16 says “You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.”

While it is true that the disciples who first heard these words were surely very much attracted to following this teacher, Jesus, and being students of his, Jesus HAD called them and not the other way around. He asked them to follow him. He needed to choose and to live with and teach a group of people who would go out after his own personal mission was finished. He needed people who would continue to reach out with his commands, his stories, and his way of living close to the Father to show the world that the Kingdom of God was coming near. He chose them, taught them, loved them, trusted them, and appointed them to go out and tell others.

Does this text in John apply to us too? How has Jesus chosen us? How has he taught us and equipped us to do his work in the world? Do you feel called and sent to people who need to hear the good news? Do you feel Jesus has sent you out to bear fruit, fruit that will last?

On my good days, I feel that calling just as much as ever I felt it working for Church Innovations and teaching at Luther Seminary. On my bad days, I’d just as soon relax and watch TV. But I’m pretty sure that my arbitrary retirement at 66 did not also end my call from the Triune God.  In this Easter season we have seen Philip bearing fruit and Peter bearing fruit. Who are we too being sent out to? Who needs us to bear fruit?

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for choosing us to live out the Gospel to others. Thank you for the assignment to go out and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Help us pay attention to where and to whom you might be sending us.    Amen.