Last month we looked at some of the summer study passages. Today we will go through the rest of them, looking at context and key points.
John 15:5-9
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
In this passage and it’s context, Jesus is talking all about abiding. He compares himself to the vine and compares us to the branches. Now in a vineyard, the whole grape plant is considered the vine, but only the part that bears fruit is considered the branches. So in order to bear fruit, it is imperative that we are abiding in Jesus. If we do not abide in him, then we are cast out, and withered and then burned. The Greek word for abide is meno, meaning to stay: but the definition I want to focus on is to remain as one, not to become another or different. We are to be one with Jesus, continuing and abiding in him always.
Psalm 41:7-9
All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.
The author of this Psalm is David, and the whole Psalm is about God being with us in trouble. Even when our friends betray us, God will be there and he will strengthen us.
John 16:13-15
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Before this passage, Jesus tells his disciples that he is going back to the one who sent him, but not to be sad because if he doesn’t go back, the comforter will not be sent. He calls this “comforter” the “spirit of truth” which we know as the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost. The spirit of truth will guide us into all truth, he will glorify Jesus, and will show us things of Heaven.
Jeremiah 31:31-34
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
This chapter is God talking about how he is going to make a new covenant with his people. How that the old covenant is not working, the people just keep disobeying his laws. God says that instead, he will write his laws on our hearts: and we will be God’s people and will all know God
John 17:13-19
And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
In this passage, Jesus is praying for us. Asking God to keep us in truth, and apart from the world. He also specifically mentions that he is not only praying for his disciples, but for everyone who believes through their testimony. He prays for us to be one in him, even as he is one with the father.
Zechariah 13:7-9
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones. And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
This is a chapter of prophecy, prophesying about the days before Jesus returns. There will be false prophets. And God will kill two thirds of the people: but the remaining third, he will test and refine, and they will call on his name and say “The LORD is my God”
John 20:30-31
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
The first part of this chapter is the story about Mary Magdalene finding Jesus’ empty tomb, telling the other disciples and Jesus appearing to Mary and telling her to tell the others that he is alive. Then, Jesus appears to the disciples two different times behind locked doors. And the author, John, says that Jesus did many more miracles in the presence of his disciples that he did not write down. But he wrote these down so that people might believe in Jesus and have eternal life.
Psalm 16:8-11
I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
The beginning of this Psalm, David is crying out to God to save him. But later on through the chapter, it seems like David is being comforted, and remembering that God will always be there for him. He chose God, and so God will not let him go.
A lot of these passages are about abiding in God. It’s always important to remember that those who accept Jesus Christ as their LORD and savior, will not only be given the free gift of eternal life: but from then on, the Holy Ghost will abide in them. And if they continue to seek God, God will not let anything separate them from his Love
Written by NBB Alumnus: Philip Minica
