Apart from me, you can do nothing (John 15:1-8)
‘What will become of us, what is there to do when there are no lights?’ This was what many people thought before load shedding became a daily thing. We feared unproductivity. However, once we got used to it, we realised how much the internet makes us unproductive. Because suddenly we turned a page of a hard copy book, picked a guitar, went out for a walk, or caught up with a friend. And so, even if load shedding is extended to 10 hours a day, God forbid, there will still be so much to do. But Jesus did not mean it that way.
No, Jesus did not talk about load-shedding - but this is what said "apart from me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5). I suspect, at the least we think about this verse the same way we feel about load-shedding now - so much still can be done without considering or asking Jesus.
So much is being done without Jesus
One may argue and point out great human achievements in history done in the name of development and not of Jesus. He may further point out that many of the global achievers are not Christians. And further still point out that many who claim to be Christians hardly pray and spend time reading their Bibles, how then can we say what they do is done through Jesus?
That will be true except of course one thing: Jesus was not talking just about any kind of work. Verse eight of the same chapter tells us the kind of works Jesus was talking about that cannot be done except through him; works that are "to my (Jesus') Father's glory" (v8). And so it is true, so much is being done under the son, but none of it is pleasing to God. None of it gives God the glory he deserves. So then, how can we know if what we do glorifies God? But before we get to the how of the question, let us think a bit about the who part of the question - who can glorify God?
A Clean Man
To be clean is not a call to being fastidious. Nor does it call us to observe the Old Testament rituals and ceremonies regarding cleanliness. But rather in the New Testament, amongst other things, cleanliness speaks of being holy. Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees and the law expects them for showing concern only for their physical and external appearance and not inner holiness (Luke 11:37-54). Jesus further suggests that inner holiness is not something they can earn but rather is something that God gives (v40). The same is implied in our current text.
Jesus says only a man already clean can glorify God, and that he had already made them (the disciples) clean. "You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you." (John 15:3). Jesus said they had been made clean (holy), not by any other means on their part but simply by his word. It is that person, and that person alone who can make much of God (glorify); who has been made new and made acceptable before God by means of Jesus' purifying Word! In other words, do not worry yourself much about how to glorify God if you don't know first your (who) status before God. For those then who have been made clean, how then can we glorify God?
A Disciple of Jesus
It is worth noting first that, if you have already been made holy through Jesus Christ, you are at the very least by your newly given status pleasing to God because of Jesus. This is important to keep in mind first for this is what makes us disciples of Jesus. Second, because it acts as our fuel, knowing that God has done the impossible for us will ultimately cause us to want to please him. Here then are two of many ways how we can show ourselves to be the disciples of Christ who glorify God.
1. Treasure the Word
In these verses, the word 'remain' is the most repeated word. Jesus commanded His disciples to remain in him as he remains in them (v4). Furthermore, he tells them how he remains in them, by the word he spoke to them. In other words, as they continually hear and practice in their lives the Words of Jesus although imperfectly, Jesus makes his dwelling place in their hearts. We ought not to think anything has changed for us friends.
Jesus wants us to treasure his words for they are life. We will know how much we treasure his word by how much we make use of the book that has given us, the Bible. We cannot speak the life we do not possess. It is only when Jesus' words fill the majority of internal memory that our actions will be shaped by it. We cannot overflow with kindness if our hearts are filled with envy. At least not much more than a grape tree can produce onions. Jesus remains in us that he may use us for his Father's kingdom. Will you allow him to deposit unto you His word, not only for your own good but for those who will come searching for it?
2. Pray according to the Word
Jesus also wants us to "ask whatever" (v7) we want and it will be done for us. If we are filled with ourselves, chances are we will ask selfishly. But if as already said, we are filled with the word of Jesus, we will ask from the Father that his will be done and not ours.
The promise "it will be done for you” cannot here be taken to mean that all our requests will be granted to us. For even Jesus himself was once denied, praise God, that the cup be taken from him. But having been denied, he was granted comfort to endure the will of his Father which he gladly submitted to. The same goes for us, if we have prayed and prayed and have not been answered, "we must trust, the ways of God are always just" (J. Piper). But rest assured that, if you pray according to Jesus' word, God's name will eventually be hallowed by all, his kingdom will be fully realized and his will be done by all both in heaven and on earth.
This is the only thing that matters, that God's good will be done on earth as in heaven. Jesus invites us to tag along in bringing God's kingdom to earth. There is no greater privilege than to be entrusted with God's very own message of reconciliation. Without Jesus, we can do nothing to that end.
