The Last Lessons - Pt 3: The Hands (John 15:1-26)

 Sermon for Milledgeville & Whitestown UMC...

The Last Lessons - Pt 3: The Hands (John 15:1-26)

 I got a new pair of gloves for winter, but they're both 'lefts' which, on the one hand, is great, but on the other, it's just not right.

 I can count the number of times I've been to Chernobyl on one hand.

It's seven.

In case you haven’t guessed, we’re thinking about our hands today! In these Last Lessons, Jesus washed feet, setting an example of humble service. He promised to prepare a place for us in heaven, and to make His home in our hearts. And now Jesus teaches about our mission of fruitfulness.

 

My Father is glorified by this,
that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
John 15:8

Jesus is the vine; we are the branches. Father God is the vinedresser. Any of you tend grape vines or visited a wine grove? Then you may know a little about what vinedressers do. They inspect the fruit of the vine. Any branch that isn’t producing good fruit, they cut off so that the vine is giving its resources to fruitful branches. It seems counterproductive, but they prune branches that are fruitful, so that they become even more fruitful.

 

A vinedresser selects one year old branches with the thickness of a pencil. They pull off buds, keeping 3-5 well spaced, for the coming growing season. This method assures the vine supplies ample nutrition to the branches and buds. The buds are like hands. They offer their fruit to the harvester.

 

Jesus tells the Church that God is in the business of pruning. God desires fruitfulness from His Church and does the work of removing that which is not fruitful, in favor of that which bears fruit. God refines fruitful congregations by pruning, cutting some activities to make them even more fruitful. Healthy congregations have a clear sense of why they exist and what they are to do. They make decisions based on how well they are achieving their mission.

The UMC has a mission statement.  

 

Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

 

We exist to make disciples. We are to invite people to join us in following Jesus. The church is to be a place that nurtures growth as disciples, through teaching, fellowship, worship, and service. We teach hope in the kingdom of God. We restore health through prayer and compassionate care. We liberate lives by supporting people in need, like addiction recovery, grief counseling or divorce recovery. We advocate for those who have no voice in society.

 

Take a look at your hands. These hands have been chosen by Jesus to bear fruit. These hands are meant to carry offerings to God. Fruit is good deeds done in Christ. What good deeds are you offering? Jesus said that we can do nothing apart from Him, nothing that makes an impact for God’s kingdom.

 

Priority one: If you’re going to be fruitful for God, you must remain in Jesus. That means to continue with Jesus, never to depart. Spiritual practices are fundamental for abiding in Jesus. Bible study feeds the soul and keeps us grounded in the lifegiving words of scripture. Prayer is an intimate time with our Savior. An active routine of study and prayer will provide you the grace needed to be effective as a disciple of Jesus. Remain in Jesus through spiritual practices and Jesus will remain in you.

 

Jesus gave His Church a new commandment to love one another. He laid down his life for us and we are called to selfless acts of love. If somebody needs help, we help. If somebody needs support, we show up. If someone needs a friend, we’re at their side. Love one another.

 

Jesus said that those who love him will keep his commands. If you’ve ever looked at a red letter edition of the New Testament, you will see all the words of Jesus recorded in scripture.

Much of John’s gospel is high Christology. It’s Jesus explaining Himself and His mission. But there are explicit commands and others implied.

 

Here's a list of commands from Jesus in John’s gospel:

 

You must be born again

Believe in God and Trust in Jesus

Come to the Light

Live in Truth

Worship in Spirit and Truth

Open your eyes, the world is ripe with souls ready for harvest

Rise up and Don’t sin anymore

Honor the Son of God

Do not seek glory from people, but seek to glorify God

Let nothing be wasted

Don’t be afraid

Work for spiritual food that lasts

Judge rightly, stop judging by outward appearances

Come to Jesus and drink of Living Water

Follow Jesus out of darkness

Know the truth: Jesus Christ, Son of God, and Savior of the world

Do the works of God, like Jesus did

Enter into rest, refreshment, and renewal through Jesus, the gate

Believe that Jesus is the resurrection and the life

Unbind those trapped in deadly sinful lives

Hate your worldly life to gain eternal life

Die to yourself, so that you may live for Christ

Serve Jesus

Walk in God’s light and become children of light

Serve humbly

Remember all that Jesus has taught

 

There’s no way I could remember all that. I’ll have to study the Bible and be reminded. Be in the word of God.

 

Abiding in the words of Jesus will shape our lives. His words will shape our desires and how we pray. Jesus said that whatever we ask in His name, God will accomplish. That doesn’t mean praying selfishly. James spoke against that very thing when he wrote:

 

 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:3)

 

When you are shaped by the words of Jesus, you pray to be effective, to become like Him in all things. God will grant what you desire, when you pray in harmony with Jesus. Pray to contribute to God’s kingdom. That kind of prayer will move mountains. God will accomplish good works through you, as you serve in His name.

 

Jesus promised that His love will abide in us as we keep his commandments. We are friends of Jesus, chosen and appointed to bear much fruit.

 

Being a friend to Jesus is not without difficulties. Jesus warned His disciples that they will be persecuted because of their affiliation with His name. The world hates Jesus because the world loves darkness. Darkness has many shades. Unquestionable evil includes murder, rape, brutal violence, and theft. Subtler forms of evil include lying, manipulation, slander, excess, lust, arrogance, etc. James warned the Church in his letter.

 

Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? (James 4:4-5)

 

Jesus has chosen us out of the world. We do not belong to the world. We belong to Christ. That is why the world hates the Church. We don’t want the same things. Our lives are on a very different trajectory.

Friendship with Jesus means that there are activities in which we will no longer participate. We seek to please God in everything we do or say. Those who chase after the things of this world, do not understand a Christian who doesn’t do like everyone else does. Peter wrote to the Church…

 

They are astonished when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you. (1^st Peter 4:4)

 

Jesus warned, just as they hated me, they will hate you. Just as they persecuted Jesus, they will persecute you. Effective followers of Jesus produce the fruit of good deeds and to testify to faith in Christ. We should expect resistance from the world. Don’t be surprised if some of your friends and family avoid you or even belittle you because you stand with Jesus.

 

Peter also wrote to encourage the church about suffering for Christ.

 

Rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God, rests on you. (1^st Peter 4:13-14) To suffer persecution for the sake of Jesus is a crown of glory.

 

Johhny Whitaker is known for playing Jody in Family Affair. In 1969,  the child actor starred in The Littlest Angel. Michael, an 8 year old shepherd boy, goes out collecting things from nature, a bird’s feather, a flower, a rabbit skull, rocks smoothed by a river. He placed them in a simple wooden box he made.

 

One day, Michael chased after a white dove. He climbed a high cliff to reach the bird, but slipped and fell to his death. In heaven, he didn’t fit in with the other angels. He felt sad and out of place. To cheer him up, Michael was allowed to momentarily return to earth to get his box of favorite things. Having his box of treasure made him happy.

 

As Christmas Day approached, all the angels were working on spectacular gifts to honor the birth of Jesus. The Littlest Angel wondered what He might give. He didn’t have the skill of the other angels. After much thought and soul searching, he decided to give Jesus his wooden box of treasures. One angel warned him that his gift wasn’t good enough, but Michael knew in his heart it was right.

 

His gift pleased God very much. God placed it in the sky, and it became the Star of Bethlehem. His gift was his love for the beauty of God’s creation. His gift was a sacrifice, to give away his favorite things. While all the angels gave with reverence, only the Littlest Angel offered his most treasured possession. For God so loved the world that He sacrificed his only Son for our sake.

 

You were chosen to bear fruit, to offer your hands in the service of God. May your hands carry good deeds, and your heart, given to bless the Lord.

 

In your bulletins, please find a Litany for Disciples. Let’s read together.

 

A Litany for Disciples:

I am a branch, connected to the vine, Jesus Christ.

I am pruned, cleansed and shaped by the word of God.

I rely on Jesus to do good for the glory of God.

I offer my hands to You, O God. 

Make me a fruitful branch.

 

The joy of my Lord is in me.

The love of Christ dwells in me.

The commandments of Jesus shape me.

I am chosen to bear much fruit.

I am a friend of God!