The first two of these chapters are almost entirely monologue: Jesus’ final lesson. It was already dark. There wasn’t much time.

The first verses present Jesus’ thesis statement for this final sermon: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser… As the vine cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me...”

With this in the background, Jesus revisits the command that the disciples “love one another,” reminds them that “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you,” assures them that “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you,” and promises that “whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He will give it to you.” There is a grand climax at the end of chapter 16, a profession of belief from the disciples, a warning, and a promise.

The chapter changes but the scene does not, as Jesus “lifted up his eyes to heaven” and prayed. This prayer breaks into three sections, as glory is petitioned down from God through Jesus, to the disciples, and finally to the world.

The opening is an appeal on Jesus’ own behalf, that the Father would glorify Him “with the glory that I had with You before the world existed.” The middle and longest section of this prayer is on behalf of His disciples, through whom Jesus will now be glorified, just as God is being glorified through Jesus. Finally, He prays for all “those who will believe” in Him through the witness of His disciples, “that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in Me, and I in you…”

Our verse for this week is John 3:19: “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.”

John chapters 15 through 17. Now let’s read it!

Day 85 Bible Only Podcast