The Flow of God's Energy—Jesus Explains how to be Connected to the Vine

Click on this slide and then press the spacebar to advance slides: ➜ (or swipe on a touch screen)

Goal:

1–12 ”Book of Signs”	13–21 ”Book of Glory”

13 A meal with the disciples

14–17 New Teaching
from Jesus
to the disciples

18–20 Arrest
Crucifixion
Resurrection

21 A meal with the disciples

Jesus —The God who will Wash your Feet and
Love you to the End
The care. empathy and unselfishness of Jesus, and that
the Father is just like Jesus
An invitation to step into
the same love as is between Jesus & the Father

These 6 verses are in semi-poetic form
like a beautiful flower, with leaves around the outside, and a colorful bloom in the middle
- Verses 4 and 5 are the bloom in the middle
I’ve made a little animation to show the bloom opening up—I hope this works!
First let’s look at the surrounding leaves in v.1–3 and 6
- read verses and skip over centre
Some people call this the “parable of the vine”
- It is very vivid and clear, even to non-farmers like us
Dwell is a key word. It could be translated
- abide, remain, reside, stay
- I have used dwell because it links into the identical word in the previous chapter, where Jesus talks about himself, the Father & the Spirit “dwelling” with us.
- Here it has the idea of “living in close connection with”
- Also a bit of word-play with “clean” in v.2–3
So do you get the idea?
- Are you ready for the flower to open?
  Not a new idea, so why re-state it?
  - So important, it is worth making it into this perfect little gem of poetic perfection
- This little gem states the truth both positively and negatively,
  and right in the very centre, the core truth is re-stated.
So you might say “Andrew, I am convinced, but what on earth does it mean?”

These 11 verses are also in semi-poetic form
like another beautiful flower, with leaves around the outside, and three colorful blooms in the middle
- Verses 7 & 8 are the starting leaves
  - and 16–17 the ending
I’ve made another little animation
First let’s look at the surrounding leaves in v.7–8
- I have summarized the three central messages. We’ll open them up in a minute
- read verses and skip over centre -Can you see how this makes sense?
Now the flowers can open
- v.9–11 This is the foundational principle. He has modeled it for us
- v.15 This is the result, invited into the relationship
I’m trying to build the suspense
- What is it that v.12–14 contain?
- Some nice, simple formula for us?
- Oh dear, quite a challenge!
Read it all again

I am going to have to say “to be continued”
- But I am going to give you a clue
- It does involve the Holy Spirit
But want to challenge you to love like Jesus did
- His love for us was so pleasing to the Father, it was linked to power flowing from the Father
Very well known, e.g. in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics

If you dwell in me and #my words# dwell in you,
ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you
If you obey my commandments, you will dwell in my love
This is my commandment
to love one another just as I have loved you.

This is in you already through the Spirit
Chose to allow this love to flow out of you,
and you will experience the love of God flowing into you