With this statement (spoken likely on His way to Gethsemane), Jesus said His last “I am,” according to John. John records nine of these “I am” statements. In these nine, Jesus likened Himself to certain things, the first of these was spoken by Him in His sermon on the living bread. He said, “I am the living bread come down out of heaven” (John 6:35). That statement was followed by one uttered in John 8:12: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life.” Then, to those who rejected Him even though they knew He had miraculously given sight to a blind man He had said, “I am the door of the sheep” (John 10:7), and to the same group He further said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for his friends” (John 10:11). He said to Martha, who grieved the death of Lazarus, her brother, “I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth on me, though he die, yet shall he live. He that liveth and believeth on me shall never die” (John 11:25-26). When Thomas, who was baffled by Jesus’ words, “I go away and whether I go, ye know the way” said, “Lord, we know not whither thou goest. How know we the way?” Jesus replied, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6). Finally, Jesus spoke these words: “I am the true vine and My Father is the husbandman” (John 15:1). The two words which preface each of these statements are the words “I am”. He was the true vine (the living bread, the light of the world, et al.) in the past. He is now the true vine. He will always be the true vine for He is the same “yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
When Jesus was in conflict with those who had at first “believed on him” (John 8:32), and to whom Jesus said, “If ye abide in my words then are ye truly my disciples and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32), those professed believers objected to His words, “The truth shall set you free.” They said, “We are Abraham’s seed and have never been in bondage to any man. How sayest thou, ye shall be made free?” (John 8:33). The “back and forth” exchange which followed produced a conclusion. It separated those who had shallow faith from those who had “abiding” faith. It separated those those who were revealed to be only descendants of Abraham physically from those who were children of Abraham by faith. When Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day; and he saw it and was glad” (Jn. 8:51) those of shallow faith protested: “Thou art not fifty years old and hast thou seen Abraham?” (John 8:52). When Jesus said, “Verily, verily I say unto you, before Abraham was born, I am” this was more than these men would bear. They fully understood Him now. Jesus’ words “I am” was His declaration of deity, closely identifying Him with God’s words to Moses, “I am that I am” (Exodus 3:14), the eternal God. These professed believers then showed their true colors: “They took up stones to stone him” (John 8:59).
The “wheat has been separated from the chaff.” From the time when Jesus said to the Jews who professed faith in Jesus, ”If ye abide in my words, then are ye truly my disciples” to this point in John 15:4-11 when He told those who had held to their faith in Him and were branches in Him, the vine, “abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, so neither can you, except ye abide in me” (Jn. 15:4), those who had a shallow faith were about to join with their rulers and kill Him. Those who still believed in Him were going to undergo a great testing of the faith they had. But of these whom the Father had given Him, He would lose none, save Judas (John 17:12).
The words “abide” or “abiding” are found nine times in John 15:4-11. In verse 4 (it’s first appearance in the text) the word is from the Greek mono which means to remain or continue, and which is also found in John 8:31. Believers, if they would remain believers, must abide in Christ, they must continue in Christ. The word “abide” demands action on the part of the believer and profound blessings will be enjoyed by him who does. Curses will come upon him who does not abide in Christ and in His love. To either abide or not to abide is solely man’s choice. It’s his action, not something Jesus does for man.
Thus, His plea to me, to you: “Abide in me. Abide in my love.” It is our choice. What will that choice be?
Jim McDonald