In this chapter, the Lord spoke of Himself as "the true Vine." In the old dispensation, Israel was Jehovah's vine (Psa. 80:8-11; Isa. 5:1-2), but they had failed in producing fruit for God (Jer. 2:21; Hos. 10:1). Now there would be a new fruit-bearing system in the Lord that would produce "much fruit" for God (vs. 8). This change marked another feature of the transition from the old dispensation to the new.
It is God’s desire that, even though the Lord would be absent from His disciples in the new dispensation, He would still be seen in and through them. As branches connected to the Vine, God would have them to bear “fruit” in His absence, which is the reproduction of Christ's moral features in their walk and ways. Hence, they were to be characterized by:
• The moral graces of Christ. God would have believers in Christianity to manifest the meekness, the lowliness, the kindness, the patience, etc. of Christ before the world (vss. 1-8). The Lord mentioned three things that are essential to helping the production of this fruit in believers: His Father’s pruning (vs. 2), the Word that He gave them (vs. 3), and abiding in Him—which is the practical, habitual nearness of heart to Him through communion (vs. 4).
• The love of Christ (vss. 9-10). They were to continue in His “love” and thus be known as a company who lived in the enjoyment of His love.
• The joy of Christ (vss. 11-12). He wanted His “joy” to remain in them. The very things that made Him a happy Man would make them (and us) happy disciples.
• The friendship of Christ (vss. 13-17). He would have them to manifest before the world that they were His “friends.” The Lord proved His friendship by: laying down His life for them (vs. 13), disclosing the secret counsels of His Father to them (vs. 15), promising to grant their prayer requests (vs. 16). We are to prove our friendship with Him by: obedience (vs. 14), bearing fruit (vs. 16), and loving one another (vs. 17).
• The reproach of Christ (vss. 18-27). They would be hated by the world as He was hated, and thus share in His reproach and sufferings; some of them would even suffer martyrdom (chap. 16:1-4).