What's the Fruit?

But it's not like "Show me the money!"

produced by static force llc sometimes things don't change.

Transcript

TITLE: What's the fruit?

SUBTITLE: Like "Show me the money!"

Marketing Line: Trafficking in things that can't be seen.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2076577/episodes/16579035

#GospelAccordingToTheRock

What’s The Fruit?

by Eric Engelmann

All content © 2025 Static Force, LLC

When are we?

About 30 AD. The Gospel of John is recording what Jesus said about vines and bearing fruit. This is on the night of Jesus' betrayal. Judas has already left the upper room. Jesus will be dead within 24 hours.

Where are we?

In Jerusalem. In the "Upper room" where Jesus has completed the Last Supper but before Jesus has gone to the Garden of Gethsemane to be captured.

Why are we here now?

One of the themes of my research is the relationship of rivers to rocks. I've learned that a vine can represent a river. Vines wind like rivers and carry life-giving liquid. Knowing that a spiritual vine can be like the river of life, I chose this Scripture.

We're going to look at the Gospel of John Chapter 15. It says it contains the key to everlasting happiness with God by showing us how to bear fruit. The advice can be frustrating. Then again, the night of the events being recorded were frustrating for a lot of people.

By Way Of Background

I believe Jesus was hearing the Father tell Him to surrender to His enemies in Jerusalem so that He would be captured -- a bit like the Most High told Moses to wander along a sea shore. That wandering sent a tactical signal to Pharaoh that the nation of Israel was weak. That way Pharaoh would come and chase Israel across the sea and be drowned -- sinking like a STONE.

Jesus has some commands to leave with His disciples. He knows He only has a short time until He's crucified and His ministry is going to take a temporary downward turn to the grave – specifically a cave carved in ROCK.

Remember also that at this point, Judas probably doesn't care what happens to his fellow disciples. He knows that Jesus' enemies are not going to treat the other disciples well. It won't be Judas who will negotiate for the safety of the other disciples, it will be Jesus.

Scripture John 15

Jesus is speaking in…

Verse 1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 

NOTE: The frustrating part of bearing spiritual fruit is that it's not of this world. It's hard to point to and say, "See, I have more fruit than you do!"

Also note that Judas has been ‘taken away’, but there are 11 apostles remaining. 

Verse 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

Verse 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

Verse 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

NOTE: A good coach will tell an athlete to pay attention to things that don't immediately seem to matter, but will pay off in the long run. In that same way, Jesus is saying that the key to having lasting fruit is loving the other disciples. Or to put it another way, don't betray one another like Judas is in the process of doing at the very moment, but you don't know it yet.

Verse 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 

14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 

Verse 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 

17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

NOTE: We've got to be like Jesus. He forgave everybody everything without becoming a doormat. He was not alone. The Father was with Him. One more verse that talks about the kind of love the world has:

Verse 19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

That’s the end of the passage

In the Future

The first of the 12 apostles to die will be Judas.

Further in the future, Much like Pharaoh's attack led him and his army into the Red Sea, death will attack Jesus but will lose its grip after three days.

Further in the future, many will take Jesus' words to heart and love Jesus, His Father, and their fellow disciples.

All content © 2025 Static Force, LLC