The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am^(A) the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. ² Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes,^(B) and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. ³ You are already clean^(C) because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.^(D)

⁵ “I am the vine;^(E) you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit,^(F) because you can do nothing without Me. ⁶ If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside^(G) like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire,^(H) and they are burned.^{(I) 7} If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.^{(J) 8} My Father is glorified^(K) by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be^[a] My disciples.

Christlike Love

⁹ “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love.^{(L) 10} If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.^(M)

¹¹ “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.^{(N) 12} This is My command: Love one another as I have loved^(O) you. ¹³ No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life^(P) for his friends. ¹⁴ You are My friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master^[b](Q) is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. ¹⁶ You did not choose Me, but I chose you.^(R) I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask^(S) the Father in My name,^(T) He will give you.^{(U) 17} This is what I command you: Love one another.

Persecutions Predicted

¹⁸ “If the world hates^(V) you, understand that it hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen^(W) you out of it, the world hates you.