DISCIPLINE + SACRIFICE = LOVE

READ: John 15:1-13

ANSWER THIS: What are some ways you’ve shown someone how much you love them?

THE BREAKDOWN

Jesus is using an agricultural metaphor to explain a universal truth about God: He demonstrates his love for us through discipline and sacrifice.

First, Jesus compares God to a gardener who must cut off UNPRODUCTIVE branches, in order for productive ones to remain healthy. Additionally, he prunes PRODUCTIVE ones, so they can produce even more. So, productive branches aren’t spared a certain level of discomfort, just because they’re productive. Pruning is necessary for them to reach their true potential.

Second, Jesus compares himself to a vine that carries nutrients to the branches. If the branch is cut off from the vine, it withers away and becomes useless. But, if a branch remains attached to the vine, it gets its nutrition from the vine and bears much fruit.

Finally, Jesus makes it clear that the disciples are the branches. For branches (the disciples) to remain attached to the vine (Jesus), they need to remain in his love. How do they do that? By obeying his commands, such as loving each other the same way he has loved them. If they do so, Jesus promises they’ll experience incredible, overflowing joy! A joy that only comes through staying connected to him.

But, discipline (pruning) isn’t the only way God demonstrates His love for us. He also demonstrates it through sacrifice. So, Jesus gives the disciples an example of what sacrificial love is when he says, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

It won’t be long before Jesus gives them the ultimate example of sacrificial love.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

While sadly not always the case because we live in a broken world, when a parent disciplines a child, it’s for his or her own good. Done correctly, parents discipline their children because they love them, and want them to grow into the men or women God intended them to be. To not discipline a child is to not love them. That’s a hard thing to understand when you’re growing up.

Another hard thing to understand is how a person willingly gives up their own life for someone they love. But, when a person willingly sacrifices their life for someone who couldn’t care less, that’s taking love to a whole new level (see Romans 5:7-8).

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR ME?

Jesus showed he loved his disciples when he disciplined them to help them grow in their relationship with God. And, as we’ll read over the next few days, he shows them how much he loves them by making an unimaginable sacrifice.

How much you love someone can be measured by how you answer these two questions: One, are you willing to risk rejection by disciplining someone you love, in order to help them grow in their relationship with God? And, two, what are you willing to sacrifice to show them you love them?

PRAYER

“Jesus, how can I possibly live life and love people the way you do? The only way I can is with your love—and as much as I hate to admit it, with your discipline. Please, help me remain connected to you, so I can learn how to live and love as you do.”