My Notes – Day 359 / M’Cheyne Reading Plan
2 Chronicles 30
Reading Companion:
30 – Chapter 30 tells of the first feast to be celebrated in the newly cleaned up Temple: the Passover. Hezekiah tries to bring all who know God to Jerusalem for this special celebration (verse 1). The Law made provision for those who were unfit at the time of the Passover to wait till the second month to observe it (Num 9:9-11). Fittingly Numbers 9 speaks of those who miss the Passover because they were far from home on a journey – a fitting description of the nation who had gone so far from the Lord! Regrettably many in northern Israel still don’t get it and will not worship God (verse 10), although some do avail themselves of this great invitation (verse 11). Verse 20’s “healed” may be taken in the sense of pardon since some of this observance was not exactly as the Law specified. It is folly for people to try to use Hezekiah’s Passover as a model for doing worship today any way they wish, since what was done here wasn’t exactly as prescribed in the Law. Note that Hezekiah prayed for forgiveness (verse 17), which the Lord graciously granted. Who would want to begin worship today saying “Lord, we are doing this wrong, so please pardon us?” This is clearly an extraordinary occurrence when people far from the Lord were doing the best they could to get going in the right direction again and again, God was very gracious to them. It is hardly a model for people to- day who know what God desires in worship but want to do as they please anyway! That is far from the spirit that Hezekiah was restoring in this chapter.
Bible Ref:
30:1—31:21 In his religious reforms, Hezekiah reintroduced the central religious celebration of the Old Testament: the Passover. The Passover recalled the Lord’s mighty act of redeeming his people from Egypt (Ex 12). Hezekiah sent envoys to invite people from all Israel to celebrate together. The northern kingdom of Israel had recently fallen to Assyria, and Hezekiah’s invitation represented an attempt at reunification of God’s people. Hezekiah’s actions reverse the evil actions of Jeroboam in setting up a rival worship center in the northern kingdom of Israel (2Ch 11:14–15). Hezekiah reminded the people that if they returned to their God, he would graciously return to them. Though many scoffed at Hezekiah’s invitation, others humbled themselves and attended the festival. The celebration does not take place in ideal circumstances—a month later than prescribed and with many people still not consecrated—yet the Lord has mercy on his people when the righteous king Hezekiah intercedes for them in prayer. The people in Jerusalem continue after the Passover to keep the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and they prolong their celebration by an additional week. The festivities bring great joy to the people of God, and their prayer rises to God in heaven.
Following the great assembly, Hezekiah continues his religious reform throughout Judah, destroying idols and reestablishing temple worship according to the law’s prescriptions. This glorious reformation reminded the Chronicler’s readers that there was great hope for them even in their bleak circumstances if they would seek the Lord according to his Word. Throughout the history of the church as well, we have seen periods of great revival and reformation when the people of God come back to the heart and center of New Testament religion and worship—the cross, where the Lord Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb, was sacrificed to save sinners (1Co 5:7–8).
Revelation 16
Reading Companion:
16 – The winepress scene in chapter 14 gives way to bowls of judgment poured out. These judgements represent terrible affliction and horror of every kind. It is not necessary for us to find exact correspondence to historical events. In the Jewish War there was every kind of misery and death imaginable, including starvation, famine, civil war, and slaughter at the hands of Roman troops. Verse 6 is key. The punishment fits the crime, and the crime here is killing God’s people and His prophets. Jesus said of Jerusalem “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it!” (Matt 23:37). Much has been made of the three frogs (verse 13) but these seem to be demonic forces that join in the misery and havoc of war. All of Satan’s forces gather at Armageddon (verse 16) but notice there is no battle. Judgment is simply announced and then it is all over (verse 17). Such is God’s power!
Bible Ref:
Chapter Commentary:
Revelation 16 resumes the account of God’s judgments on the wicked. It describes the bowl judgments, the third seven-part series of God’s wrath described in the book of Revelation. Prior to this were seven seal judgments, the last of which were the trumpets. The trumpet judgments totaled seven, the last of which were these bowls of the wrath of God.
The first bowl judgment brings harmful and painful sores to those who carry the mark of the beast. The second judgment turns the sea into blood and kills all the marine life. The third bowl judgment turns rivers and springs into blood. Unlike prior incidents where some portion of the sea or rivers was affected, this event appears to ruin all waters throughout the entire earth (Revelation 16:1–4).
Following the third bowl judgment, an angel declares that God is just to avenge the wicked for their murderous acts against the saints and prophets. The angel’s declaration is met with full agreement from a voice from the altar (Revelation 16:5–7).
The fourth judgment scorches the wicked with fire, but instead of repenting, unbelievers curse God. This might refer to a reduction in earth’s natural protection from the sun, “allowing” it to burn the people of earth. The fifth bowl judgment plunges the kingdom of the beast into darkness. The wicked respond by gnawing their tongues in anguish and by cursing God. The sixth judgment dries up the Euphrates to prepare the way for the kings of the east. Next, demons assemble the kings of the whole earth to battle against God at a location referred to as Armageddon, meaning thehill—or mountain—of Megiddo (Revelation 16:8–16).
The seventh bowl judgment brings about an earthquake that splits Jerusalem into three parts. Also as a result of this earthquake, cities worldwide fall, Babylon feels God’s wrath, islands flee, mountains crumble, and hailstones weighing about 100 pounds bombard people. Still, the wicked refuse to repent. Instead, they curse God (Revelation 16:17–21).
At this point, earth has been fatally ruined and the tribulation is all but over. Chapters 17 and 18 will go into greater detail, some of it poetic and descriptive, to further explain the fall of the wicked. Chapter 19 will resume the moment-by-moment description of the end times, including the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Verse Context:
Revelation 16:1–7 reports the beginning of the bowl judgments which were predicted in Revelation 15:5–8. The first and second judgments resemble the plague of boils and the plague of blood that God brought upon the Egyptians when Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrews leave Egypt (Exodus 7:19–21; 9:8–12). The third judgment turns the water sources into blood. The second and third judgments resemble the third trumpet judgment (Revelation 8:8), but their intensity is greater. A break occurs in 16:5–7 as an angel reflects on the first three bowl judgment and affirms that God is just to judge the wicked.
Revelation 16:8–16 reports what happens when the fourth, fifth, and sixth angels emptied their bowls of God’s wrath. It continues the apostle John’s description of the bowl judgments which began in Revelation 16:1–7. The fourth and fifth bowl judgments resemble some of the events of the trumpet judgments, but are much more intense. These events occur just prior to the return of Christ to subdue His enemies and establish His kingdom on earth (Revelation 17—19).
Revelation 16:17–21 tells what happens when the seventh angel empties his bowl of the wrath of God. This is the last stage of the tribulation—the final chapter in God’s outpouring of wrath on the world. What the sixth angel did prepared the way for the seventh bowl judgment to put an end to the kingdom of the beast. Chapters 17—19 give a detailed account of the fall of the beast and his kingdom.
Chapter Summary:
This chapter explains the bowl judgments, which are the last and most severe of God’s outpouring of wrath on earth. The first three bowls bring sores, seas of blood, and rivers of blood. After a declaration of God’s justice come the next three bowl judgments, involving scorching sunlight, darkness, and a drying of the Euphrates to clear the way for an invading army. In the final, seventh bowl judgment, an earthquake tears Jerusalem into three parts, levels cities worldwide, and displaces islands and mountains. Hundred-pound hailstones fall, but unbelievers refuse to repent and instead continue to curse God.
Chapter Context:
Revelation 16 resumes the account of God’s judgments on the wicked. It describes the bowl judgments, the third and final series of judgments. The seven seal judgments of Revelation 6:1–17 and 8:1 are the first series of judgments. The trumpet judgments of Revelation 8:1—9:21 and 11:15 are next. All of these judgments vent God’s wrath and are recognized as the day of his wrath and the wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:17). Chapters 17 and 18 further describe the destruction caused by the judgments. Revelation 19 and 20 will describe the culmination of God’s wrath and the final events of the end times.
Zechariah 12
Reading Companion:
12 – Zechariah 12 starts the second prophetic word. The term “on that day” appears sixteen times. Jerusalem will be attacked (verses 2-3) but God will defend it, with Judah being given strength from God to destroy all nations around them (verses 5-9). The action is not hard to understand, what is difficult is the application. Is this a real battle, or does this speak of the Gospel’s victories? The reader will have to make his/her own decisions here. Things get a little easier in verse 10. There is movement away from images of physical deliverance to spiritual deliverance. By looking upon the Messiah people will be moved to repen- tance. This is directly quoted and applied to Jesus in John 19:37. Verse 11 references the mourning for Josiah when he was killed at Megiddo (2 Chron 35:20). Verse 12 uses language from the Day of Atonement to talk of mourning for sin.
Grace and Truth:
12:1–9 The second prophecy in chapters 9–14 appears in chapters 12–14 (see note on 9:1–8). This three-chapter prophecy envisages the nations attacking Jerusalem at great cost to its inhabitants, but the end result will be glorious. God’s act of creation demonstrates his power to deliver his people in this attack (12:1). When the nations besiege Jerusalem, God will make the city like a cup of wine that makes the attackers reel as if drunk (v. 2). But God will make Jerusalem like an immovable rock; those who try to move it will injure themselves (v. 3). God will put the enemy cavalry out of commission (v. 4). The Hebrew suggests that Jerusalem is also initially opposed by Judah (the region surrounding Jerusalem), but when the people of Judah see God protecting and defending Jerusalem, they change their minds and decide to turn against the nations attacking Jerusalem (v. 6). This results in Jerusalem’s salvation. The “dwellings of Judah” will be saved first so that they do not miss out on the honor that will come to the house of David and to the people of Jerusalem (v. 7). God will protect his people in the city. The feeblest will be like King David, who defeated mighty Goliath and the Philistines with the Lord’s strength. The house of David will once again lead God’s people (cf. 9:9). They will be like the angel of the Lord, who represents God and went before the people in the exodus to save them (cf. Ex 13:21; 14:19; 33:2). The day when the nations gathered against Jerusalem and its Messiah was the day Jesus was crucified for the salvation of his people (cf. Ac 4:24–28).
12:10–14 After the grand battle, God will pour out his Spirit on his people, and the people will be struck with immense grief for the one they pierced. They will ask God for mercy. The language suggests that the people have pierced God (metaphorically) and a close associate of God (literally). The wider context of the book suggests that this close associate is the future Davidic king, the Anointed One (cf. 3:8; 6:12; 9:9; 13:7). The intimate connection between God and his anointed king (cf. Ps 45:6; Isa 9:6) explains how the death of the Messiah also pierced God. The grief of the people will be as great as when King Josiah was pierced and killed in a battle at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo (2Ch 35:20–25). The whole community will mourn (Zec 12:12). When a soldier pierced Jesus’ side with a spear at his crucifixion, this Scripture was fulfilled (Jn 19:34–37).
John 15
Reading Companion:
15 – Note how the branches are disciples (verse 5), not churches in a denominational structure. That also means that fruit here is not converting people (that would be making more branches) but the results of the Christian life in a disciple. All of this material is set against the backdrop of Jesus saying the apostles are His friends (verse 15). They are elevated beyond slave status to “friends of God,” an electrifying thought. Jesus again promises the Holy Spirit to the apostles in verse 26.
Bible Ref:
Chapter Commentary:
John chapter 15 is a unique section of the Bible. Chapter and verse divisions were not original to the text; they were added centuries later to make it easier to find certain statements. Still, this is one of the few chapters composed entirely of words ascribed to Jesus Christ. Some, like John chapters 14, 16, and 17, come very close, but not every single word in those texts is something spoken by Him. Leading up to this text, Jesus has been teaching about His status as the Way, Truth, and Life (John 14:6), and the work of the Holy Spirit.
This chapter begins with one of Jesus’ most famous analogies. His description of Himself as the True Vine, God as the Vinedresser, and human beings as branches has a specific context that makes its lessons clearer. Just as some branches are “in” a vine, but not connected to the lifegiving aspects, so too can people be “in” a church, or a Christian community, and not be truly saved. The evidence separating these two is fruitfulness: branches that aren’t legitimately part of the “true vine” are barren, eventually cut off, and destroyed. This is not about a loss of salvation: the discarded branches were never meaningfully part of the life of the vine in the first place (John 15:1–6).
As He does often in this discourse, Jesus connects obedience to love. Those who truly love and “abide in” Him will naturally adhere to His teachings. Those who don’t follow His teachings show, through disobedience, that His words are not abiding in them. This analogy also involves the depth to which born-again believers can access God’s power, in order to accomplish His will (John 15:7–11).
Jesus also repeats His earlier command: that Christians are to show love to each other (John 13:34). This love is mostly practical; it’s a matter of what we do, not necessarily about the emotions we feel. It is also meant to emulate the love Christ showed for us. That love is sacrificial, humble, and constant. Offering one’s life for the sake of others is the ultimate expression of this love; however, Jesus does not mean that Christian love is only shown in grand gestures. Rather, it’s to be the pattern of our entire lives (John 15:12–13).
Part of friendship with God is honoring His teachings. It also means God communicating with us in something more than simple orders. Abraham’s friendship with God (James 2:23) was demonstrated in God’s willingness to speak with Abraham. So too does Christ speak to us. His work in choosing us, saving us, sanctifying us, and teaching us is merciful and amazing (John 15:14–17).
As much as Christ loves believers, the world hates them. In this case, “the world” refers to the unbelieving, godless nature of humanity in general. Just as we should expect to serve as much as our Master served (John 13:15–16), we should expect to be hated just as our Master was hated. The world’s hatred is irrational and spiteful—driven by anger and conviction over sins which Christians do not endorse or join in (John 15:18–25).
Part of our help in enduring that persecution is the work of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit provides a reminder of Christ’s teachings. In a similar way, Christians serve to remind the world of Christ’s message (John 15:26–27).
In the next segment, Jesus will more explicitly describe the persecution Christians may endure from the unbelieving world.
Verse Context:
John 15:1–11 contains one of Jesus’ most well-known metaphors: the vine and the branches. This features the seventh of seven “I Am” statements as recorded by John. Jesus lays out several nuanced ideas, touching on Christian perseverance, faith, false conversion, and spiritual effectiveness. This ends with another reference to loving obedience, which sets up the next passage of Jesus’ teaching.
John 15:12–17 builds on Christ’s explanation of the vine and branches. Once again, Jesus commands His followers to demonstrate love toward each other. This is phrased, in no uncertain terms, as an obligation given directly by Christ. Jesus once again ties willingness to obey to the legitimacy of one’s love for Him. This contrasts with the hatred shown by the unbelieving world, which He discusses in the following passage.
John 15:18–27 predicts that those who follow Christ faithfully will experience hatred and persecution from the world. The intensity of this experience has varied according to time and culture, but the non-believing world is generally hostile to authentic faith. Jesus reminds His followers this is due to sin and rejection of God by those unbelievers. Just as Christians are never “too good” to serve as Christ served, they are never “too good” to suffer as Christ suffered. In the following passage, Jesus emphasizes that this warning is meant to bolster faith when those hard times come.
Chapter Summary:
This passage begins with a celebrated analogy from Christ: the vine and the branches. This includes the seventh and final “I Am” statement of the gospel of John. Jesus uses this metaphor to explain how our spiritual life, as born-again believers, is drawn from His life. God’s intent for our lives is to progress from barrenness to fruitfulness, to spiritual abundance. Jesus also repeats His command for believers to love each other. In this context, He goes so far as to refer to those who follow His teachings as His “friends.”
Chapter Context:
Jesus is in the middle of a long discourse given to the disciples, which began during the last supper. He presents the analogy of a vine and branches, then repeats His command for believers to love each other. Jesus also warns about how the unbelieving world will hate and persecute Christians. This leads into the teachings of chapter 16, which focus on perseverance in the face of trials.
Day 359 of M’Cheyne Reading Plan
With family
2 Chronicles 30 (Listen)
Passover Celebrated
30 Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel. 2 For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep the Passover in the second month—3 for they could not keep it at that time because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem—4 and the plan seemed right to the king and all the assembly. 5 So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it as often as prescribed. 6 So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, “O people of Israel, return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were faithless to the LORD God of their fathers, so that he made them a desolation, as you see. 8 Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, that his fierce anger may turn away from you. 9 For if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your children will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For the LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him.”
10 So the couriers went from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but they laughed them to scorn and mocked them. 11 However, some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded by the word of the LORD.
13 And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month, a very great assembly. 14 They set to work and removed the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away and threw into the brook Kidron. 15 And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, so that they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the LORD. 16 They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the LORD. 18 For a majority of the people, many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD pardon everyone 19 who sets his heart to seek God, the LORD, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary’s rules of cleanness.”1 20 And the LORD heard Hezekiah and healed the people. 21 And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with all their might2 to the LORD. 22 And Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the LORD. So they ate the food of the festival for seven days, sacrificing peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
23 Then the whole assembly agreed together to keep the feast for another seven days. So they kept it for another seven days with gladness. 24 For Hezekiah king of Judah gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for offerings, and the princes gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. And the priests consecrated themselves in great numbers. 25 The whole assembly of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, and the whole assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and the sojourners who lived in Judah, rejoiced. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests and the Levites arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to his holy habitation in heaven.
Footnotes
[1] 30:19 Hebrew not according to the cleanness of holiness
[2] 30:21 Compare 1 Chronicles 13:8; Hebrew with instruments of might
Revelation 16 (Listen)
The Seven Bowls of God’s Wrath
16 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”
2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.
4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters1 say,
“Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,
for you brought these judgments.
6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!”
7 And I heard the altar saying,
“Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
true and just are your judgments!”
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed2 the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
The Seventh Bowl
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings,3 peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds4 each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.
Footnotes
[1] 16:5 Greek angel of the waters
[2] 16:9 Greek blasphemed; also verses 11, 21
[3] 16:18 Or voices, or sounds
[4] 16:21 Greek a talent in weight
In private
Zechariah 12–13:1 (Listen)
The Lord Will Give Salvation
12 The oracle of the word of the LORD concerning Israel: Thus declares the LORD, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him: 2 “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. 3 On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. 4 On that day, declares the LORD, I will strike every horse with panic, and its rider with madness. But for the sake of the house of Judah I will keep my eyes open, when I strike every horse of the peoples with blindness. 5 Then the clans of Judah shall say to themselves, ‘The inhabitants of Jerusalem have strength through the LORD of hosts, their God.’
6 “On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a blazing pot in the midst of wood, like a flaming torch among sheaves. And they shall devour to the right and to the left all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem shall again be inhabited in its place, in Jerusalem.
7 “And the LORD will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah. 8 On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them. 9 And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
Him Whom They Have Pierced
10 “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. 11 On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. 12 The land shall mourn, each family1 by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; 13 the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves; 14 and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves.
13 “On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness.
Footnotes
[1] 12:12 Or clan; throughout verses 12–14
John 15 (Listen)
I Am the True Vine
15 “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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants,1 for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 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 abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
The Hatred of the World
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin,2 but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Footnotes
[1] 15:15 Or bondservants, or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface); likewise for servant later in this verse and in verse 20
[2] 15:22 Greek they would not have sin; also verse 24
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