The Vine and The Branches
The key action in this passage is to “remain”. It is translated in different ways: to stay, to abide, to live, to live in union. It might be better to say it this way: “If you stay at home in me and I stay at home in you, you will bear much fruit.” Jesus is to be so much a part of our daily existence that He feels like home. We become like Jesus and do His great deeds not by trying harder or pumping up some kind of spiritual energy. We do all of this by simply "staying at home" with Him. Bearing fruit then just happens—because it’s ultimately His fruit, not ours.
To make this point even stronger, Jesus concludes this verse by stating the same truth in the negative: There is nothing you can do in terms of bearing fruit by yourself. Nothing. Zero. Zip. Let that sink in. It will change you!
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DISCUSSION GUIDES WEEK 1-6