What does Jesus mean when He says “Abide in me”?

How long have you known your best friend?

I’ve known mine for almost 13 years and, I gotta say, few people know me as well as Billie does. I’m sure the same is true for you and your best friend.

Now let me ask you this.

How often do you find yourself just chilling and enjoying their presence? 

Not talking. Just remaining there and, somehow, growing closer through it.

Perhaps you feel this with a spouse, parent, or sibling. It’s a common stage in all deep relationships. A level of intimacy where simply being around the person is enough.

It’s a level of intimacy helpful for understanding what Jesus meant when He said, “Abide in me.”

Abiding as Relational Intimacy 

If we want to bear fruit, we must first abide.

In John 15, Jesus uses the image of a vine and its branches.

Think about the grapevines of a fertile vineyard. All the branches are brimming with fresh fruit. Why is that?

That would be because of the strong and healthy vine they're connected to.

Naturally, we become better people while in strong and healthy relationships…

…and the act of abiding is relational at heart. It requires us to be with Jesus, to spend time with Him like in all our other relationships.

If we can manage that, we will be like the branches of the healthy vineyard. 

What We Can and Can’t Do

Abiding is spiritually positioning ourselves so that we will grow in awareness of God’s presence.

And that’s it. That’s our role.

Because, truthfully, that’s really all we can do.

Spiritual growth comes from God Himself (check out last week’s series for more). But it’s a growth that only comes if we’re willing to open ourselves to Him. To make Him our perpetual center point.

To abide in Him.

We can have an intimate relationship with Christ but it requires spending time together. A lot of time. Abiding gets us there; it’s where all the best fruit comes from.

But more on that tomorrow. 

For now, be blessed.

Jon,

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