My mind and eyes have been returning frequently over the last couple of weeks to some things Jesus said during his last night with his disciples before being crucified. John tells us more than the other gospel writers about this important “things you should know before I die” conversation. One part of it has resonated with me in particular and it has this phrase like a heartbeat running through it: “remain in me”… “remain in me”…
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you.
No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. [I'd rather skip this beat, but Jesus doesn't so I'd better leave it in.]
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 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.
I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:4-12)
This “remaining” business would seem to be quite significant, the key to a life which glorifies God through bearing fruit, through answered prayer and through obedience to the command to love one another. Not only does such remaining glorify God but it brings us great joy.
So there you go, wasn’t that interesting? Another nice little insight decorated with a pleasant “heartbeat” analogy. Hopefully, if you’ve read anything I’ve written (and my expectations are pretty low on that score) you’ll know that I’m not content to leave it here. It sounds too much like “in theory…” or “if you do it right it should look like…” and I can’t quite see Jesus as a theoretical physicalist!
What does Jesus mean by “remain in me”? Does the phrase “remain in my love” reveal more of its meaning, or is it something more?
And the answer is… I don’t know, and I’m sure there are tomes of theological writing with deeper insight than I shall ever have. However, as I have returned again and again to these words over the last few weeks, these are some of the thoughts I find circling my head, waiting for a unified theory to land on:
Remain in me. Make your home in me. Don’t run off after other stuff or praise from other people, stay here. Stay all day and all night, not just visiting for half an hour in the morning. Take time to let me soak in, and simultaneously wash away all the dirt you’ve picked up, both deliberately and accidentally. Stay, settle in and let me settle in to you, make myself at home, have the run of your place. Let me be your centre of gravity. Know that I love you as much as the Father loves me – just let that sink in! Let our love for you as Father, Son and Holy Spirit be your point of reference, in your identity and in your attitudes, words and actions. Spend enough time time around here and you’ll start to look, sound and act like us! Trust me, lean into me, live with me, learn to love from me, remain in me… remain in me…
