Pruning: Being Cleansed by His Word
Thursday, February 6
Pruning: Being Cleansed by His Word
You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. John 15:3
Leading up to John 15, in chapters 13 and 14, Jesus has been preparing His disciples for His departure. In chapter 13, He washes their feet as an act of humility and love, teaching them about serving one another. He then predicts Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial, foreshadowing the difficult days ahead. Despite the looming hardship, Jesus reassures them of His love and the coming of the Holy Spirit, who will continue to guide and empower them after He is gone.
Likewise, Jesus did not leave us empty handed. Jesus speaks words of cleansing over us. His Word purifies us and makes us holy, setting us apart for His purposes. Consider today how God’s Word has transformed and purified you.
In chapter John 14, He promises to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house, and reassures them that He is the way, the truth, and the life. He introduces the idea of remaining in Him (abiding), emphasizing that the relationship they have with Him is central to their spiritual life. This sets the stage for what He says in John 15, where He builds on the theme of abiding and goes deeper into what it means for His disciples to stay connected to Him in the midst of a world that will soon oppose them.
When Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches,” in John 15:1, He is continuing His message about their need to remain intimately connected to Him, not just in belief but in practical, spiritual dependence. As the vine provides life and sustenance to the branches, so too does Jesus provide spiritual life and strength to those who remain in Him.
Prayer for today: Thank You, Lord, for the power of Your Word to cleanse me. Help me to stay grounded in it, so that I may live according to Your will. Amen.