Latter-day Saint Seminar Volume 3, Number 23 October 1, 1999 ________________________________________________________________________ Table of Contents ________________________________________________________________________ GD23 - Luke 22:1-38; John 13-15 Article 1 - Poetical Structure by D. Lynn Johnson dlj@starnetinc.com Article 2 - Comments, by Alan D. Eastman adeastm@ppco.com ________________________________________________________________________ Poetical Structure, by D. Lynn Johnson ________________________________________________________________________ This block runs into chapter 16 to complete an inverted system that spans parts of chapters 15 and 16 as a topical unit. I won't comment about the structure. It is quite obvious and strong in most instances. There are some subtleties that will be worth studying as you read. John 13:1-16:11 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. 2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; 3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; 4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. 5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? 7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. 10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. 11 A For he knew who should betray him; B therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. 12 C So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 13 D Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. 14 E If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 16 D Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. 17 C If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. 18 B I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 19 A Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he. 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 21 When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. 22 Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. 23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. 25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? 26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. 27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. 28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him. 29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30 He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night. 31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him. 33 A Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; B so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 C By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, B if ye have love one to another. 36 A Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. 37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. 38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. 14:1 A Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, B believe also in me. 2 C In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, D I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 5 E Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 6 D Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: C no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 B If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: A and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. 8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. 15 A1 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 A2 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 A3 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 B Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; C but ye see me: D because I live, ye shall live also. 20 E At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 D He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, C and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, B and not unto the world? 23 A1 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: A2 and my Father will love him, A3 and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. 15:1 A I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, B1 that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 B2 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 C Abide in me, and I in you. D As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, E except it abide in the vine; F no more can ye, E except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, D ye are the branches: C He that abideth in me, and I in him, B1 the same bringeth forth much fruit: B2 for without me ye can do nothing. 6 A If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 A If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, B ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 C Herein is my Father glorified, D that ye bear much fruit; E so shall ye be my disciples. 9 F As the Father hath loved me, G so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 H a If ye keep my commandments, I b ye shall abide in my love; J a even as I have kept my Father's commandments, b and abide in his love. 11 K These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 K This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 J Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 I Ye are my friends, H if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 G Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; F for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 16 E Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, D that ye should go and bring forth fruit, C and that your fruit should remain: B that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. 17 A These things I command you, that ye love one another. 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. 22 A a If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. 23 b He that hateth me hateth my Father also. 24 a If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 b But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause. 26 B But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27 C And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me D from the beginning. 16:1 E These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. 2 F They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. 3 And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 E But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. D And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, C because I was with you. 5 B But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 A And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. ________________________________________________________________________ Comments, by Alan D. Eastman ________________________________________________________________________ Lesson 23 - Luke 22:1-38, John 13-15 Love One Another OVERVIEW - The passage in Luke 22 treats Judas' bargain with the chief priests, the institution of the Sacrament, and Jesus' prophecy of Peter's denials. John 13-15 covers other aspects of the Last Supper (but not, however, the sacrament), washing the apostles' feet, the commandment to love one another, Jesus bestowing peace on the apostles, but not as the world gives peace, the promise of the Comforter, Jesus as the True Vine, and Jesus statement about "greater love hath no man..." In this posting, I will cover these passages more or less chronologically, using the account in Luke as a base, with insertions on viniculture (really!) and the Passover celebration. RESOURCES - · The parallel scriptures and the IV changes are beautifully displayed in "The New Testament with the Joseph Smith Translation," SJ and JM Hite, Veritas, Orem, UT, 1994, ISBN 0-9642325-1-0 · In Talmage's Jesus the Christ, the lesson is treated in Chapter 33. · Institute Manual, "The Life and Teachings of Jesus and His Apostles," pp 159-169. · The New Testament Video Presentations videotape, 4-New Testament Customs, Segment 5, "Feasting" contains information on the feast of the Passover · There are many pictures in the typical LDS meetinghouse library which are appropriate, including these: Old New Subject OQ174 62174 The Last Supper 62550 Jesus washing the apostles' feet · You may want to raid somebody's garden and find a piece of grapevine. Don't worry - most grapes are pretty tough, so you won't hurt the plant by taking some. TIME - Luke 22:1-6 is Wednesday night of Passion Week; the rest is the eve of Passover (i.e., Thursday, the day before the Crucifixion.) PLACE - Jerusalem AUDIENCE - The apostles only - we are privy to Jesus most private and sacred instructions before the crucifixion. PARALLEL PASSAGES - Luke 22:1-38 Matt. 26:1-28 Mark 14:1-31 John 13:1-38 John 13 Matt 26 Mark 14 Luke 22 John 14 none John 15 none It is especially significant that these parallel passages exist, since the different Gospel authors emphasize different things, so we see these events from several viewpoints. Also, the Inspired Version contains a number of significant changes in the parallel passages which explain and clarify what is going on. Comments on the night before the Last Supper - Luke 22:1-6 v 1 - This passage tells of the plans of the chief priests to take Jesus and put him to death. Note that Matt. 26:2 explains that Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen, and told the apostles that he was to be betrayed and crucified. v 3-4 - Only the IV rendering of Luke 14:10 gives us any clues as to why Judas betrayed the Savior: "for he [Judas] turned away from him [Jesus], and was offended because of his words." Which words? We do not know, but it might be an interesting topic for class discussion. Judas was an interesting person in several ways. He was the treasurer for the disciples (see Lesson 20 and John 13:29), and was the only Judean among the disciples; the rest were from Galilee. Some scholars believe that Judas was a Zealot; i.e., a political activist favoring Jewish independence. Note that it was a doctrinal dispute that led to Judas' defection. Some scholars have argued that Judas may have actually been trying to help the Savior by putting him in a situation where he would have to show his powers as Messiah to the people as a whole. This would fit in nicely with Judas' history as a Zealot: if Jesus revealed himself as the Messiah by some great miracle, that event would serve as the focal point of a Jewish rebellion. In the estimation of those scholars, it was the failure of this misjudged effort to help that incited Judas to kill himself. Clearly, from the IV, such apologies for Judas are not justified. v 5 - Only Matthew 26:15 mentions the price paid for the Savior: thirty pieces of silver, by the Law (Exodus 28:32) the price of restitution for a slave that has been killed. Comments on the Last Supper and the beginning of the Last Sermon These verses (Luke 22:7-38 and John 13-15) describe the Last Supper, the final Passover celebration of the Savior's earthly ministry. They also give the first part of what one might called the Last Sermon, the final instructions given by the Savior to his apostles before the ordeal of Gethsemane. THE PASSOVER FEAST The Passover was instituted to commemorate the passing of the Destroying Angel over the homes of the Israelites (Exodus 12:18-28) just before the Exodus from Egypt. The method of keeping the Passover at later times is described in Lev. 23:15-19 and Num.28:27-29. As recounted in the Bible Dictionary in the LDS edition of the scriptures, the Passover Seder (meal/celebration) included the following: · The history of the redemption from Egypt (Exodus 12:1:42), related by the head of the household; Jesus probably filled this role at the Last Supper · The meal itself, which comprised: 1) the Paschal lamb, roasted whole, with no bones broken in either preparation or consumption; 2) bitter herbs (e.g., watercress, oregano); 3) unleavened bread; and 4) a sauce (gravy) in which the various materials of the meal were dipped. A 'sop,' was a piece of the unleavened bread, used to soak up the sauce. At the first passover, the meal was eaten standing; later, including in the time of Christ, the guests reclined at the table in the Oriental fashion, and ate from common dishes. There were probably no utensils but perhaps a knife to cut chunks of meat. Only the right hand was used to eat. · Four cups of wine including the 'cup of blessing' were drunk at various stages of the feast. · The Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113-118, consisting mainly of hymns of praise) was sung; Jesus and the apostles probably sang these psalms after the meal (see Mark 14:26). The Great Hallel (Psalms 116-136) may have been sung as well, but this Hallel was reserved for times of great joy. Given the sober nature of the Last Supper, the shorter one is more likely. The Passover was the most important feast of the Jewish liturgy at the time of Christ. People from all over the Middle East came to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast and have the priests offer the required sacrifice in the Temple. Luke 22:7-13 - the upper room is found and prepared for the Passover. It is possible that the owner of the house was a disciple, since he immediately knew the identity and requirements of the Master. v 10 - How would the disciples find a single man bearing a water jug in all the Passover crowd? Simple - carrying water was women's work (remember the woman at the well), so a man carrying a water jug would be an anomaly, and would be easy to recognize! Luke 22:14-18 - Jesus and the apostles enter into the upper room. Presumably, the history of the flight from Egypt was recounted at this point. The Savior prophecies that he will not eat again with the disciples until they eat together in the Kingdom of God. Note the addition in the IV to v 16. Note also that Jesus ate broiled fish and part of a honeycomb with the apostles after the resurrection (Luke 24:42-43); this is not the Sacramental supper to which Jesus referred in that prophecy, but a way to show the apostles that he indeed was resurrected in the flesh. He also took the first of the ceremonial cups of wine, blessed it, and passed it, as was the Passover custom, among the apostles. Luke 22:24-30 - the apostles squabble over who should be sitting where, relative to the Savior, who served as master of the feast. The Savior compares earthly kings, who rule over their subjects, to himself, the Lord of all, who serves his subjects; he urges the apostles to follow his example, and tells them that they shall judge Israel. John 13:1-20 - The main part of the Passover feast has ended. It is interesting and touching that John says that Jesus "loved them [the apostles] unto the end." He now knew exactly who he was, what his mission was, and precisely what was going to happen over the next 24 hours. It was with that in mind (v 3) that he rose from the table and commenced to wash the disciples' feet. v 9 - Peter, ever impulsive, asks the Savior to wash his hands and head as well as his feet. The IV rendering of v 10 is: Jesus saith to him, He that has washed his hands and his head needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit; and ye are clean, but not all. Now this was the custom of the Jews under their law; wherefore, Jesus did this that the law might be fulfilled. The 'custom of the Jews under their law' might be a somewhat altered echo of Moses' washing of Aaron and his sons before they could start their priestly duties (Exodus 29:4), or it could be one of the accretions to the Law at the hands of the Pharisees. In either case, Jesus notes that the disciples had washed their hands and head when they entered the room, as was the common custom, so only their feet needed to be washed to make them entirely clean. v 20 - Jesus in effect transfers his mantle to the apostles in saying these things, though they don't seem to realize it at the time. v 21-22 - To make sense of the passage, these verses should be read ahead of v 18-19 v 23-29 - The apostles, their feet washed, are back reclining at the table. John (the 'disciple whom Jesus loved') is leaning close to the Savior and asks who shall betray him (v 25.) One can imagine Jesus saying in an undertone, 'he to whom I give the sop.' The sop was simply a piece of bread (unleavened bread, of course, at the Passover meal) used to soak up the remaining gravy. Judas takes the sop, then departs (v30). Since the Passover celebration started right at dusk, that it was dark when Judas left suggests that several hours may have passed to this point in the meal. Only John seems to know why Judas has left. The others theorize that Judas had to handle some financial matter, since he was the treasurer for the infant church. v 27 - Note the IV rendering of the parallel verse in the last half of Mark 14:28: And he said unto Judas Iscariot, What thou doest, do quickly; but beware of innocent blood. v 31-35 - Jesus announces to the apostles that now is the time when the Son of Man will be glorified. They probably have no idea what he is saying. He then tells them that they cannot come where he is going, and therefore gives them the 'new' commandment: to love one another. Why is this a new commandment, since it was one of the two great commandments? I believe that the key here is the sense of the word "new." Jesus is giving them anew this commandment by way of emphasis. Mark 14:22-25 - Now that Judas had gone, the Savior takes some of the unleavened bread, blesses and breaks it, and passes it to them, then does the same with the last ritual cup, the "cup of blessing." In so doing, Jesus changes the ancient Passover ritual into something entirely new - the Sacrament. It is instructive and poignant to compare the KJV and IV versions here: KJV IV --- -- And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and blessed it, and brake it and brake and gave to them, and said and gave to them, and said Take, eat, this is my body. Take it, and eat; Behold, this is for you to do in remembrance of my body; for as oft as ye do this ye will remember this hour that I was with you. And he took the cup, And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them; he gave it to them; and they all drank of it. and they all drank of it. And he said unto them: And he said unto them: This is my blood This is in remembrance of my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many which is shed for many, and the new testament which I give unto you; for of me ye shall bear record unto all the world. And as oft as ye do this ordinance ye will remember me in this hour that I was with you and drank with you of this cup, even the last time in my ministry Verily, I say unto you, Verily, I say unto you, Of this ye shall bear record; for I will drink no more I will no more drink of the fruit of the vine of the fruit of the vine with you, until that day that I drink it new until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God. In the kingdom of God. And now they were grieved, and wept over him. Note that Jesus, who is very shortly to call them his friends (John 15:15), asks them to think of him and this last hour together whenever they partake of the bread and wine. The apostles are grieved, and weep that they will be no more together. The exquisite tenderness of Jesus' words here are some of the most beautiful passages in the Inspired Version. Does Jesus use wine or, as some would have it, unfermented grape juice? Since the Word of Wisdom was given us "...in consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days..." (D&C 89:4), there is no reason to assume that it applied in the Meridian of Time. Jesus now foretells Peter's denial. Note that, in the passage in Luke (Luke 22:35-38), the Savior tells the apostles that it is no longer necessary to go without purse or scrip; even arms may be necessary. John 14:1-31 - Jesus now commences a discourse on the Comforter. Since books could be (and have been) written on these verses, we will be very brief. v 6 - Jesus proclaims himself the way, the truth, and the life. v 12-14 - Jesus tells the apostles that they will themselves do what they have seen him do, and greater works than those. v 21-23 - Judas (not Iscariot) asks why the Savior will manifest himself to the apostles, but not to the world. The key (v 23) is that men must love Him and keep the commandments: then and only then will the Father and the Son make their abode with men. v 26 - Jesus describes the work of the Comforter v 27-29 - In some of the most magnificent phrases in all of Scripture, Jesus gives his final blessing to the apostles. v 30-31 - The Savior tells them that he will not be able to talk much with them, because the prince of darkness is coming. Note the IV rendering: Hereafter I will not talk much with you; for the prince of darkness who is of this world cometh, but hath no power over me - but he hath power over you. Jesus then reassures the apostles that he is doing the will of the Father, and invites them to go with him. They then sing a hymn (Matt. 26:30), presumably the Jerusalem Hallel, and depart to the Mount of Olives together. John 15:1-27 - Jesus and the Apostles now walk to the Mount of Olives, which at the time of Christ was covered with grapevines and olive trees. One can imagine that he delivers his Last Sermon, speaking of himself as the true vine, as they linger among the vines. He once again commands the apostles to love one another. He calls them his friends, tells them that they will be persecuted, and that he will send the Comforter to help them bear witness of him. v 1-6 - Jesus calls himself the true vine, and the apostles the branches. To understand a little better, let us consider for a moment how grapes grow. ON VINICULTURE Grape cultivation was a very important and familiar part of Mediterranean cultures at the time of Christ. Certain areas of the world preserve those ancient practices and knowledge. I spent part of my mission in Bordeaux, France, where grapevines have been cultivated since before Christ. One old man took time one afternoon to explain to a couple American missionaries how grapes really grow. In the French edition of the Bible, Jesus says he is the 'cep' (pronounced 'sep') and the apostles the 'sarments' (pronounced 'sar-mon,' with the stress on the last syllable.) The old man explained to us that these are terms with technical meanings beyond the 'vine' and 'branch' we see in English. In order to produce bountifully, grapes must be severely pruned each year. However, grapes appear only on two-year-old branches. Thus, after the harvest each year, the grower removes all the two-year-old branches. The new shoots are pruned back to a single tendril. Only the central rootstock is left untouched. This central rootstock, the part of the plant that endures indefinitely, is the 'cep,' the 'vine' to which Jesus likens himself. It is the most characteristic part of the plant, and supplies nourishment to all the ephemeral 'sarments,' which grow and develop one year, bear the next, and then are pruned away. Similarly, we are allowed to grow in the Gospel, then to produce what we will; all the while we are supported and nourished by Christ, our 'cep.' v 5 - As the branch without the central rootstock can do nothing, so we can do nothing without the Savior. v 6 - The branches which are not attached to the rootstock are discarded and burned. v 7-11 - The Savior explains how the apostles are to be attached to him as the sarments are attached to the cep. v 12-17 - The Savior reiterates his command to love one another. He calls them his friends, not his servants. He has deliberately chosen and ordained them to bring forth fruit, like the branches of the grapevine. v 18-27 - Jesus tells the apostles that the world will hate them. Interestingly, he gives no comfort at this point, but simply tells them that one of the roles of the promised Comforter will be to testify of him. They also will testify of him, since they were with him from the beginning. This wonderful final sermon of the Savior is continued in Lesson 24, next week! ________________________________________________________________________ Next Assignment: John 16-17 ________________________________________________________________________ A note to readers: LDS Seminar Digest [LDSS-D] is a summary of posts made to LDS Seminar, an open forum for discussion on upcoming Gospel Doctrine lessons. LDS Seminar [LDSS] posts are open to exegesis, textual analysis, historical issues, and life applications. 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