John 15:16

“You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you to go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give it to you”.

Not only are they His friends, but His chosen friends. He has chosen them and He wants them to be conscious of the fact and to be thrilled by it. If they love Him they will now carry out what He wants them to do, will go and bear fruit, fruit that will be lasting, the fruit of godly lives. This must include the fruit of men and women turning to Christ and becoming in their turn God-like, but the main stress is on the living of a godly and Christ-like life. If more Christians were God-like more unbelievers would respond. In His own ministry Jesus was able to point to the life that He lived, as well as the signs that he did and the words that He spoke. His testimony was effective because of the purity of that life, and all that He did sprang from that purity. Indeed without it the remainder would have been invalid.

The fruit of faithful lives and the fruit of winning others go together. Both are the fruit of God, and the one will help to produce the other. If at any time they quail at the task they must recognise that this is what He has chosen them for, and called them to do. They have been appointed, and therefore they can be sure that whatever they need in the task ahead will be given, because they are His representatives. They can therefore ask for resources to carry out His purpose, and be sure of a reply.

The emphasis that He has chosen them both stresses their privilege and exhorts them to humility. Disciples of Rabbis were disciples by their own choice. But these are His disciples because He himself called them and commanded them to follow. They cannot congratulate themselves on their wisdom, but must humbly acknowledge their gratitude, while recognising the tremendous privilege that is theirs.

‘That whatever you ask the Father in my name He may give it to you”. The ‘that' (hina) points back to the fact of their being chosen. It is because they are His chosen ones, and acting as His chosen ones, that this promise can be made. It is not an open-ended offer to all Christians.

We are reminded here again that His words in their primary meaning are to these men whom He has chosen and appointed. When we have the same dedication and commitment as the disciples, we can apply the words, with some discrimination, to ourselves.