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Episode 30: Dwell (Abide)
Now those dwelling with the Father will also do the will and work of the Father, a work which revolves around love.
DWELL (REMAIN or ABIDE)
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” The rendition of John 15:4 from the King James Version provides one crucial imagery for abiding in Christ. Vineyards were a frequent site in the predominantly rural ancient world. During that period of time, grape vines were as common in the Mediterranean as olive trees. Activities associated with cultivating vineyards, like pruning branches and harvesting the grapes, supply Jesus with images to communicate a central reality to his disciples during the final few hours before his arrest. Yet, the union between a branch and the vine only captures one small part of the relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit and those who are children of God.
Several different Hebrew words in the Old Testament can be translated as dwell or abide. In the King James Version, these words are translated as “abide” on 50 occasions. The New American Standard Bible translates only 9 occurrences in that manner, choosing other words to communicate the meaning from the Hebrew. As our world becomes increasingly more urban concepts behind the word “Abide” grow less common. Words like dwell or remain often seek to fill this gap in understanding.
Elsewhere in John
The eternal and permanent nature behind abiding holds a central role in the Gospel of John. The witness by John the Baptizer (Episodes 5 and 6) regarding Jesus confirms the permanence of God’s spirit upon Jesus.
John bore witness saying, “I observed the spirit
descending from heaven like a dove and remaining upon
him. Now I did not recognize him, but the one who sent
me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one you see
whom the spirit descends and remains upon, this one is
the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’
(John 1:32-33)
Jesus eventually indicates that this same Spirit who remains upon him remains permanently with those who follow him after they hear and obey the words he speaks.
If you love me, then you will keep my commandments;
I will speak to the Father and he will give you another
Paraclete who will be with you into the ages, the Spirit
of Truth, who the world is not able to receive because it
does not see or know the Spirit; you do know the Spirit
because it remains with you and is in you.
(John 14:15-17)
Remaining, however, need not always reflect a positive experience. Some negative events permanently remain as well, including God’s displeasure for failing to believe in the one he sent. (John 3:36) Those questioning the man born blind provide another example of negative elements that remain with a person. Jesus addresses the difficulty faced by those who view both Jesus and this once blind man as “sinners.”
“If you were blind, then you would have no sin;
but since you still say that you can see, your sin
stays with you.” (John 9:41)
Jesus’ own example of remaining with his followers stands behind his teaching that they should dwell and remain with him. During the dialogue with those he fed the previous day on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus self identifies as the Bread of Life. He further instructs these seeking another meal from him to pursue more fulfilling and lasting nutritional goals.
Do not work for bread that molds and crumbles,
but work for the Bread which remains throughout the
life of the ages, bread that the Son of Man provides
you; for Father God has placed his seal on this one.
(John 6:37)
Later in this same discussion Jesus clarifies the means by which they can obtain this more lasting goal, himself. The one who eats my flesh and who drinks my blood remains in me and I remain in him. (John 6:56) Jesus’ harsh words, which some deem unacceptable, provide an opportunity for many who have been following him to depart. (See Episodes 13 and 23) Those followers who do not return to their old pursuits stick with Jesus, whose words bring life. (John 6:66-68)
Dwelling one with another is central to the identity of Jesus as the Son of God. Not only does the Spirit remain upon Jesus as John the Baptizer proclaims, Jesus remains with the Father. As Jesus spends time with his followers shortly before his arrest, they are still not fully aware of the relationship existing between Jesus and the Father. He takes a moment to remind them of the central characteristic of his existence.
“Surely you believed that I am in the Father and the
Father is in me. The things that I have spoken to you
did not originate with me, rather the Father who
dwells in me is performing his works.” (John 14:10)
Fortunately, Jesus devotes more time discussing the reality of this relationship. After introducing the vineyard saying I mentioned at the beginning, Jesus expands upon his teaching. Jesus, the Word with God at the Beginning, has been speaking and has been doing the will and work of the Father throughout the Gospel of John. Now those dwelling with the Father will also do the will and work of the Father, a work which revolves around love.
In the same way that the Father has loved me, I also have
loved you; Remain in my love. If you keep my instructions,
you will remain in my love, in the same way that I have
kept my Father’s instructions and I remain in his love.
I have spoken these things to you so that my joy may be in
you and so that your joy may be overwhelmingly
abundant. (John 15:9-11)
Concluding Thought
Abiding functions as the subatomic connection, popularly called the God Particle, within the Gospel of John. The Spirit abides with Jesus, Jesus abides with the Father, the Father abides with Jesus. Jesus abides with his followers and they with him. No temporary nature for living exists. The relationship, as well as the nourishment to sustain it, exists when the various parties dwell with, or perhaps indwell, one another. When this abiding occurs, each party acts on behalf of, and at the request of, the other parties in the relationship at all times. This unity of mind and soul, of word and deed, of spirit and love, establishes a new example for those who would follow the One with God at the Beginning, the Word who became flesh. While this mystery is difficult, those who persist end up feasting on the Bread that remains and experience the life of the ages with complete joy.
Take 5 Minutes More
Time. For one to dwell with another person, time is necessary. Sit on the front porch, watch the shadows lengthen, drink an entire pitcher of iced tea; these images represent the type of time it takes to truly dwell with someone else. Time is all it takes.
Take a moment to create a list of those activities that consume your time. Which of these promote the kind of relationship that describes one who dwells with Jesus and with whom Jesus dwells? Which prevent such a relationship? What can you do to choose the dwelling type of time?
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