No
longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
John 15:15-16
John 15 [8.] “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 15 [12.] “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
John 15 [17.] “I command these things to you, that you may love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do to you for my name’s sake, because they don’t know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates me, hates my Father also. If I hadn’t done among them the works which no one else did, they wouldn’t have had sin. But now have they seen and also hated both me and my Father. But this happened so that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’
Meaning:
Jesus had just said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:13-14). In these verses he explains what it means to be his friends and why they have been chosen.
- “No longer do I call you servants”
Being called a servant of God was an honour in Israel. Moses, David and the prophets were known as God’s servants, and the disciples would continue to serve Jesus as their Lord (John 13:16). But Jesus now gives them a closer relationship. A servant simply carries out instructions without being told the master’s purposes. A friend is brought into the master’s confidence.
- “But I have called you friends”
In the Old Testament, God spoke of “Abraham my friend” (Isaiah 41:8-10). Now Jesus extends this privilege to all his disciples. The mark of this friendship is revelation: “everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you.” Jesus had shared with them the Father’s heart and plan, including his coming death and resurrection. They did not yet understand it all, but nothing needful had been held back. Friendship with Jesus does not erase his lordship; he still commands, and his friends obey (verse 14). But it changes the spirit of obedience from fear to trust and love.
- “You didn’t choose me, but I chose you”
In Jesus’ day a student usually chose the rabbi he wanted to follow. Jesus reversed this. He called his disciples himself, often unexpectedly. Their relationship with him began with his initiative, not theirs. This is true of all believers. Paul writes that God “chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love” (Ephesians 1:4). Like Israel, they were chosen not for their own greatness: “Yahweh didn’t set his love on you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people” (Deuteronomy 7:7). God’s choice is the ground of security and humility.
- “And appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit”
Election is not only for privilege but for purpose. Jesus appointed them to “go,” pointing ahead to his command after the resurrection: “Go, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The fruit includes Christlike character and the people who would come to faith through their witness. Jesus promises that this fruit will “remain,” lasting into eternity.
- “That whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you”
Fruitful mission and answered prayer go together. Those sent by Jesus can ask the Father in his name for everything they need to carry out his work. Jesus had already given this promise earlier that evening (John 14:13-14).
The Significance of John 15:15-16
- The privilege of friendship with Christ
Believers are not distant servants but friends to whom Jesus has revealed the Father’s heart. This invites close, trusting fellowship with him through his word and prayer.
- Chosen and sent
Our relationship with Jesus rests on his choice, not our achievement. That gives assurance, and it also gives purpose: we are sent to bear lasting fruit in the lives of others.
Cross-References:
Isaiah 41:8-10: "Jacob whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham my friend," God's friendship with Abraham.
Ephesians 1:4: "even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world," Chosen by God's grace.
Deuteronomy 7:7: "Yahweh didn’t set his love on you, nor choose you, because you were more in number than any people;" Chosen in love, not for merit.
Matthew 28:19: "Go, and make disciples of all nations," Sent to bear fruit.
Conclusion: Jesus raised his disciples from servants to friends by sharing with them all that he had heard from the Father. He reminded them that he had chosen them, and appointed them to go and bear fruit that would last. With that calling came the promise that the Father would answer their prayers offered in Jesus’ name.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible