John 15:5 (KJV): meaning and how to memorise it

What John 15:5 says

Jesus is the vine, and his disciples are the branches. Without him, they can do nothing.

John 15:5 in context

²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. ³Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. ⁴Abide 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. ⁵I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. ⁶If 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. ⁷If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. ⁸Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

John 15, verses 2–8. Read the whole chapter with John Brown’s notes in the Self-Interpreting Bible.

John 15:5 in the catechisms

The Reformation catechisms and confessions cite John 15:5 8 times as a proof text.

WSC 30
How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
WLC 149
Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?
WCF 9.3
Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation; so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that…
WCF 16.3
Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ. And that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already…
HC 29
Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is, Saviour?
HC 64
Does this teaching not make people careless and wicked?
HC 91
But what are good works?
HC 127
What is the sixth petition?

How to memorise John 15:5

Hearers breaks the verse into clauses and teaches each clause in four steps. Then it brings each clause back just before you forget it.

01
Read
Read the verse with the clauses marked. Listen to it read aloud.
02
Trace
Type the first letter of each word, with the words shown faintly.
03
Fade
Half of the words go. Type the text again, and fill the gaps from memory.
04
Recall
All the words go. Type it or say it aloud. Each clause gets its own grade and its own review date.