Scripture: John 15:1-11 (ESV)
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Jesus often used vivid imagery to help his disciples understand their relationship with him and with the Father. Here, he calls Himself the true vine, his Father the vinedresser, and his followers the branches. Now we have to understand that this metaphor is chosen carefully by Jesus. This metaphor tells us that to be connected with Jesus as his disciples works the same way that living plants work. Now this is interesting because there are two parts to this metaphor. We are both active and passive in this metaphor. Let me explain.
So first, the passive side of things. Think of a grapevine. The branches don't just magically live by themselves. If you cut one off, it won't produce a single grape. It will literally be fruitless. And unless a farmer grafts that branch onto another plant, that branch will shrivel and die. That is what the spiritual life is like for us too. Jesus says, "Apart from me, you can do nothing." As a person who has occasionally been accused of relying on himself too much, that reality was a pretty big wakeup call for me. Jesus doesn't pull punches. Nothing that we do is of any lasting spiritual value, if we do it on our own strength or in our own power. Our ability to bear spiritual fruit is entirely dependent on being connected to the vine, to Jesus. We are passive recipients of the life that comes from being connected to the vine. We receive life, because Jesus willingly gives it.
But notice, spiritual life is more than just a passive receiving of life. Jesus choses a very specific word for how we are to respond to being connected to him. He tells us to abide in him. Abiding is an active choice to stay close and connected to someone. If we are connected to the true vine, then we are to have an active, ongoing relationship with the vine. To abide in him means that we actively strive to make Jesus the centre of our lives. And how do we do that? He gives us a clue: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you.” It starts with his Word. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, it starts to shape our thoughts and changes us from the inside. Pretty soon we start noticing that, that passage we read yesterday really does help me with the situation I find myself in today. Scripture starts guiding our decisions and starts helping us biblically think through how we lives our lives and how we make choices. Ultimately having a rich Bible study life draws us closer and closer to the vine.
Now that turns out to be pretty important, because there is another part of this passage that might make us squirm. Jesus tells us that unfruitful parts will be pruned away. He says that every branch that bears fruit will be pruned so that it will bear more fruit. Now that's a hard teaching, because we don't like what the implications of that. But pruning is part of a gardener's care so that a plant can thrive. In this metaphor, God is the gardener. And so sometimes, God allows challenges or trials into our lives to prune us. It may not be easy, but it’s for our good. He is pruning us to make us bear even more fruit.
And what’s the result of all this abiding and pruning? Joy. Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”
Isn't it great that we have a Father who loves us so much that he will go through the hard work of pruning us, so that we can have joy? I think it is.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you for being the true vine. Please help me to embrace the pruning, by reminding me that it is for my good. Amen.
Spiritual Challenge:
Take time today to reflect on one area of your life where God might be pruning you. Ask him to help you see how this is part of his plan to help you bear more fruit.
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