John 15:1-8 The True Vine
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit, and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.“
“I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.”
Jesus and his disciples have left the Upper Room and are slowly making their way through the streets of Jerusalem to cross the Kidron Valley and eventually enter the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. It is night, and the streets are deserted, for most people are inside continuing to celebrate the first night of Passover. As Jesus walks, he continues to teach the disciples.
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the keeper of the vineyard. He cuts off every branch in Me that bears no fruit…” I heard a fascinating teaching about this verse this week. Many translations use the language employed here, giving the idea that unfruitful branches are simply lopped off and even thrown into the fire. This idea is quite appealing if you are someone who has been smug about your fruitful ministry. “Take that, you lazy bums! God’s going to deal with you! You’re going to hell!”
But one pastor friend who gardens has investigated the Greek translation and that wording means “to lift up,” just as Jesus will be “lifted up” on a cross. My friend tells the story of raising tomatoes. When he and his wife simply allow their tomato plants to sag on the ground, they get very few tomatoes. But when they gently tie their tomato plants up to tomato stakes to support them, the plants begin bearing heavily. Can it be that rather than considering our Heavenly Father as a hard-hearted vicious gardener who ruthlessly eliminates anyone not bearing fruit, we should consider him as a tender-hearted and compassionate gardener who lifts up those who have yet to bear fruit, supporting them and giving them a second chance?
Face it, folks, we all need second, or third, or fourth, or even fifth chances! How can we represent a loving God if we are secretly gloating about someone being cut off and even discarded from the Kingdom of Heaven?
“and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes to make it even more fruitful.” Oh ouch! In case we are feeling smug, our turn has arrived. Our cherished habits, our little practices that we excuse because they are so small, our slips into mild profanity, our petty irritations and grievances with others-guess what? The divine pruning shears are coming after all of that. You see, God isn’t interested in our looking pretty good or being reasonably fruitful. God wants us to reflect His Image and His Nature and to bear fruit that pleases Him. So sometimes God removes those friends who have been flattering us while ignoring our shortcomings, only to move in friends who have no compunction about confronting us.
“You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.”
Again, oh ouch! We want to believe that we can really do all sorts of things by ourselves. For many of us, the song “I Did It My Way” is the theme song of our lives. Unfortunately, God is a One-Way God, and we do things His Way or not at all. If we don’t remain connected to God, if we don’t pray, read our Bibles, and worship, we are likely to find ourselves like withered branches about to fall off the vine.
“If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.” DISCIPLES BEAR FRUIT! We can attend all kinds of conferences, watch innumerable videos, and be in church every time the door is open, but God is a Fruit Inspector, and He knows whether or not our lives are bearing fruit.
Here God is not threatening to throw us into hell fire; however, He is telling us that fruitless lives are worthless, just like withered branches that have been trimmed from grape vines and now are only fit for kindling.
How can we live fruitful lives? James 1:5 tells us, “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” Psalm 32:8 says, “I will teach you and instruct you in the way you should go. I will guide You with My Eye upon you.” The two biggest obstacles to living fruitful lives are refusing to ask God and then refusing to obey Him. When you ask God and are willing to obey, He will certainly help you to fulfill His perfect Will for your life. Remember, God is a compassionate Gardener, and He wants all His vines to be fruitful.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, we need Your constant guidance so that our lives will bear fruit pleasing to You. Please help us and lead us. We ask this in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen
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