Jesus is the vine
John 15:1-8
15 ‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. 2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Starting at the end (vs. 8) and working from there – the purpose of the branches in the vine is to bear fruit that will bring glory to God. The purpose of being in the vine – of being a follower of Jesus Christ – is that our lives produce “a crop” that points to God and God’s work in the world, causing people to praise God. It is not about us, it is not about credit for ourselves, it is not about recognition for ourselves – our lives are lived to bring glory to God.
The branches of the vine only grow when they are grafted in, firmly connected to the vine itself, apart from the vine the branches will never produce a crop. We are to abide, rest in, be rooted in Jesus. To be part of the vine also means being subject to the pruning work of the gardener/vinedresser. Pruning helps the branch to focus on the business of producing fruit, pruning keeps energy from being drawn away from that primary task of growing a crop.
Pruning also cuts out diseased parts of branches that threaten the health of the branch and the vine as a whole. I think that is what is being hinted at in vs. 3. When we act on Jesus’ words, we are cleansed of the things in our lives that threaten us with spiritual ill-health. Jesus’ words, as we obey them, allow us to produce a crop to the honour and glory of God. Our lives are lived in the example of Jesus who lived so that God would be glorified.
PRAYER:
Show us, O Lord, how to abide in you. Graft us in by the action of the Holy Spirit, that we would produce an abundant crop to the glory of your name. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.