I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Gardener. John 15:1
Jesus once again uses imagery out of the everyday life of His audience. Vineyards were plentiful and many families cared for their own vines. I have two grapevines in my yard. After pruning, I gather the branches and put them in the trash. The discarded pieces still look green and healthy but their potential has now been lost. Occasionally I will miss one during clean up and it stays on the ground. In a few days it is wilted but may look good from a distance. But by the end of the week, it is brown and brittle. Clearly of no use for harvest.
The Vine, Jesus, is the Source. Any goodness we produce is because of Him. Everything good we become is because we are attached to Him. Just as the vine feeds the branches, so we are fed by Him. If we are separated from Him, we will die – just as a branch from the vine.
I am the Vine; you are the branches. If you abide in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
This is what He was telling His disciples at the Last Supper as He prepared them for His departure. He was leaving. But … He calls them to abide in Him.
Abide. Remain. Stay attached. This is intimate language. We are connected! What a beautiful reassurance, a loving encouragement. Even when we don’t see Him and it feels like He is gone, it tells us He is accessible, He is near. And we can do all things as we abide in Him. May we bear much fruit.
