Scripture:
John 15:1-8 NKJV
[1] “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. [2] Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. [3] You are already clean because of the words that I have spoken to you. [4] Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch can not bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. [5] “I am the vine. You are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me, you can do nothing. [6] If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. [7] If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. [8] By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Observation:
The way that Jesus taught was incredible. HE used stories that those who were listening could relate to. For example, if HE was speaking to carpenters. HE would talk about the process of building a house. If HE were talking to a group of fishermen, HE would use a fishing analogy. In this particular setting, I see HIM standing with a group of farmers or vinedressers. Men and women who pruned and maintained the Vineyard. People who would know the importance of getting the branches off of the vine that was starting to weather and die. Not to mention how critical it was to stay connected to the vine if the desired result was to bear fruit. Verse 1 identifies Jesus as the source in which the nutrients coke for the branches to bear fruit and who the vinedresser is. It’s the FATHER. The next verse tells us about the process of dressing a vine. If a vine is not bearing fruit, it gets cut off, and if it is, it gets pruned either way. A cutting away or shaping takes place. The branches that bear no fruit are completely cut off, and those that do bear fruit get modified so that more fruit can come. The idea is to get as much fruit as possible. Verse 3 kind tells us about how pruning happens. The word is read or spoken, and it changes us cleans us as it cuts away and pruns our lives so that fruit can come. The importance of staying connected to the vine is the focus of this whole teaching moment. I have never seen a branch that was disconnected from the vine. Just starts bearing fruit all on its own. It has to stay connected to the source of life to bear any fruit. So, an understanding of how important it is to stay connected to the source is clear. The reason to stay connected is fruit. The bonus of staying connected is found in verse 7… What you ask will be done. This isn’t a genie-in-a-bottle kind of thing where if you ask for a million dollars, HE will give it to you… honestly, if you are truly connected to HIM, that’s not going to be your focus. Fruit is, and that fruit is how glory is given to GOD.
Application:
Have you ever gotten away from going to church or reading your bible? Maybe the small group you go to has gotten a little boring, and you feel like you don’t get much out of it anymore. So you decide not to go as much. You might not even notice the fruit start to go away at first. In fact, you might not notice it at all. Until the pruning happens. Being consistent in our pursuit of Jesus is how we stay connected to HIM complacency, and inconsistency is dangerous. The word disciple is the root word of discipline. Maintaining the disciplines of staying connected to a church family and reading the bible is where fruit comes from. Staying around people who encourage you and build you up is the key. Fellowship with Jesus means staying around people who know and love HIM. Staying connected to them. Praying and seeking HIM and HIS will for you is the way that fruit is formed… oh, but there is the pruning process as well. The closer I get to Jesus, the more things I don’t need… get removed from my life. Things that are not usable in the kingdom or to produce fruit. I don’t know about you, but there is something to be said about a well-maintained vine. When the branches are pruned, the dead ones are cut off, and the fruit is bright and colorful. It becomes appealing to others, and they start to want fruit as well. So this is what it breaks down to for me in my life…. when I am constantly pursuing Jesus and allowing HIS words to shape me and prune me, my life is productive and meaningful. But when I don’t, my life is empty, and void staying connected is the only way to produce anything good. For me.
Prayer:
Father, help us to stay connected to you. Help us to seek after you. You are our source of life. The reason we breathe. We never want to be apart from you. Prun us when nessesrey. So that more fruit will come. We want our branches full. So that you are glorified. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.