LEARNING DAILY

John 15:1-5, “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 bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 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.”  Jesus

By now, you must have noticed I have been reading/studying/meditating on John’s gospel. Jesus has been teaching His disciples about placing their trust and faith in His timing (Lazarus), about dying to self in order to follow Him (the grain of wheat) and has promised to send a Helper to them when He leaves them. His emphasis when giving the teaching on the vine and the branches in chapter 15 is how His father relates to humanity. Once again, he uses what should be familiar to His hearers – the growing of grapes.

Jesus refers to Himself as the vine and his Father is the vinedresser. The vinedresser would be the one who would plant and take care of the plant by pruning and removing the branches that were dead or not producing. Those familiar with gardening and plants would say this process is necessary for the branches already producing fruit to produce even more fruit. Jesus was telling His disciples that this process is similar to people. Remove those not producing and prune those who are in order for more fruit to be produced. Hebrew scholar Eli Lizorkin-Eyzenberg has written, “Fruit is produced because God’s blessing is upon the vine” Jesus, and that blessing flows to all the branches because they are connected to the vine and produce fruit”.

But understand that not all the branches are connected to the vine. Notice the words “every branch in Me”. He is talking about branches who appear to be connected to Him, to the main body of the vine, but they are not producing fruit. Being around Christians or claiming to be a Christian without a true connection to Jesus Christ, the vine, cannot produce fruit. Eventually, the vinedresser will remove those false branches, those who are pretenders and get rid of them.

There are words of reassurance for the disciples and for His followers today, “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” Those who believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ have been made clean through their faith in Him and their walk with Him on the narrow way. Those who believe and follow Him in obedience to His word are the branches who are producing fruit and being pruned to produce fruit. Those who have not made a true profession of faith and are not obedient to Him in their walk are the branches that will be cut off and discarded. Fruit is the result of being connected to the vine.  

What is the fruit produced in the life of one connected to the vine? There are going to be differing opinions on that. May I suggest that at least part of this is the changed individual who is connected to Jesus. The desire to be obedient to Him and His Word will show forth in what a person does and speaks. Peace may replace fear in one’s life. The joy of having Jesus in one’s life will appear on their face. Prayers answered will reflect being connected to Him. The ability and power to tell others about what Jesus has done to change them will come forth. Love will help us respond to the needs of others. Knowing that Jesus will be with us when we go through difficult situations (Pruning) will enable growth to occur because of the connection to the True Vine. Kindness will help show generosity to others and goodness will produce moral excellence in the lives connected to Jesus. Gentleness will be produced so reactions to difficult people and situations will come forth when needed. And self-control will help one refrain from inappropriate desires and actions. Yes, this is what Paul describes as the fruit of the spirit. I used the David Jeremiah Study Bible in describing the various fruit.

“Abide”! Stay close and hold fast to the vine. In order to develop the fruit this must be your desire! The fruit speaks to the Believer’s attitude and desire to stay connected to the vine.