John, in his Gospel, emphasizes the seven I AM statements of Jesus.
His sixth; "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 NIV
Our lives are but a blip compared to eternity; yet for some reason we believe that this is all there is. But it's not, it's a blip, and it's fleeting. Jesus is preparing a place for those who belong to Him. When it's ready—and when we’re ready—He's coming to get us.
See my last post, I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, John 14:1-7
Jesus is the Bread of Life. The Light of the World. The Gate and The Good Shepherd. The Resurrection and the Life. The Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the True Vine.
After the Passover meal (the Last Supper), Jesus and the disciples would head toward a garden called Gethsemane. Walking through vineyards, He continued to teach them using what He often did, real life examples.
This is the seventh and final I AM statement Jesus makes in the book of John:
“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 word which I have spoken to you. 4 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. 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.
John 15:1-5 NKJV
This would have been familiar to them, but today, the illustration could easily escape us, so let's dig in a little.
The vinedresser/gardener plants the shoot that grows into a vine. God as vinedresser provided the shoot; the Father sent the Son.
The vine puts forth branches, nourishes them and produces fruit. The branch does not produce the fruit, it can't, the vine does and the branch is connected to the vine. Jesus is the true vine. We, His beloved, are the branches. True life flows through the Vine.
True life, what does that mean? Take a look around. The ramifications of trying to do life apart from the vine are pretty clear. Stress, anxiety, and depression are everywhere. Anger is palatable. Division tangible. Hopelessness is an epidemic. Corruption is, well, obvious. Jesus is telling us that we need to stay connected to Him in order to have life.
It's easy to look in the mirror and see outward changes, but inward, now that can be a bit trickier. Jesus describes two kinds of branches here. The first is not bearing fruit. Perhaps it's too heavy, dipping below the sunlight or maybe weightiness interrupted the flow of nutrients. Whatever the case, the gardener cares for the branch, lifts it up, in order that it bear fruit.
The second branch is a fruit bearing branch. It also needs the gardener's care; pruning will help it bear more fruit. The process often leaves the branch looking sparse, even sick, but the gardener knows best. These branches represent us at any given time. I've been right here for more than ten years. Sometimes weighed down and heavy, exhausted without sleep. There are times it can be quite overwhelming and rather difficult for me to do anything at all. I‘ve come to know (usually when I'm finished pouting) that it's my Father's hand that lifts me up and sets me in the Son so I bear His fruit.
Other times, His hand prunes me. He trims off those ugly parts, leaving room for more fruit. Oh, the pruning process—none of us like it. Personally, there are times I cry out, "Lord, please, it's too much!" It's painful, but again I've come to realize that it's necessary for growth. It's difficult, yes, but in this long season I often hear my Father's voice saying, "Just wait and see what's coming; it's beyond what you can imagine." I've seen Him do things in and through me that I know could not have happened any other way.
We have Firebushes in the front of our house. They have green leaves and little orange flowers. Now I know orange is probably not a big deal to most, but to me it's huge since all we ever see is GREEN, GREEN, GREEN! Anyway, I digress. The bushes have a tendency to grow thick and unruly so periodically my husband will prune them. I still remember the first time, it was shocking. I thought he killed them! However, over time, as the gardener intended, they grew up instead of out; tall and fruit bearing, able to provide nectar for butterflies and hummingbirds. And the best part for me? Much more beautiful orange-ness in my front yard! That is the beauty of the pruning process!
God is looking for the same in us. He loves us too much to leave us heavy and weighed down or stagnant and dull. He does all the work. Our job is to simply abide in Him. You'll be amazed at the fruit He hangs from your branch. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. And Self Control. We already have the fruit, but we don't always bear it well. Without Him, we 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. John 15:6-8 NKJV
There is a third branch that Jesus mentions. One that looks like the others, but in fact is not like them at all. These branches appear to be attached to the vine, however, it's just an illusion. They are lifeless. Jesus said, “I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead" (Rev 3:1). Only those truly connected to the vine can draw life. The gardener gathers these branches and discards them. Essentially Jesus is saying that the appearance of faith does not save, only He saves.
“Not everyone who says to Me,‘ Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV
To abide means to make your home in—complete dependence—an inseparable connection. Ask, Jesus says, and it will be done for you. The authentic branch, connected to the true Vine, is in agreement with the will of the Father and this glorifies Him beyond measure.
Jesus is the Vine; God is the Gardener; and His beloved is the branch—
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 2 Corinthians 13:5
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