Jesus reminded us of the vine, so full with symbolism. As we saw yesterday it symbolises the people of Israel, the Coming King, The Messiah. In Jesus’ analogy of the vine we find Messiah and the true Israel. But more than that we have a picture of the way life in Him works. Jesus told us very clearly our place is in him. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower (Jn 15:1) I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who abides in me while I abide in him produces much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 I am the vine (Messiah) You are the branches (the true Israel) and My Father is the Vine grower. So it is clear and we know our place in Him.
The vinegrower’s role is to remove every branch in me that does not produce fruit, and to cleanse every branch that does produce fruit so that it might produce more fruit (15:2) and to prune and throw away the dry non-productive branches (15:6). Our role is to abide/remain in the vine and produce fruit. “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. I have appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give it to you.” (John 15:16) If you abide in me you will produce fruit. Jesus is really emphasizing these words – “fruit” occurs 7x in 15 verses while “abide” occurs 12x in 10 verses. We must abide which comes from the Greek verb μένω [menō] to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy), abide, continue, dwell, endure, remain. We are to stay in the vine, in Christ. When we do that He does His part and His sap, His life giving flow makes us fruitful. We don’t have to do anything else but abide/remain. When we abide He does the rest. The branches don’t have to do anything special to yield fruit just be the channel through which the life giving flow comes. Simple really.
John 15:16 is an interesting verse. It repeats the refrain from John 1:12–13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave authority to become children of God, to the ones believing into His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but were born of God.” Only God touches the heart and the inner being and brings new life. Oh yes we have to want it and cry out in repentance but He first gives the desire. Respond to your inner yearnings. Who knows when God may be touching, inspiring or challenging. Then John 15:16 reads I have appointed you to and produce fruit. Why does God do all this? What is His purpose? Again, simple really. He wants fruit. 1) He wants to produce the image of His Son in you – growing in Christlikeness – the manifestation of the fruits of the Spirit and 2) to bring many sons and daughters into His kingdom. Also a form of fruit and fruitfulness, all stemming from being in the vine and living out His life in us. John has written that most famous verse in this gospel. The one that all of you can quote I imagine. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 They are the two kinds of fruit He wants.
Then notice the last part of the verse! It repeats the thought of Bible Gem 95 and the blank cheque. Do you want to continually have blank cheques to cash? Then be about doing His will, becoming Christlike and introducing new sons and daughters to Him. It is in that context that He says “ask whatever you will of me and the Father and it will be done for you”.
Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
Regina Brett
Your future is spotless!
Anon