I AM THE VINE
John 15
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
The focus of the gardener in this metaphor is fruit. Branches that do not bear fruit are cut away so that they don’t waste space and nutrients. Every now and then branches are pruned to encourage fruitfulness. In other words, God is actively involved.
I don’t think we should take the metaphor beyond what it conveys and speculate about what pruning means for Jesus’ disciples, or whether the lack of fruit in a disciple means that God will cut us off and throw us in the fire. The core point is that God seeks after fruit and is actively involved to ensure that the vine will be bountifully fruitful.
The metaphor of Jesus as the Vine while we are the branches who will produce fruit clearly marks out our place in the garden. Our destiny is to produce fruit and our vital resource to do so is the Vine.
Jesus makes it clear that his disciples must be in an intimate relationship with him (Remain in me, as I also remain in you) for them to bear fruit. That means that we are to have the words of Jesus in our hearts (you remain in me and my words remain in you), obey him (If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love) and be constantly in touch with him (ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you) so as to draw on his strength and power.
In the meantime, God will do what he does so that the Vine will be even more fruitful.
While it is not something that Scripture specifically teaches as an important routine in the life of a disciple, we can easily recognise that the quiet time, a regular time of meditation on Scripture and prayer, would be a helpful practice for all disciples. Added to that is the desire and attentiveness to put the Word into life and action.
Jesus himself recognised that God’s law can be summed up in the word “love” and here Jesus helpfully highlights for us that his word to us is unequivocal—this is my command: Love each other. This, in essence, is the fruit that we are called to produce. We cannot miss the high priority that Jesus, and the Father, places on the fact that we as disciples must be known to be people of love.
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.”