“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1-2 (ESV)
This is Jesus speaking. He is using something that was very familiar to his audience—grape vines. Most of us have never been growers of grapes. But many of us have done some form of gardening or maybe even had some fruit trees.
Jesus compares himself to a vine and says that we are the branches. We are that closely connected to our Lord. Just think of it. What a blessing! When we put on Christ in baptism we are part of Him. He gives us the life and nutrients we need so that we can produce fruit.
If you have ever had a garden or an orchard you know that sometimes a branch seems to be connected and ought to be producing but it just isn’t. If we are good gardeners we will cut that branch off so that it doesn’t waste the strength of the plant.
Sadly there are those who appear to be connected to our true vine but they are not producing fruit. Jesus says that the Father will take that branch away. Such a sad thought.
Consider this scripture: Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:10 (ESV)
But we have a patient, compassionate Father. Consider this parable: And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vine-dresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground? And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:6-9 (ESV)
What kind of fruit are we supposed to produce? I remember hearing as a child that the fruit of a Christian is more Christians. We were supposed to reach out to the lost and lead them to Christ. Now, I firmly believe that we are meant to share the gospel with the whole world in hopes that all will come to praise God. However, I do not think this is what is meant by bearing fruit.
We are all familiar with this passage: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
These are the fruits we are to produce in ever-increasing amounts. The Father gives us the written word, prayer, worship and all other “Christian disciplines” as the fertilizer to help us produce those fruits.
Now what happens when we are producing fruit? The Father prunes the branches that bear fruit so they can bear even more fruit. Ouch! This must be the most difficult time to practice being thankful in all things. Sometimes the pruning involves suffering. None of us desires suffering. But all the pruning we go through is meant to help us produce more fruit; to be more like Jesus.
Let us strive to be fruitful branches. Let us rejoice in the pruning. Let us long to be more like Him.