John 15:1-5

John 15:1-5

I am the true vine and My Father is the one who tends the vine.  Every branch in me that does not carry fruit He does away with it.  And He Himself purifies every branch while carrying fruit in order that it should carry much fruit.    You all are already purified because of the word that I have spoken to you all.  Remain in me, and I in you all.  Just as the branch is not powerful enough to carry fruit from itself unless it should remain in the vine, in the same way neither are you all powerful enough unless you all should remain in me.  I am the vine and you all are the branches.  The one who remains in me and I in him – this one carries much fruit because apart from me you all are not powerful enough to do anything.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In the opening verse, Jesus sets out the definitions for the next 17 verses.  Jesus is the vine.  The vine is responsible for growth and carrying the nutrients for the fruit to the branches.  The Father is the vinedresser.  The Father is the one who decides which branches get cut off and which ones are retained.  In verse 5, we hear that we are the branches.  The branches have the task of carrying the fruit.  As branches, we are not in charge of deciding what other branches get to stay connected to the vine – that’s the job of the Father.  As branches, we’re not in charge of deciding in which direction the vine grows – that’s the task of Jesus.  As branches, we have a single purpose: doing what it takes to carry the best fruit possible.

Do you ever try to do the work of Jesus or the work of the Father?  When?  Where?  Why do you do this?  What does it mean for you to do what it takes to carry the best fruit possible?

Second Thought:

In verse 2, we hear that the branches who bear fruit are purified.  The Greek verb here is “καθαίρω.”  This verb literally means to purify from filth or impurity.  However, the word has a secondary meaning which means to prune a plant.  This makes sense if you think about it.  What is pruning other than cleansing a plant of the growth that isn’t good for it?  Thus, we hear a deep teaching in this verse.  While the Father cuts off and does away completely those branches that bear no fruit, He purifies those that do bear fruit.  The branches aren’t perfect.  The growth that happens isn’t perfect.  The Father needs to purify the branches – even the ones that bear fruit!

How does this understanding of the word purify/prune help us understand the Christian life?  How does this word help us understand how we can be in Christ in this life yet still wrestle with sin and temptation?

Third Thought:

At the end of this passage, Jesus tells us that apart from Him, we are not powerful enough to do anything.  There is a reason people do not build out of wood that comes from vines.  It grows too quickly to be hard enough for any kind of construction.  It literally is good for carrying fruit when it is attached to the vine or for burning up in a fire.  So we have two choices.  We can either carry the fruit that Christ sends our way or we can be cut away.

Do you carry the fruit of Christ?  What does it look like in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: John 15:6-11