Well, John 15 is another one of these very, very sweet passages. It's a picturesque passage because Jesus wants his disciples to know the ongoing nature of their relationship to him. What is that relationship about? And as Jesus did often, he uses a very familiar, very easy to understand illustration, to drive home the nature of their relationship to him.
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does not bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I in the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
We're all familiar with plant life. We're all familiar with pruning a plant and a plant bearing fruit. And so, Jesus picks up that picture, that we're very familiar with, and he says, "Oh by the way, I'm the true vine." Your Christian life is analogous to being a branch of the great vine that is Jesus.
And Jesus says abiding in the vine has these three results. First, fruit. What does he mean by fruit? He means growth in spiritual character, growth in a life because of its spiritual growth, is a benefit to others and that advances the work of God's kingdom. It means that, as a Christian, your life matters, not just in the 'here and now,' but for all of eternity. You know, there are many of us who feel like our lives just don't mean anything; that life doesn't really matter. But for the believer, that's never the case. We have been chosen to be part of the life-giving work of the vine. That means that what we do and say really does matter.
Second thing that you receive, as you connect to the vine, is power. Life in the vine is not natural for us. It's not natural for us to live for something other than our own wants, needs, and feelings. When Jesus says, "Apart from me you can do nothing," he means that, in ourselves, we do not have the desire or the power to live as he designed for us to live. But no one who is attached to the vine lacks that power. He will give us everything we need to be what we're supposed to be and to do what we're supposed to do as his children. Fruit, power.
The third thing is joy. Now, everyone instinctively knows how important joy is. You've never heard anyone say, "I just wish I could be part of a joyless marriage. I wish I could go to a job where everybody's joyless." We understand the importance of joy. So, Jesus says life in the vine is not a life of boredom or drudgery, but one infused with joy. Jesus came to give us joy. Jesus cares about our joy. He wants us to have joy that nothing can take away.
So then, what does it mean to abide in the vine? It means a life shaped by love for Jesus, for his kingdom, and his glory. It means a life of willing and joyful obedience. It means a life marked by a daily study of his Word. It means a life that reflects the character of the vine, Jesus. All of this is impossible but by grace. That's why he says again, "Apart from me, you can do nothing." Jesus wants you to have a fruitful life. He wants you to have life that's infused with power. He wants you to have joy. Your Savior wants you to thrive. And so, by grace, you're connected to the life-giving resources of that-Jesus, the true and eternal vine!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. How have you personally experienced Jesus as the true vine in your life? Have you ever given deep thought to the idea that you are a branch attached to the great vine that is Jesus?
2. In what ways would you say that your life is characterized by spiritual fruit? How has your personal spiritual growth benefited others and advanced the work of God's Kingdom?
3. Why is it so important to live day-to-day as a believer with the perspective that your life matters both here and now, but also for all of eternity? Why is something as simple as what you do and say each day such a vital part of your life in Christ?
4. Why do you think it's so difficult to live as a person who genuinely believes that apart from Christ we can do nothing? Where do you struggle to believe that in your everyday life? How have you seen God act powerfully in your life and in the lives of others in ways that can only be attributed to his work and not your own?
5. How have you seen God bring joy to your life by your willing obedience to him? Why do you think a fruitful life in Christ is ultimately a gift of grace?
Conversation Prompts to Use with Children
For Younger Children:
• Why is fruit such an important part of an apple tree's life? How do you think that we might be like an apple tree when it comes to God working in and through us? In what ways does God work in us and change us for the better?
• What is the job of an apple tree branch if that branch would like to see apples grow from it?
For Older Children:
• What is the job of an apple tree branch if that branch would like to see apples grow from it?
• What do you think Jesus meant when he said, "Apart from me, you can do nothing"?
• Why is obedience to Christ ultimately a pursuit of joy?
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