
John 15:1-2 Vine + Branches #190
While I can’t say I know a thing about gardening, which would be obvious if you saw our flower beds (or lack-thereof) I do love any analogy that helps me better understand my relationship with Jesus. John 15:1-2 says, “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.”‘
In this passage Jesus is the vine and God is the gardener. And you and me? We are the branches. Anyone who is a believer in Christ is considered a branch. Verse 2 say that God, the gardener, “cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.” This might sound harsh, but this is reality. What happens when a branch dies? The gardener separates it from it’s roots, by cutting it off, right? Well believers are no different. Believers who turn their back from Christ, will also be separated from the vine, Jesus. There are several reasons this passage probably says they will be cut off, but one is because fruitless branches will infect the rest of the tree. Why keep the branches that won’t bear fruit? Just as you would cut off any branches that contain disease in your garden outside, the same holds true with your spiritual life.
And those branches, or people, that do bear fruit? They are pruned so the can grow further. As said earlier, I don’t know much about gardening, but a friend recently invited me to a flower arrangement class and something I learned there was to prune the lower pieces of a vine, because it helps the flower remain stronger and healthier. God’s Word is suggesting the very same with those who follow him. When you are rooted in him, he will prune you so that you become more fruitful.
The pruning process is never easy, but there is always an end goal in mind and that is you would look more like Jesus and in turn, produce more spiritual fruit. It is through the pruning process that God molds you to be more like him. So what areas of life can you prune so that you would look more like Jesus? Or, in what ways has God used situations or trials to prune you?
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Patricia
Posted at 07:19h, 11 JulyIt’s so important to appreciate this pruning process, understanding that it means we are truly His!
Amber
Posted at 18:43h, 11 JulyI once heard the gardener is never closer to the branch than when He’s doing the pruning.
Ruth
Posted at 08:57h, 12 JulyI was part of a whole study on this passage years ago. When we finished, we took a field trip to a local vineyard. Not to drink the wine, but to listen to how he tends the plants. It was interesting.
Andrea
Posted at 09:17h, 12 JulySO important that we hang on to Jesus – He is our vine!
Samantha Wiraatmaja
Posted at 11:30h, 12 JulyTruth! Have you read Andrew Murray’s book on his subject? It’s an old classic, so good and so full of solid truths
Terri Grothe
Posted at 12:03h, 12 Julyhe is our vine and when the storm blows thru us he keeps us safe and secure
Erin
Posted at 12:21h, 12 JulyThis is a great reminder to all believers. Sometimes we go through things that we allow to separate us from God and He simply cannot allow us to “infect” those around us. I hope that you will pray for a dear friend of mine, with me, who is struggling with this.
Alice Mills
Posted at 13:19h, 12 JulyThe question is do we want a grape by our own efforts or bunches of grape with God through us?
Sheila Schweiger-Rhodes
Posted at 18:34h, 13 JulyWhat I love about a vine is that you can take it and graft it into the main vine and it will grow. This is the same with Jesus. We are grafted into the body of Christ once we accept Him. What a beautiful thing! Pruning isn’t easy, but always produces more fruit