Abiding in the True Vine

“I am the vine and My Father is the vinedresser…Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me…If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” --John 15:1, 4, 7-8 [NKJV; read John 15:1-8].

Jesus was in the last days of His earthly ministry. Already, He had “set His face steadfastly toward Jerusalem,” knowing that his arrest, trial, and crucifixion were impending. It was almost as if an “emergency” situation existed (indeed it did), and Jesus was having to teach His disciples so very much in such a short time. He also had to undergird and underline what He had already imparted to them of His kingdom, His purpose, and their responsibilities as disciples. The discourses of Jesus during this time reverberate with the utmost urgency. “Abide in Me” was one of them.

How many times did Jesus teach using a familiar metaphor! “I am the Vine” Jesus said. The disciples would have known the importance of viticulture, for in that arid land, where water was at a premium, the fruit of the vine and wine were necessary to life. Remember, even Jesus’ first recorded miracle had to do with turning water into wine at the wedding of Cana in Galilee. Even that miracle had its symbolic meaning in God’s purposes through Jesus and His Kingdom. The disciples would have known, too, that Israel, the Chosen of God, was likened unto a “choice vine” and a “cluster of grapes” (See Hos. 9:10 and Amos 9:13-15, among a few of the Old Testament references to the Chosen People as God’s vineyard.)

The disciples would have known the Vinedresser’s important business of pruning off unproductive branches so that the main vine could flourish and the healthy branches could produce much fruit. I can just picture my Grandfather “Bud” Collins dressing his grape vines on his farm in Choestoe where we lived. He had his vineyard on a rise so that good drainage was possible. But because he pruned and dressed the vines, the harvest was abundant with lush grapes. This sort of production can come in the life of the Christian if we but “Abide in the Vine.”

Can I think of myself as a beautiful, useful, and refreshing cluster of grapes, one, which as Paul taught us in Galatians 5:22-23, bears “the fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Jesus gave the principle of abiding in Him and bearing much fruit as He said to His disciples, “Abide in Me.”

How can we abide in Jesus, the True Vine? First, we are “grafted into” the True Vine by repentance, belief, faith, acceptance. This is the only way to have Life in the Vine.

Then He tells His disciples: “Without me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5). Jesus is the only way, not only to salvation and attachment within the Vine, but He is our only hope for living a productive life in the vineyard. We “abide” through His Word. That is so readily available; let us not neglect to study, think about, ponder on and assimilate His Word.

Then Jesus said “Ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” This we call prayer. Alfred Lord Tennyson, the great English poet, wrote: “More things are wrought through prayer than this world dreams of.” Jesus had already made this concept very clear as He told His disciples: “Ask…Knock…Seek.” All these are aspects of a prayer life focused on the principle of Vine and branches, and abiding in the True Vine..

Today is St. Patrick’s Day. With all the “hoopla-la” of the Irish and the “wearing of the green,” St. Patrick was a real person who lived in a real time. Born about 387 in Roman Britain, he was captured by Irish raiders and taken to Ireland as a slave. Eventually, he escaped and went back to Britain and his home. But there he had a vision, and Naomh Padraig (later St. Patrick) returned to northern Ireland as a missionary to the very area where he had spent six hard years as a slave. He died on March 17, 493, the day we celebrate as St. Patrick’s Day. Known in the Catholic Church as “The Patron Saint of Ireland,” this man of long ago did much to produce fruit for the Lord as he was attached to the True Vine.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for being the True Vine in my life. Help me to bear much fruit as I abide in You and Your words abide in me. May my life produce that wonderful cluster of grapes that demonstrates love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. And all of this, Lord, is to glorify the Father, the Vinedresser. Amen.

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, March 17, 2010