Skip to content “I am 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.” (John 15:5)
Jesus is the true vine; this allegory powerfully symbolizes our connection with Him. While this saying may be commonly heard, what does it truly mean to be a part of the True Vine? What does it mean to genuinely commune with God and to bear fruit?
The Vine and the Branches
Jesus was a master of making lessons of what was in front of him. He and his disciples undoubtedly walked across a myriad of vineyards where Jesus likely drew from to make a poignant lesson. Vines are connected to branches which bear fruit. The vine of course draws the nutrients and moisture from the soil to feed the branches and the branches bears the fruit. When Jesus Christ calls himself the vine he is essentially is saying that he is the life giver to the branches, which is namely us. Although I’ve heard this said in so many ways, in what way is Jesus a life giver as the vine is the branches?
Jesus the Life Giver
1. Life Eternal
Life is brief, and at some point in everyone’s journey, the fleeting nature of time becomes apparent. I, too, have acknowledged it with each passing year. Life, with its peaks and valleys, encompasses wonderful surprises, tragic moments, and mundane routines. Yet, throughout our journey, we come to realize that this earthly path will eventually conclude. This sobering reality can either invigorate a person to embrace life to its fullest or dim the sparkle in everyday life. Unfortunately, I find myself gravitating towards the latter. Despite experiencing joy in life, I cannot help but recognize its inevitable end. I acknowledge that this may not be the best way to live, but at this moment, it’s a sentiment I can’t seem to escape.
Fortunately, with the understanding that Jesus Christ is truly a life-giver, and that all good things will never cease with eternal life, He becomes my hope. The dimming of every sparkle in life is reignited with the fire of Christ. Jesus becomes my joy and the refuge from life’s suffering because through Him, life is literally given. The idea that all good things, including relationships, will last forever injects a jolt of energy into life.
2. Purpose in Life
We are not meandering souls on earth, each pursuing our individual agendas, or at least, we are not supposed to be. We are created with a purpose, and God has bestowed upon each of us a unique set of traits. God did not haphazardly mix a bowl of genes and randomly place them on a canvas to create you. No, He crafted you with meaning and for a reason. Your specific talents, background, and traits are designed for a purpose that you may or may not fully realize. This sense of purpose should provide you with a reason to live, and that is what Jesus gives us.
3. Jesus Heals
I don’t just mean that He heals us physically; He also heals us relationally and emotionally. Through His redemptive work and His message of forgiveness and mercy, even the most ruthless offenders can find the ability to forgive others and themselves. This foundational tenet of His ministry paves the way to reconciliation. Jesus Christ can piece together all the countless shattered relationships or the self-inflicted guilt and shame, bringing life to those relationships to each other and ourselves.
The life Force of Christ
Jesus is restoring a dying self and a dying world, bringing vibrancy. God, the maker and giver of life, was torn away from us due to sin. However, Jesus connects us directly to the Father and brings us back to life. He is thus the true vine.
Bearing Fruit
We are the branches of the true vine. And only a branch that receives the life of Jesus can bear fruit. This begs the question of what is fruit?
“This to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” John 15: 8
It shows that fruit is something that is visible, something that is “shown.” I understand that it is sometimes thought that fruit can represent bearing more disciples, but in this context, I don’t believe this is the case. Considering that we, the disciples, are branches, increasing the number of disciples would imply branches yielding more branches. Instead, it signifies something distinct: fruit.
“ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galations 5: 22-23.
In Galatians, it articulates what the fruit is: characteristics. These are visible and can be seen. When you encounter someone with love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, you readily recognize it. Individuals with these qualities are admirable.
However, it’s noteworthy that it refers to the “fruit” in its singular form, despite there being nine characteristics. Paul conceptualizes it as a single fruit, which makes sense because anyone can strive towards developing one of those traits, such as self-control. However, achieving all of them simultaneously is not easily attainable. It is through the connection we have with God that bears this fruit.
So in other words bearing fruit is a matter of becoming more like Christ by being connected to him.
Abide in Him-“Apart from me you can do nothing”
If Jesus is the vine and the life-giver, then apart from the vine, a branch can do nothing. This makes perfect sense. The question is, how do we abide in Him?
Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing; thus, we are to abide in Him like a branch to a vine. This involves being dependent on Him, trusting Him, and being guided by Him.
1) Dependent on Jesus
It’s common in the West to pride ourselves on independence, on not needing help and being able to do things on our own. However, that is not how we are created. We are relational beings designed to depend on one another. If you live in a community, you are likely not farming your own food, treating your diseases, or building your own home. Instead, as a community, we rely on each other for things we don’t specialize in or have time to do, while simultaneously offering services to others. Yet, the idea of independence holds a certain allure. We should, instead, recognize that we are dependent, particularly on God, the life-giver.
Acknowledging God as the life-giver requires recognizing that not all outcomes are dictated by our actions. We cannot control the moon, the stars, or even the person next to us. We do what we can with the faculties we’ve been given and let outcomes be just that – outcomes. We are merely pieces in a complex, interwoven fabric of people, nature, and time, all under the master conductorship of God. That is dependence.
2) Trusting in Him
Just acknowledging our dependence on God doesn’t naturally lead to trusting in Him. Trusting in Him entails accepting and believing that, despite our best efforts, God’s will will be done. It means that when our prayers go unanswered, it’s because God has another plan. It also means that when bad things happen, it doesn’t signify that God no longer loves us or has a plan for us.
Embracing this perspective offers a freedom in life – one not filled with angst and terror, but rather a lightness of being, understanding that ultimately, we are in the hands of our Creator. This doesn’t negate our ability to bring about change or influence outcomes, but it acknowledges that we are not the ultimate arbiters of every matter.
3) Guided by God
Finally, abiding in Christ means being guided by God. We might have a specific agenda or desire, but it may not align with God’s will.
“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21
When we are attuned to Christ, we become more adept at hearing His voice and gaining wisdom to discern the right from the left. Although it may not align with our personal desires, it might be what God wants.
If we haven’t cultivated a relationship with Christ that allows us to be acutely aware of His desires, we can rely on principles from scripture or seek guidance from our faith community. These resources are there to help guide us and enable us to remain in Him.
Jesus is the true vine, and we are the branches. Bearing fruit leads to characteristics that resemble Christ. Let’s exclusively connect ourselves to Him, for there are many other vines not of Jesus, and we are all connected to something. However, nothing else imparts life or provides the flourishing energy that God brings. I hope we all abide in Him.
