Jesus is Our Vine and We are His Branches

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
                                  John 15:5 (KJV)
 





Hi Friends,
 
     Jesus is the vine and we are the branches.  Can you imagine this image?  It is such a beautiful image to think about.  Let’s kind of evaluate this thought for a minute.  Maybe it will help to realize how beautiful this image really is for us.

     First of all, it is interesting that the word Jesus chose here was “vine” and not “tree” or “plant”.  A vine moves, wanders, and climbs.  It doesn’t stand still as a tree or a plant does.  So, to think of Jesus as our vine and us being his branches is like saying that Jesus moves us and helps us climb and reach places that we can’t get without him.  He isn’t stagnant in our lives.  He wanders and climbs with us and gave his life for us, so that we didn’t have to climb and wander in some ways.

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     We are his branches!  Isn’t that beautiful?  Jesus could have said that we were the soil or we were the pollen or whatever.  After all, we don’t really deserve to be part his same plant.  Yet, he did include us in that same plant.  We are his branches.  I wonder how many of us stop and think of how much of an honor it is to be included in the same plant as Jesus. 

     Including us as his branches, Jesus gave us a huge gift as well as a responsibility.  If the branches don’t grow, the vine can’t bare any fruit.  So, we have to take care of ourselves and do what we need to do to bear fruit.  Yet, we can’t do anything at all without the vine.  It really is a beautiful image.

     So, what does that mean?  What are we to do?  How do we bear fruit?  What kind of fruit are we to bear?  These questions can be answered in a few different ways.  In the physical sense, we are to take care of ourselves so we are better able to do the things that God calls us to do.  If we let ourselves get run down, we won’t be fully capable of everything God asks us to do in life.  Also in the physical sense, the fruit we bear may be children whom we teach to be God fearing and fruitful in their own right.
 
     It can also mean the godly desires of our hearts.  The Bible also tells us that if our thoughts are in alignment with God, He will give us what we want.  So, we can be fruitful in our work, relationships, faith, or whatever we are doing.

     Yes, once we are born, we can merely exist.  We can do little, mooch off others, or do cruel things.  We can refuse to put much into our lives or not be appreciative of anybody or anything.  We can neglect others and God.  That would be considered fruitless or bad fruit.  Yet, we are called to be fruitful and have good fruit.

     We are called to help God grow His kingdom, to be God fearing people who follow God’s word and love God with our whole beings.  We are called to love our neighbors and be kind and helpful to those around us.  We are called to realize that we can’t do any of this without God’s help.  We wouldn’t even be alive without God. 
 
Heavenly Father,
     Thank you for being our Heavenly Father.  Thank you for being our “gardener.”  Thank you for giving us Jesus, “our vine”.  Thank you for making us the “branches” to the vine.  Help us to see and appreciate just how wonderful a gift and responsibility that we have in life.  Help us to see and appreciate You, Jesus, and your Holy Spirit.  Help us to do our part in bearing fruit in life, not only for ourselves, but also especially for you.  Thank you for life itself.  I thank you and praise you, through your Son, Jesus.  Amen.
 
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Reflective Questions for John 15:5 KJV:
*What does John 15:5 mean to me?
*What kind of fruit am I producing?
*Do I appreciate the gift and responsibility of life that God gave to me?
*How do I feel about the vision of John 15:5?
*What can I do to produce better fruit in the future?

Now, it is your turn.
     I would like to hear your thoughts.  Please, comment below.  Also, if you would like to get "5 Reflective Questions to Help You Delve Deeper into God's Word", sign up below.  It is free!