The Vine, the Branches and the First Fruits

“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^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “John 15:1-4

^“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:5-8

In the KJV the consequence for failing to abide is that men gather withered branches and cast them to be burned. Generating imagery of treacherous fallen humanity whose father is the prince of this world, attempting to exploit our weakness and lead us to destruction. ”…If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” John 15:5-6

This underscores The Lord’s saying that in this world we will have trouble (John 16:33).

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:9-14

“…You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other. John 15:16-17

So ultimately, what is this mutual abiding and obeying all about? Baring fruit that remains. But interestingly John 15 and 16 points to The first fruits of The Spirit or the first three fruits (love, joy, and peace).

Love

Abiding in Christ or being united with Him satisfies part one of the great command (loving God with all our heart mind and soul), as well as part two of the compound command to love our neighbor as ourselves: “This is my command: Love each other.” In fact He says it’s the reason He chose and appointed us – so we could go and bear the enduring (love) fruit  that remains …

But should the call to brotherly love and the consequence for rejecting it come as a surprise – not really. Prior to Jesus’ ministry, when the people were coming to be baptized, John was admonishing them to repent and warned that:  “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire”. Luke 3:9

When the bewildered (and we might imagine somewhat distressed) crowd asked what shall we do then? What would be the remedy? The answer in essence from Luke 3:11-14 describes how they should care for or extend love one to another – even as befits their station in life: to the average Joe/Jane public he says share what you have with others; to the tax collectors he says don’t exploit others; and to the soldiers he says don’t treat others violently and don’t falsely accuse them. Here the scripture features both lay citizens and those in positions of power and authority questioning John about the solution to escaping the fate of fruitlessness. A familiar take-away is that extending generosity isn’t limited by our station or position. But one other insight could be that as those belonging to The Royal Priesthood, we are endowed with tremendous capacity:  Kingdom position, power and authority to extend brotherly love – the mark of friendship because of our access to, our immersion in and unity with The Christ.

¹² This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12-13

Joy

Joy, the second fruit. In John 15:11The Scripture says “….I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Why does Jesus  mention “my joy” and “your joy.” Perhaps to make it clear that the kind of joy we receive when we remain united with Christ is a supernatural joy: it’s a Joy that He releases to us – not something we’re capable of generating without Him (“Apart from me you can do nothing”). Or it could be that He’s saying this mutual abiding -with us remaining in Him gives Him joy or facilitates His delight in us.  Just as a parent might enjoy a child who doesn’t routinely challenge them in rebellion.

After telling His Disciples of things to come, including persecution, in John 16:20, Jesus says this: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.”

And recognizing their sorrow over the difficult things he described that lay ahead, he says: “And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” John 16:22

Peace

In John 16:1-32  in preparing His Disciples for His departure, Jesus rehearses a series of events to come that include both problems and promises: They will face persecution and even death; He will be leaving them, but they’ll not be abandoned because of The Comforter who will lead them into all truth and revelation; They’ll be sorrowful and lament, but they’ll be given joy that remains. They will be able to ask of The Father in Jesus’ Name and their requests will be granted.

Recognizing that not only did The Messiah unveil their future, discern their distressing thoughts, and reassure them of The His and The Father’s love, the disciples acknowledge that Jesus “Knowest all things.” They affirm their belief that “Thou camest from God” (John 16:30). And ultimately Jesus leaves his Disciples with the kind of sanctuary that withstands trouble, turmoil, doubt and even the threat of certain death:  

“ … I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Original images by Unsplash