Talking with His disciples, Jesus conveyed to them what the process of life with Him is like. He wanted them to understand the relationship between Himself, God and us. As was His way, He taught the disciples using something they were familiar with – a vineyard and the process the Gardner painstakingly engages in to produce fruit for His use.
“I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn’t bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more. You are already pruned back by the message I have spoken.
“Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
“I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
“I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you’ll remain intimately at home in my love. That’s what I’ve done—kept my Father’s commands and made myself at home in his love.
“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father.
“You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.
This process of life is just that – a process. We have been grafted into God through Jesus. Once grafted, we are pruned in order to bear fruit not for ourselves but for God’s Glory.
Practically speaking, this means that we need to take an active approach to abide in Jesus.
Believe that when we are grafted onto the Vine, Jesus will not remove us. Set worry behind you – it is unbelief. Unbelief can only be conquered through the process of pruning.
Remember who is first in our life. Jesus is the source of our life – without the Vine, we would have been dead branches (burned and discarded). However, since we believe and are grafted to the vine, we need to remember not to turn from the source of life. Actively seek Him – by taking time to: worship, delve into His Word, communicate with Him (prayer) and serve those placed in our paths on a daily basis. Abiding can only be accomplished through pruning.
Know God’s commands and follow them. This can only occur if we delve into God’s Word and actively seek to follow what we read. Welcome the pruning process knowing that you are being drawn closer and closer to the Gardner!
Celebrate the pruning that occurs in our life. Attitude does matter. When tough times come, we need to be vigilant to abide in Jesus with our attitude, words and responses. As the pruning process becomes more refined, we can see how far we have progressed!
The point of the Gardner/Vine/Branch analogy is to help us understand that we are not in this alone – in fact we are not “in charge”. Our job is to stick to the Vine and not turn from it. Pruning helps us understand that abiding in Jesus is good and getting ahead of Jesus on our own direction is not.
Remember why Jesus told the disciples about the vine and the branches – so that His joy could be theirs! Be joyful – not just in the good times but also in the challenging times. Pruning does produce joy; so welcome it!
Love one another. In each day, we need to be aware of those placed in our path and care for them. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in that care. Walk with others through difficult times as others have walked with you. Send a note. Make a call. Cook a meal. Listen. Share in others celebrations. If you miss these opportunities, don’t worry; pruning produces more opportunities!
The point of pruning is to bear fruit. And as fruit bearers, God will hear you. God is pleased when you talk with Him. Remember, a request to God, made out of pure love for God’s Will to be done in a person’s life, will be granted. He promised.