0323 ABIDING IN HIM

ABIDING IN THE VINE

John 15:1-6 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 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. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”

Jesus so often used metaphors and common experiences for his listeners to understand an abstract concept. They were drawn into the common knowledge of the word picture, and then were better able to make the leap to understand the metaphysical teachings of the ways of God. So he spoke of fishing, of sowers and harvesters, of seasons and servants, of plowing and pruning, of servants and masters and lost sheep and a man with two sons, all of these practical matters of daily life, all to explain spiritual truths. I notice how seldom Jesus started his analogies with talk of Jewish worship, such as sacrifices and festivals, except when He was talking to the religious leaders.

So here Jesus uses a rather extended metaphor of vines and bearing fruit, with which the vast majority of his listeners were well acquainted. I can’t explain about vines from the viewpoint of an experienced vinedresser. But we are here to understand the spiritual truths behind the earthly metaphor. So let’s see if we can find a parallel illustration that will illustrate the same principles.

Jesus says that he is the true vine, and his father is the vinedresser. Believers are branches of the vine, who “abide” in the vine. If we bear fruit, it is because of our connection with him. If we do not bear much fruit, we are pruned by the vinedresser, so that we will in time bear more fruit. Pruning might seem painful, but it is for the good of our goal as branches in the vine: to bear much fruit. If, on the other hand, somehow we detach ourselves from the vine, we bear no fruit and die. Then the vinedresser gathers us and throws us into the fire to be burned.

Let me try a musical metaphor and see if it helps me to understand the story as more of an insider to the principles. I am an orchestra player. Jesus is the conductor, and the Father is the composer and/or owner of the concert hall. If I follow the conductor’s directions and fall into synch with the orchestra and him, then the music we make will be beautiful, and the more we are as one the more beautiful the art we make. If I get off the beat or play out of tune, I will be told to pay more attention and to practice with a metronome or something. If I follow the correction, it will make me a better player. But if I decide to play a solo in the middle of the work, I will be escorted out and cut from the orchestra. It is only in following the conductor to embody the music that he hears in his head that will yield results that sweep us all away into rapture of the collective music we have come to create.

Or, since it illustrates everything in life, let’s try baseball. Jesus is the manager and his Father is the owner. I am a baseball player on the team. Coach Jesus has trained us and drilled us until we can be ready for any situation. I am really no good on my own, but thanks to his careful instruction, I am a valuable five-tool player, helping the team to win it all. Sometimes I go through a slump or get the yips, and coach might bench me for a few games and go back to work on fundamentals. It will serve to make me a better player in the end, and the team needs me to be at my best every game. But if I decide not to follow coach’s instruction in practice or his directions during the game, I’ll be released from the team, and no other team will want me, either. I will be robbed of the very game I claim to love so much, because you can’t play baseball by yourself.

May you wrap yourself around Jesus, drawing your life from deep within his, and becoming what He alone can help you to become, this day and always. Amen.