I am the vine
You are the branches
And if you remain in me
Fruit will abound
Abundant in measure
Come, children, taste and see
Apart from the vine
A branch bears no fruit
For Christ is the source of all life
And all He demands
As we keep His commands
Is to faithfully cling to the vine
I am the vine
You are the branches
And if you remain in me
Fruit will abound
Abundant in measure
Come, children, taste and see
Service is never the root of devotion
It must grow as the fruit
Of a life that remains in the vine
Come drink your fill of new wine
Come drink your fill of new wine
I am the vine
You are the branches
And if you remain in me
Fruit will abound
Abundant in measure
Come, children, taste and see
Apart from the vine
A branch bears no fruit
For Christ is the source of all life
And all he demands
As we keep His commands
Is to faithfully cling to the vine
Words and Music by Jonathan Mark Mohr and Dennis John Randall © 1991 Sparrow Records.
“I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” John 15.5, NASB.
This last I AM statement of Jesus Christ offers some beautiful peace in the time where we live waiting for Jesus to return. Where Thomas asked how do we get to where You are going, Jesus answered with a joyful statement of being the Way Himself.
Now, in this same conversation before the Cross, Jesus gives rest to the hearts of His disciples by showing the benefit of living in that way. The even better news is that this was not just a first century benefit that would only affect the first generation or two of Christians. This is a statement for us today.
Holy Saturday is the day that Jesus was in the tomb. His lifeless body lay under shroud while He (the fullness of Christ) proclaimed victory and conquered death. It is a lot like a seed. When a seed is planted in the ground, it dies as it springs new life. Jesus, buried in a tomb, was springing new life because He, as God, is the life!
As people near the end of their lives, we become nostalgic. We think through what we did during our lives and reminisce over our joys and victories. Many of us begin thinking of all the of the things we didn’t do and wish to do before our time is over.
What if Jesus’ words in John 15 shape that view for us? He uses the image of a grapevine and living a fruitful life. Good vines produce crops, whether for a commercial grape farm or just for a family who enjoys the fruit, tending to the vines assists in procuring fruitfulness. Much of our life will be spent producing fruit for ourselves and our families. This is not bad, but it isn’t what Jesus describes.
On the cusp of celebrating the resurrection of our Savior, I think it is appropriate to evaluate our hearts and the fruit in our lives. What kind of fruit are we bearing? Jesus is the vine. The fruit of the Kingdom of God can only be produced as we are abiding or remaining in Him. Maybe it is necessary to see if our fruit looks more like the holiness and righteousness of the Gospel or if it mirrors the fruit and accomplishment of the world. This evaluation will reveal where we are “abiding.”
The hope of the Gospel is not just a good or happy life. It is a fruitful life that produces spiritual fruit and blessing. But, like a seed, it requires dying to self. Like Christ, it requires death of the flesh. However, it is also productive for eternity.
Run to the vine. Remain in the vine. Bear the fruit of righteousness.
Pray: Best of all, God is with me. Thank you, Jesus, for making this possible. Thank you, Father, for bringing me home to You. Thank You for loving me!