Remain...

You are traveling on foot - at dusk. You’ve celebrated a significant event.

The atmosphere is heavy with tension and anxiety.

Jesus has just done something - well - totally out of the ordinary.

He has said somethings hard to grab hold of.

Perhaps Jesus pauses, pointing to a vineyard just barely visible in the approaching darkness and says:

John 15:1 HCSB

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper.

The discussion has taken a turn - and perhaps you are as confused as those first disciples.

As observant Jews you know that God has likened Israel to a vineyard.

There is a great song in Isaiah 5 that you likely learned as a child…but the melody escapes you as Jesus continues.

Let’s listen in...

John 15:2–5 HCSB

Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.

Unlike the disciples that evening, we can pause and focus on just a few phrases:

John 15:4–5 HCSB

Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.