Abide

Context

Easter season. 4/7 Sundays. The longest season. Need some time to get the resurrection news from proclamation, into heads, into hearts, into lives…then radiating out to the world around us.

Many of the readings are resurrection appearances. To Mary by the tomb. To the disciples on the road to Emmaus. But not all. Some of the Easter texts take us back to before Jesus death. They invite us to see or hear with the advantage of knowing him to be the resurrected Lord and so his words and deeds take a new meaning, or we have a deeper appreciation for them.

Today’s lesson from John 15.

The setting is the Last Supper. Jesus’ last night with his disciples.

Jesus describes for them the ongoing relationship he wants to have with them after his resurrection. He uses a horticultural image. Vine and branches.

John 15:1-8

John 15:1–8 ““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. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

Introduction

I am not a vineyard owner, but a home owner. Just purchased.

Yard. grass, tree, hedge, fern, flower bushes in back.

nice. Mixed quality.

on walk with wife. Admiring nice yards.

Our yard. Needs a new life.

new special project.

As the homeowner, I want to see my little vineyard grow.

Jesus is using this kind of picture in our lesson today to talk about God, God’s people (including you and I), and about himself.

God’s Ancient Vineyard

God is like a homeowner. The whole universe is his.

His people are special project. His vineyard.

He wants to see his people growing, healthy, thriving.

When Jesus talks about God being the vinedresser, he is alluding to well-known OT image.

God chose the ancient people, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob — Israel.

Gave them the rite of circumcision, a mark in the flesh for all males. Gave them the Law of Moses. Gave them the promised land. Planted them there.

Psalm 80:8–9 “You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.”

God’s people are to be distinctive, life-giving to the world.

The fruit of the people of God attracts and nourishes the world.

going by a house with a nice yard, that’s what it should look like.

BUT…instead! Brutal honesty of the Hebrew Scriptures: mixed results.

disregarding the Law; disbelief; idolatry.

The prophets, speaking for God, said instead of good fruit, bad, wild, sour grapes. Like the nations around them:who had no true God caring for them!

Isaiah 5:2 “… he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.”

The result was always judgment. Exile, such as by the Babylonians. Domination, such as by the Romans. Not fruitful, the destruction, of the vineyard.

disciples knew this traditional imagery.

John the Baptist- one greater than I, winnowing fork, chaff into the fire!

Jesus was fond of it. Jesus said

Matthew 7:19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

Luke 13:7 “And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’”

God’s wants his people to be fruitful, growing, vineyard. Not always what he has gotten.

The Vineyard Today

OT history recorded for our benefit, not because we are different but because we face the same risks. OT has given us the example of the ancient people.

paul: you have been grafted in.

We of the church a like a vineyard of the Lord, given what we need: baptism, Lord’s Table, the NT.

When he comes to investigate, what does he find?

weeds are like sins — Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every sin which entangles, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” yet: I let those sins grow.

EG: of removing the bumper sticker. I took my church sticker off my car so I could express my road rage! Should have pulled up the weed of anger rather than pulled off the sticker.

sour grapes — Scripture says: Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Yet:complaining about life, other people.

barrenness — Psalm 113:3 “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!” yet: no prayer, no worship, no evangelism,

no exemplar as a vineyard to attract others…

EG:God looks at us like I did at my yard: needs new life.

What is to be done that I have not done for Israel, for the church, for my people? (Isa 5:4)

Jesus is the True Vine

Enter Jesus.

I am the True vine. What vine? TRUE REAL.

He is the fulfillment of Israel’s vocation. What Israel was called to - to be fruitful and life-giving - Jesus perfectly embodies.

As a Jew himself,

True son of Abraham, lived in perfect faith in God.

New Moses, perfectly obedient to God’s law.

Everywhere he went, he brought the Promised Land with him — Behold the Kingdom of God is at hand.

And so people, great crowds were attracted to him and found their faith in God renewed.

he was a fruitful vine!

??? YET::: he was crucified: as if he were a barren branch He was cut down and thrown in the fire.

Why?? Gods vineyard was so hopelessly overgrown with weeds and sour grapes and barren, that it had to be plowed under and begun again. That he accomplishes in Christ. The true vine died for all the barren vineyards. Suffered the judgment they deserve.

and because he was true, God raised him up.

As the resurrected one. His words apply and are understood anew.

I am the True vine: immortal, perfect, and growing.

God the Father raised him up, and stated a whole new source of life for the vineyard. raising up a whole new humanity, a vineyard from the True Vine.

Jesus said: grain planted in ground, just a seed, but produces a great harvest.

first fruit of the resurrection among many brothers and sisters.

The True Vine is Still Growing Today

During this Easter season we celebrate Jesus rose from the dead.

AND that he is alive still and he is a growing presence in the world today.

not just then and there, but here and now.

Originally a handful of disciples..Jerusalem.

now, 3 billion all over the globe. 30% population. BIG vineyard.

God is active in the world, growing the vineyard of Christ in the world. From one TRUE VINE to one TRUE VINEYARD.

A walk in my neighborhood. That is a beautiful space. Immaculate landscaping. Scrapped it and planted a whole new one.

we want to be a part of that.

This brings us to our place in the story.

You are the Branches

I am the vine. you are the branches.

Clear about this. I am the vine, you are the branches.

We are not the vine. Jesus is the vine. We are the branches.

We are not the gardener. The Father is the Gardner.

We are the branches. The little things that stick off the vine.

You must abide in me. REMAIN in ME.

The necessary character of the branch is that it is connected to the vine.

Apart from the vine it is a twig. Dries up and dies.

In my bushes found many twigs. Used to be branches. I threw them away.

Jesus says to his disciples, abide in me.

FOR: You can to NOTHING apart from me. No life in God. No part in the vineyard. I am IT. You must be attached to me.

abide in my word. Abide in prayer. Abide in gods pruning work in your life. Remain in…remain in…

and you WILL BE fruitful branches to the glory of God.

We Must Abide in Christ

We are branches here and now.

We are not the vine, we are not the vinedresser. We are the branches.

abide in Christ. Remain in Christ.

Only by remaining in Christ can we grow. Apart from Christ. Nothing.

Not just an article of faith, but a relationship, connected, depending on him.

Abide in his Word. Remain in it. Cleansed originally by his word.

You learned the Bible. You loved it. Still reading it? Bible Study group?

Abide in Prayer.

Start and finish the day. Like a sprinkler system that irrigates the garden soul.

whatever you ask…in me.

not resignation, stoicism. for what is going to happen anyway.

united to Christ that prayer becomes part of what god is doing

mary may it be… Jesus incarnation.

Jesus not my will…resurrection.

Abide in Pruning process.

let God cut out the sin, the distraction, humiliation, sorrows.

Hebrews 12:7: He disciplines whom he loves like a good parent.

like a good dresser, trims for growth.

vine bush in back. Pruned it back. Unleashed growth. small flowers on it. Climbing upwards towards sun.

pruning helps us climb to being more like the Son.

The FLOWERS on the climbing vine, the FRUIT we PRODUCE

FAMILY, CHILDREN GRANDCHILDREN, FRIENDS, FACILITY, MINISTRY.

Conclusion

my yard, work in progress.

Vineyard also in progress.

Risen Jesus is the vine.

God is growing him.

We are to abide in him and be fruitful

Prayer

Let us join with all creation in praying for the good of the earth, saying, God, who makes us one, hear our prayer.

O God, we give you thanks for your Holy Spirit whose work at creation continues in us. Through Christ Jesus you have shown your love for this earth you made. We pray that all the world may know your power and goodness; God, who makes us one, hear our prayer.

Word of life, reveal the wonder of your world to all people. Show us anew what lives around us, over us, beneath us, within us. Enliven the church with your Spirit, that we may honor your earth with responsible care. God, who makes us one, hear our prayer.

Almighty God, uphold our sisters and brothers who endure disasters caused by weather, war, famine, sickness, or greed. Strengthen all who are in peril, especially the people of [name places of concern]. You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. God, who makes us one, hear our prayer.

Giver of all good things, bring trust and sympathy to the nations of the world. Let peacemakers reign wherever there is conflict. Give wisdom to leaders and hope to the poor. God, who makes us one, hear our prayer.

Good healer, we pray for all who are in need of comfort. Comfort those who mourn; uphold those who are sick, or holding vigil, or awaiting words of hope, especially those we name now silently or aloud [silence]. God, who makes us one, hear our prayer.

Trusting in your mercy, we commend to you all those we have named and those whose needs are known only to you, in the name of your Son, Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.