Remain in the Vine

Dearly loved people of God,

Does anybody have experience pruning grape vines?

When I pastored at Trinity CRC in St. Catharines, I lived in Pelham. Travelling between home and church took me through the shorthills and vineyards west of the city: row upon row of vines. It seemed that people worked on those vines every month of the year.

The disciples were anxious because Jesus was about to leave. They didn’t want to be without him. But just as we looked at this discourse earlier this fall and were reminded that the HS is with us, here we’re reminded of the connection we have with Jesus.

He is the true vine. The readings for this week reminded us of the long history of describing Israel as a vine - God’s prized vine. It’s a prized vine, but has a tendency to go wild. It has needed pruning.

Jesus says his disciples are already clean. His father, the gardener, doesn’t need to clean them up. A gentle pruning is required them to be more fruitful.

The major part of this imagery is to remain in Jesus. He is the true vine, the true Israel. He has succeeded where Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all failed. Jesus remained in his Father. He lived holy and pure, without any wild shoots at all. He sowed no wild oats.