06-30-2019 - Kindling or Fruitful

When you Look at Both the Book of John and the Book of Hebrews there is a met them that pops out - Jesus is SUPERIOR or a REPLACEMENT (in John he is superior to the Temple, The Feasts, Moses, holy sites & here He is Superior to Apostate Israel.

Throughout the OT God uses the vine or vineyard as a symbol for Israel, Psalm 80, Isaiah 5 & 27; Jeremiah 2 & 12; Ezekiel 15, 17 and 19; Hosea 10… and Psalm 80 in particular speaks of The Vine (Israel in this case) and the son of man (Messianic)

So When Jesus now states that He Himself is the TRUE VINE - The purpose is to contrast himself and declare Himself SUPERIOR to Apostate Israel.

The Path, then to The Father (Here the Husbandman/Farmer) is not through the Apostate Religious System, it is Through JESUS ALONE - Same Message as John 14:1-6

Let us Read Together The Passage:

John 15:1-8 ESV

English Standard Version Chapter 15

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 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. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples

If You Want the Benefits That flow from the Vine and the Farmer you MUST BE RIGHTLY RELATED TO THE VINE (JESUS)

Note: the word here for branches is “klema” meaning tendril - most often the tender off-shoots...

All LIFE comes from the VINE…

If You are RIGHTLY RELATED then you MUST EXPECT APPROPRIATE ATTENTION FROM THE FARMER (The FATHER)

The Father both Prunes (Kathararoi) and LIFTS UP (airei)

The Greek that is sometimes translated “take away” is airei, and it does have several applicable translations based upon context: 1) to lift up or pick up, 2) to lift up figuratively, as in lifting up one's eyes or voice, 3) to lift up with the added thought of lifting up in order to carry away, and 4) to remove.

The context of the passage already makes clear that APART from the life-giving vine, they are “thrown away” in v. 6. The poing of verse 2 is not an earlier statement of v. 6,

but rather the image of the Heavenly Father taking the branches that have drooped and are not properly carried to be LIFTED UP thus PROPERLY PLACED and then PRUNED (debris, dirt, trash, split-ends & dead areas removed) “THAT IT MAY BEAR MORE FRUIT

Once You are RIGHTLY RELATED YOU MUST REMAIN DEEPLY DEVOTED (RIGHTLY ROOTED) in THE VINE (JESUS) in order to be FRUITFUL

Notice the Order - Jesus, “I AM THE VINE” you are the SHOOTS (branches)… (v. 6)

DEEP DEVOTION (RIGHT ROOTING) Produces Fruit - Everything else is LESS than the OBJECTIVE (v. 5)

FAILED FOCUS Results in a NO FRUIT, thus USELESS Relationship, this does not end well!!! (v. 6)

DEEP DEVOTION is Related to the WORDS OF CHRIST Taking Root in our lives which leads to God Opening the Door of Answered Prayer (v. 7)

GOD the Father GLORIFIED - How? Bear MUCH Fruit, and so PROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP (v. 8)