The Power of the Vine

Story about Vineyards

Growing up in California we were surrounded by vineyards.

I have briefly worked on a vineyard and would walk through vineyards and orchards on my way to school each day.

They are awesome and delicious but man are they a lot of work.

Its not a situation where you just put some seeds in the ground and water it everyday. No, you got to build an apparatus to keep those vines in tact.

The vines and branches need support and structure otherwise you won’t have a bountiful harvest.

You have to prune and tie down the vines. Some of them you might even have to cut.

But there is one thing for certain:

Vines don’t produce fruit on their own.

Neither will we.

John 15:1–2 ESV

1 “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.

We are created to produce beautiful fruit. If we are not productive we are destroyed.

When we do produce fruit, we are pruned, or made better by our Father.

John 15:4–7 ESV

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.

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 3306. μένω

μένω

The word abide means to dwell, to stay for a while, to hang out.

Jesus says, hang out with me. The branch must hangout with the vine.

The branch receives its nutrients or its power from the vine.

It can bear no fruit or have any results without the vine.

The branches that don’t dwell with the vine are thrown away because the living water no longer lives within them.

John 15:8–11 ESV

8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

God is glorified when we bear fruit.

Bearing fruit also proves that we belong to Jesus.

Jesus loves us with the same amount of love that the Father loves the Son.

Same volume.

Same intensity.

Same Capacity.

Same intimacy.

Dwell/stay a while in His Love.

Jesus tells us how we can do that.

Abiding in His love means to keep Jesus’ commandments.

Yes its the ten commandments, but its so much more.

Its our call to love outsiders.

To show kindness to the afflicted.

We are called to uplift and encourage those in sin.

When we engage in this kind of obedience, we will experience a fullness of joy. In other words, our joy will be made complete, we will be happy.

John 15:12–13 ESV

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Love others in the same way that Jesus has loved you.

How have you experienced Jesus’ love?

Jesus’ command is to reciprocate that love to others.

John 15:14–17 ESV

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

Jesus no longer calls us servants, but friends.

We are called to go and make more branches.

And show them where they can get the living water.

Jesus.

Today we are going to wash each other’s feet, not because they are dirty but to remind us why we are here.

None of us are here for ourselves, we as Christians are here for someone else.

We are called to serve humanity and become lovers of Jesus.

In order to wash someone’s feet, you must empty yourself of pride and ego for the betterment of God’s people.

Because when it all comes to an end, you and I don’t matter all that much but our love for Jesus will.

That love must become bigger than anyone of us, because without Abiding in Jesus we will amount to nothing.

But with Jesus’ love we are everything.

Apart from Jesus we become nothing.

But when we stay with Jesus we receive everything.