Love Lifted Him

Tell the Story

Can we imagine just for a moment Jesus talking and laughing with his disciples as they are strolling through the rolling hills of Jerusalem? It is springtime and the smell of ripe grapes fill the countryside with their sweet aroma. The disciples are thoroughly enjoying what would be their last peaceful moments with Jesus, their Lord. They are strolling through the vineyard and perhaps taking some time to pick some of the mouth-watering grapes to eat. One can even imagine the mood of the disciples and Jesus being very light and joyous. This moment of peace is what they have been looking for, just to spend some uninterrupted, private time with Jesus. Yes, this was a a great day. But suddenly in true Jesus fashion he uses every occasion as a teachable moment. Jesus grabs a vine full of grapes and says to his disciples…” 15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. 2 [God] “removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes[a] to make it bear more fruit. Jesus says this to the eleven as part of his Farewell Discourse because he knows that his death was drawing close. One can only imagine the mood changing as Jesus reminds them that his entire ministry was focused on them, his disciples and the work that God had sent him to complete. Jesus goes on to say “[God] removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes[a] to make it bear more fruit. 3 You have already been cleansed[b] by the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” Can we now imagine Jesus lifting up the grapes in his hand before his disciples and telling them, “5 I am the vine, and you are the branches? Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit because apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become[c] my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so I have 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 I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. Can you imagine how the disciples felt at that moment as Jesus shared with them this final mystery before his death that was just around the corner? Can you imagine Jesus taking those grapevines filled with grapes and pressing them into the hands of his disciples as they continued their journey to Jerusalem where Jesus would begin the long road to his death on the cross?

What is the Relationship between the Vinedresser, The Vine and the Branches

Explanation

In this illustration, Jesus explains to his disciples that He is the vine his follower whose branches of who we are must bear fruit or they will be cut off by the Father (John 15:2). But before we go on, I would like to spend some time with this phrase “cut off”. The Greek term is aero, meaning to take up, take away primary root; to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise as to keep in suspense, by Hebrew def (compare nasa ‘ ) to expiate sin or carry with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make, doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up). Therefore, a better interpretation should read “He lifts or bears up every branch in me that bears no fruit. In my studies, I have found that when a vine has become heavy with branches, the branches drag to the ground or into the dirt and when the rains comes the dirt becomes muddy therefore the branch becomes heavy with mud keeping the branch from producing, therefore the branch must be lifted up or propped up on a fence or pole so that it may produce as it should…likewise the Hebrew gives a clearer meaning to the term which is nasa or to remove sin. Therefore, the one who tends to the branch lifts it up from the mud which is sin and removes the sin from the branch.

The branches that do bear fruit will be pruned to increase their yield (15:2). The branches of the true vine, like the branches of a grapevine, must be pruned so that the harvest will be more abundant. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches (15:5). Through hardship, discipline, and suffering, we are pruned so that our fruit will be even greater and even sweeter. The Father prunes us if we abide in Christ. Those that do not abide are the branches that are cut off (15:6).

If we abide in Christ and bear fruit we can know that we are truly His. Some are cut off because they are not His — they try to attach themselves to Christ without abiding in Him through faith. But those who bear fruit are His, and they have been cleansed by Him (15:3). They will not be cut off. Those who bear no fruit are just deadwood and were never truly a part of the vine to begin with.

Jesus is the vine. The vine is the trunk that grows out of the ground. The vine is traditionally kept at waist height and ends in a large gnarl and the branches grow in either direction. The father is the vinedresser, the keeper of the vineyard, the person who is responsible for tending it. His job is to get as much fruit from the plants as possible. And we are the branches, we are the focus of the vinedressers efforts because the branches produce the fruit. The branches are propped up with sticks to allow air to circulate and provide the most sunlight and to allow full access for tending. The vinedresser lovingly cultivates and cares for each branch so that they may bear the best fruit possible.

Illustration

Relationship between Vinedresser and God The Father

Relationship between the Vine and Christ

Relationship between the branches and us/the people

Application

We are the people. In the text, we are the branches

Every Branch that does not bear fruit he taken away v2a

Explanation

Illustration

Illustrate your point.

Application

Every branch that beareth fruit he purges

Explanation

Illustration

Illustrate your point.

Application

Abiding in the Relationship

God desires us to bear fruit.

Are we spending enough time with God

Are we where we want to be spiritually

What is hindering us?