Abiding in the Vine
1 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 – Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 – Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 – Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 – I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John chapter 15 verses 1 to 5)
We will be looking deep and deeper into this course of abiding in the vine. The very question behind this very course is ‘Why must one abide in the vine? Why is it necessary that one should abide to the vine? Is there any help and hope for one to abide to the vine? How can one abide in the vine? I believe if one knows the right questions, he or she can always find the right answer.
It is vital for us to take it verse by verse so that we will be able to know why it is vital for every believer to abide in the vine.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” (John chapter 15 verses 1)
Jesus started this very chapter by proclaiming that He is the vine. He did not end there, He went ahead to tell us that His Father is the husbandman. That simply implies that He has a Source. There is a genuine connection between the Father and the Son. We will come to discuss the relationship between the Father and the Son, but let us focus on the vine at the moment. The vine is very important to take note off, for it stands as a connector.
God been the husbandman will supply enough manure for the vine to stand strong.
The vine as a tree is rooted in the ground. Whatever that makes up the source of anything determines how rooted and stable it can withstand pressure. The source of anything determines its capacity to withstand weight. If the source is weak, the vine will be weak to withstand pressure. If the source is strong, the vine will be able to withstand pressure and weights.
We should understand why Jesus said He is the vine, and He went further to talk about His true Source. Jesus was saying that He is never alone. There is a bedrock on which I Am standing. The question is which bedrock is it? That is God Almighty the maker of heaven and earth. The one that made man in His image after His likeness. God been the husbandman will supply enough manure for the vine to stand strong.
“I and my Father are one.” (John chapter 10 verses 30)
One thing is very clear in this very verses, Jesus did not just point man to Himself but He did not hesitate to point humanity to God Almighty. He made it obvious that whatever virtues that flow through Him, flows from the Father. Jesus humbly explained that if we cannot abide in Him as a Person, we have to abide in Him because of the true Source of life God that He is properly connected to.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” (John chapter 15 verses 1)
If we look deep into this verse, Jesus made this statement in full confidence of Who and What He is. He fully understood His relationship with the Father. That was a cordial relationship between the Father and Son that is inseparable. As long as the vine maintains its relationship with the husbandman, everything is possible for a successful living as a believer. It is paramount to know that the vine is flourishing.
“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John chapter 15 verses 2)
Verses 2 is an assurance to any genuine believers. There is no one who genuinely attached him or herself to the true vine that will not produce good fruit. The essence of anyone to attach to the true vine is that he or she will be producing fruits. No one can be drawing nutrients without showing the evidence of it. That is why Jesus declared that it is a crime for anyone to claim to be connected to the vine, yet without any prove of that. The proof that one is connected to the vine is that he or she will constantly produce fruits.
The fruit that Jesus is talking about here is the fruit of souls. The essence of christianity is winning more souls to the kingdom. The goal of christianity is depopulating hell and populating heaven. Our assurance is guaranteed when we as Christians bear fruits of souls and get them being discipled for the Master’s used.
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” (John chapter 15 verses 16)
We have no choice about our existence. We did not bargain for it but here we are having God’s mandate to propagate the gospel of love to the dieing world to rescue them from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” (John chapter 15 verses 4)
There is no branch that effectively stands on it’s own and bears fruit. The fruit of the branch is completely dependent on its attachment to the vine. It is in the vine it will draw nutrients that will enable it bear fruit. In bearing fruit, there is need for proper attachment to the vine from the very moment the branch releases the fruit, and the time the fruit will develop fully. For one to yield fruit that will be effective for the kingdom, the branch needs to remain connected.
Conclusion:
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John chapter 15 verses 5)
Every believer is made to properly and constantly attach to the true Vine which is Jesus Christ. Once one has a genuine connection and relationship with God through Jesus Christ, he or she will do exploit and thereby rule his or her world.
