Sunday, October 8, 2017

vines

Just remember that these words were spoken by Jesus to His disciples the night before He was killed.

They were probably walking along, heading to the Garden of Gethsemane.

I doubt if He was being subtle or vague.

I figure we was cutting to the chase - He has little time left with them, so He probably was prudent with every word.

Btw, I great up on a farm. 
We had a grape arbor. 
The imagery of He uses here is spot on.
The really good vines we trimmed back so they would produce more grapes - if we didn't, the extraneous parts of the vine, what my mom called suckers, would drain the vine of fruit producing power. 
And the ones that didn't produce, we'd cut off & burned.



John 15

1 "I am the true grapevine, 

and my Father is the gardener.

2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, 

and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.

3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.

4 Remain in me, 

and I will remain in you. 

For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, 

and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.



  5 "Yes, I am the vine; 

you are the branches. 

Those who remain in me, 

and I in them, 

will produce much fruit. 

For apart from me 

you can do nothing.

6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers.

Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.

7 But if you remain in me 

and my words remain in you, 

you may ask for anything you want, 

and it will be granted!

8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. 

This brings great glory to my Father.



  9 "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. 

Remain in my love.

10 When you obey my commandments, 

you remain in my love, 

just as I obey my Father's commandments 

and remain in his love.

11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. 

Yes, your joy will overflow!


12 This is my commandment: 

Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

13 There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.

14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

15 I no longer call you slaves, 

because a master doesn't confide in his slaves. 

Now you are my friends, 

since I have told you everything the Father told me.


16 You didn't choose me. 

I chose you. 

I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, 

so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, 

using my name.


17 This is my command: 

Love each other.

No comments: