STAYING CONNECTED TO JESUS FOR PURPOSEFUL LIVING
The best time of year to visit Palestine is when fig trees, olive trees, and grape vines are at the height of their new growth. Everywhere you go, you see beautiful landscapes - orchards in the valleys and greenery on the hillsides.
You see flocks of sheep grazing; you see farmers cultivating crops. All of these “oasis” regions are quite a contrast to the deserts and rocky slopes that you see in barren parts of the country.
The roads today, for the most part, are paved; but in the days when Jesus walked from village to village, the roads were little more than path ways that had been trodden under foot by locals traveling from one point to another. Yet, as they walked along these pathways, the sight of fruit-bearing vineyards and grazing sheep was a sight to behold.
As was often the case when Jesus taught His disciples, He used that with which His listeners were familiar in order to teach profound lessons.
The great “I am” declarations of Jesus reflect His reliance on the familiar as a teaching technique. On occasion, He declared himself to be “the bread of life” – and on other occasions, “the Light of the world” . . .
The focus of today’s study is His declaration, “I am the true vine” – John 15:1-8 . . . How fitting that He would use the “vine” metaphor – when, all around Him and those who listened to Him, there were vast orchards of vines with branches spreading all over the place.
From a tourist’s viewpoint, there is no scene more picturesque than that of a beautifully landscaped orchard, with miles and miles of well-tended vines, growing in a well-designed pattern, and divided by precisely irrigated rows of cultivated earth in between the long rows of vines.
In season, the aroma of luscious bunches of grapes fills the air, and the anticipation of sampling freshly made juice or wine makes one thirsty. Indeed, a visit to Palestine is incomplete without tasting the fruit of the vine.
So, when using the analogy of a vine to teach a lesson, Jesus did not have to paint a picture on canvas; just the use of the word itself conjured up in their imagination the image upon which Jesus would base His teaching.
To understand what Jesus meant by saying, “I am the true vine,” we need to recall scripture from the Old Testament, in which the vine analogy was used to represent Israel as the chosen people of God.
The prophets spoke of Israel as the vine. Isaiah: “The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.” The vine was used as a symbol of the nation of Israel. For that reason, it was not unusual to see engraved on the front of the Jewish temple the representation of a vine with bunches of grapes.
When Israel got away from the Lord, and eventually fell out of favor with God, the prophet Hosea commented that “Israel is an empty vine.” Not a very pretty picture! Who needs an empty vine? What a contrast! A vine full of luscious clusters of grapes versus a vine that is barren with no fruit!
Israel, because of their sinful ways, had become like an empty vine, producing no fruit for the glory of God.
Jesus came along and called Himself the true vine – the real vine. What Jesus was saying to His listeners was a profound truth that all religious people need to hear and heed:
“You think that because you belong to the nation of Israel you are a branch in the vine that belongs to God . . . just because you are a Jew, and as such, one of the chosen ones, you are automatically a branch of the vine of God.
You must understand that your nation has become a degenerate vine. I was sent to correct that situation and therefore have become the true vine. The fact that you are a Jew does not save you. The only way now that you can be saved is to believe in me . . . accept me as your Lord and Savior . . . connect yourself to Me and, in that way, become a branch of the true vine.”
Folks, far too many people in our nation have gotten the notion that just because they were born in America, or that just because their parents or other family members are Christians, or that just because they belong to a certain church, they have been, are, or will be saved. “Pedigree” has nothing to do with eternity!
No one can say that he or she is a Christian “just because.” There’s got to be a right relationship to God – a relationship that can be entered into only by being “grafted” into the true vine which is Jesus Christ.
Not “drafted” in the sense that a person raises his or her right hand and is inducted into the Army, but “grafted” in the sense that a committed Christian is by profession and practice joined to . . . merged with Christ.
Everyone who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God . . . that Christ died for their sins . . . that God raised Jesus from the dead, shall be saved and thereupon shall be joined to Christ.
Now hear this: the totality of those who have been joined to Christ make up a mighty army of brothers and sisters in Christ. Through the years, we Christians have voiced our similarity to an army as we have sung hymns like “Onward Christian Soldiers” and “We’re marching to Zion.”
Christians are indeed a mighty army - “grafted” not “drafted” into the service of Christ. And to become a part of this army is voluntary on our part, not mandatory on the part of God, simply because God endowed each and every person of His creation with free will.
God did His part. He sent His only begotten Son into the world so that the world through Him might be saved. Your part and mine is easier: believe in Him who was sent by God, become so attached to Him that we heed what He says and do what He wills.
Jesus likened His “salvation army” to the branches of a vine in the garden of God. He sees Himself as the true vine and He sees His followers as the branches. What does He expect of His branches?
“If a person remains in me (attached to me), he or she will bear much fruit; but apart from me, you can do nothing of real value; with Me as the source of your spiritual sustenance, with Me as the supplier of your needs, with Me as the satisfier of your innermost desires, you can bear fruit; and, by your fruit, others will know that you are my disciples.”
What happened in the lives of those who rejected Jesus? They became like withered branches that had no connection to the vine.
What happens to people today who turn a deaf ear to the word of God and give little or no thought to their spiritual well-being? They become like withered branches that are useless to the kingdom of God.
Folks, God desires that His people stay connected to His Son Jesus Christ the true vine and thereby grow in His likeness, becoming spiritually mature; as we grow in Him, our lives produce fruit that is pleasing to Him – just as a gardener is pleased when his orchard bears fruit.
Jesus challenges us to “abide” in Him. What this means is that He wants us to stay in touch with Him - stay close to Him – stay connected.
You know, one of the great things we learn about Jesus is that He stayed in touch with God the Father. There was never a time in His life when He allowed Himself to go it alone. He was in constant communion with God and He always found time to be alone with the heavenly Father.
What it means to “abide in Christ”: Everyday have a little talk with Jesus . . . think of Him and what He has done . . . thank Him . . . see the new day as a blessing from God, yet another opportunity to live in His presence, to know Him a little better, to grow a little closer to Him.
Being a live branch of the true vine is wonderful because it enriches your life and enables you to enrich someone else’s life. Being a live branch of the true vine is also wonderful because it brings glory to God! And folks, there is no greater joy in life than to bring glory to God.
Thus, as live branches of the true vine, may it be your goal and mine to bring glory to God by bearing fruit that is pleasing unto Him! Amen.
