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During my four years at a Christian college, I was blessed with several good roommates. My first was one that I had served on a ministry team with a year earlier. Some of the guys in the hall were not fans of his, but we got along well. In my junior year I was with my best friend from my church back home whose Dad was my pastor. We had lots of fun together and sharpened each other spiritually. My second- and fourth-year roommate was someone I really looked up to. He was at least six inches taller than me. The fellow Bible major carried a pocket watch. He had a clever sense of humor and was an excellent singer. Though he wasn’t exactly a lady’s man, he got married long before I did. I served as his best man when he did. The guy was highly intelligent. He was gracious enough to help me study since we often had the same classes. I remember how amazed he was at how long I had to study just to get a passing grade on an exam. He might have studied for a few hours to prepare for a test that he would get a 100 percent on. I probably spent three times the hours and was usually nowhere near acing it. About the only thing I was better than him at was sports, which I found has not gotten me much in life beyond some exercise, fun, and pulled muscles. That roommate was not exactly cool, but he did have a cool name. Winslow Thurston was a young man after God’s own heart as he studied to be a pastor. He is still in that profession, many years after our graduation.
One thing I remember about Slow, as I called him, was that he wrote a 21-page paper on John 15. As I continue the series in John, I wish I could read what he wrote about 40 years ago. But, maybe that would add to my challenge of keeping my column (relatively) brief. I spent a lot of time with my roommates. We learned from one another and enjoyed having someone to experience college life with closely. You might say we abided with one another. That is what Jesus called us to do with him as his time with his disciples was coming to an end.
Chapter 14 ends with Jesus saying “Come now; let us leave” (31). Perhaps on their way to Gethsemane, Jesus and the disciples passed vineyards that lead to this important passage which is sometimes titled the “Vine and the Branches”. Jesus was about to make his final “I am” statement. Those statements all indicated his deity and the importance of being joined to him by faith. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener” (John 15:1). I will not attempt to explain all aspects of the first half of John 15, but will highlight some things to challenge you in your faith as we understand Jesus as the Vine and the source of eternal life that was sent by the Father.
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me (2-5). The word “remain” or “abide” appears 11 times in this chapter and 40 times in the gospel of John. It can mean to accept Jesus as Savior (6:54; 56); to continue or persevere in believing (8:31; 1 John 2:19-24); and can also mean believing, loving obedience (15:9-10). The idea with abiding is fellowship, connection, and continuance.
This imagery would have been understood on several levels by the disciples as Jews living where they did. Israel was God’s choice vine on which he lavished care and attention. He longed for fruit but the vine became degenerate and produced rotten fruit. Jesus as the true Vine fulfills what God had intended for Israel. The Father is the gardener who cultivates and protects the Vine. Every year in Palestine gardeners prune their vines. They cut off the dead wood which has no life in it and trim the living branches so their yield will be greater.
The next verse is great news along with some bad news. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing (5). We may better understand it as Jesus is the trunk and we are the branches. The branches cannot exist and grow if not for the vine or trunk. So, when we are connected to Jesus we can expect to grow and be productive. A single branch on the ground has no future beyond the fire. Pastor Warren Weirsbe put it well: A branch is good for only one thing-bearing fruit. It may be weak in itself, but has a living relationship with the vine and can be productive. To abide in Christ means to be in communion with him so that our lives please him. We know that we are abiding when the father prunes us, cutting away the good so that we can produce the best. We glorify God with fruit, more fruit, much fruit.” Though we all have God-given gifts and talents, if we are not abiding, growing, and trusting in him, our efforts will be literally fruitless.
Are you one who feels like you are abiding in Christ? Is he your Savior and Lord? The world is noisy and distracting. To be strongly attached to the Vine takes a humble effort. God wants us to be fruitful and purposeful as we live the Christian life. To persevere is not easy but so very worthwhile. Perhaps you have had people in your life like my old roommate. Your friendship with them paid dividends because they cared for and invested in you. To have been connected was of great benefit. How much more to be a healthy branch, abiding in the Vine?! Next time we will look at what Jesus said about prayer and more in this context. Meanwhile, ask God to allow you to bear fruit like never before as you stay connected to Him!
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