The Vine-the branches-and the Gardener

In, John 15, Jesus says, “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit, so they produce even more.” (NLT) Abide in Me, and I will abide in you. (NKJV) For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” (NLT)

This was so good to me. Here Jesus is saying, He is the Vine, we are the branches on that vine, and God is the Gardener. If we are not connected to Him we do not produce fruit.

Think about bananas, when you go to the grocery store and purchase the bananas that are still green, typically they are pretty good for a few days until you pull one away from the stem. Then they begin to decay rapidly, as with any other fruit. Typically, fruit thrives while it is connected to the vine, as soon as you tear it away, then it begins to decay and spoil rapidly.

God as the Gardener, think about how the gardener goes out, and picks and prunes any fruit and throws it away if it is not good so that it won’t spoil the other fruits. (I wish I could shout right now as Emory lays beside me sleeping.) We even do it, if we buy a bag of fruit, and notice that one is going bad, we remove it from the pile so that it doesn’t affect the other fruit. “My God”. Scripture says, “For apart from me, (being torn away from the stem) you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like useless branches—such branches are gathered into a pile and burned (hell).

Jesus goes on to say, that we are His friends(branches) (Alexa, cue, Friend of God by Israel & New Breed), that, we didn’t choose Him(vine), He chose us, that He appointed us to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father (gardener), will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. (NLT)

The Vine—the branches—the Gardener—stay connected.