THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

There has only been one person who has ever lived the Christian life, and that is Christ Himself!  Our life as a Christian is not me trying to do my best and working my hardest to be like Jesus, for that is impossible.  Rather, it is His life in me being revealed through me, as I abide in a vital relationship with Him.

Jesus is the source of our life.  “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” (‭‭John‬ ‭15:1-4‬). We have no life apart from Him.  He is the True Vine—the one and only.  In a faith relationship with Him, we demonstrate that by the fruit we bear, and He prunes us that we may be more fruitful.

Jesus is the substance of our life. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (v.5-8‬). Jesus doesn’t just give us life, He gives us Himself as our life. If we are not connected with Him, we are just dead branches fit for the fire. As we daily depend on Him, staying connected through the Word and prayer, His life is manifest in ours.

Jesus is the sum of our life. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (v.9-11‬). When we sum up what it means to truly live—it is the life of Jesus, seen in abiding love and abounding joy. In the end, as we stand before God, this is what will matter.  Then, we may say with Paul, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil.1:21).