Connection and Fruit – John 15

A text – John 15:1-8

15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.
15:2 He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.
15:3 You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.
15:4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.
15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
15:6 Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
15:8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

A reflection:

Jesus uses many metaphors as he instructs his disciples, who will be the earthly teachers after Jesus’s death and resurrection. The disciples probably still felt woefully underprepared for such a job. So look how Jesus undergirds them so they will have the confidence to preach and teach in his name. He promises to be as connected to them as the fruit-bearing branches on a grapevine are connected to the actual vine/stem. What flows through Jesus will go right to the disciples, so they will be able to teach and heal in his name. Theirs is to be the most permanent and intimate of connections. They will not be let down by the Father or by Jesus.

But they WILL need Jesus’s strength and flow. He is also preparing them to remain close to him. He says if they don’t remain close, they won’t be able to accomplish what he has chosen for them to do and what they already have had success doing. This is like the warning I saw my daughter give her five year old son when we were recently visiting a huge zoo and aquarium: “Stay with us – hold on to a hand – or you won’t be able to see anything because we will have lost you!” And our grandson did it – he stayed close. He knew she was right, and he also knew that if he needed to be lifted up to see better, she would lift him up. He knew the value of staying connected in a crowd.

We all get disconnected from time to time. But Jesus is saying here, “Be connected to me and your life will flow with goodness and abundance. Trust me to bless everything you do to bear fruit.” Jesus always keeps his promises. This is a really good promise. Try to connect with him for some few minutes a day, and see if you don’t feel more abundantly blessed. I will make a special effort this week to do the same. We could all use the help to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for choosing to be connected to your followers as the vine branches are connected to the vine. Help us to remember that you and your abundance can flow through us to others and we can all bear good fruit.    Amen.