JOHN15v1to17: THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES

(A) Introduction. (Read the reference)

Jesus spoke about the vine and the branches to his disciples in the way that he did because he was going to leave them to carry on his work. He was not only preparing them for his departure but also the huge responsibility he was giving them. Jesus knew that the disciples needed to maintain the closest possible relationship with him to be successful. We follow in the footsteps of the disciples and so the advice Jesus gave them applies just as much to us.

(B) The true vine.

Jesus said: "I am the true vine." Where was Jesus when he uttered these words? He had left the upper room and was on his way to the Garden of Gethsemane just across the Kidron valley. One possibility is that he stopped before a magnificent vine growing on the city walls and used it as an object lesson. There is, perhaps, a clue in Jesus' description of himself as the true vine. A more likely possibility is that Jesus and his disciples took a short cut through the temple courts to a gate leading down into the Kidron valley. Jesus may have stopped before the great golden vine upon the front of the Holy Place, the vine that represented Israel, the people of God, pointed to it and said, "I am the true vine." Jesus was indicating to his disciples that it was no longer sufficient to trust in being Jews, the children of Abraham and adherents to the law of Moses. From now on they must trust in him, and him alone, because he and his followers are the true vine. (See John14v1: "Trust also in me ... .")

(C) The work of God the viticulturalist.

One of the ways to produce a high yielding vine is to take a wild rootstock and graft in a new high yielding variety. Jesus was grafted into traditional Judaism. He did not come to destroy the law but to fulfil it. God tends the new vine by:
(a) Cutting out any unproductive suckers thrown up from the old wild stock. He separates the old from the new. The Jews who remained with the old dispensation were cut off and discarded. They no longer produced the fruit that God required; the Jews who rejected his Son were no longer the people of God.

(b) Pruning the fruiting branches growing from the new stock. Every year after harvest the viticulturalist cuts back the productive stems of the vine. So God the Father watches over and tends the growing church making it ever more fruitful. In the history of the church there have been times of flowering and fruiting followed by dormant periods. Revival is not continuous! In Britain the rich blessing attending the preaching of John Wesley and George Whitfield in the 18th century was followed by a fallow period until the mid 19th century when church growth commenced again.

God is in charge! Sometimes his knife is sharp - as now - and the church is cut back. But a time of renewal and fruit bearing will surely come again. It is significant that Jesus told his disciples: "You are already pruned because of the word I have spoken to you." v3. God's word preached to the faithful remnant will eventually prepare them for revival.

(D) Individual application: what does it mean to remain in Christ?

Jesus said: "I am the vine; you are the branches." v5. He is the stock from which all Christians spring and his life is in us. But Jesus also said: "Remain in me." v4. This injunction addresses the will and does not support such expressions as once in Christ in him for ever. If this is so why does Jesus urge his followers to remain in him. Diehard Calvinists claim to be 'scriptural' but not all Scripture is compatible with their views.

What does remaining in Christ involve? His disciples must:

(1) Identify with him.
There are some tangible, observable things we can do to identify with Jesus. The football fan identifies with his team by wearing the team colours, attending the matches, singing, shouting and joining the supporter's club. The Christian can wear a badge (the fish), attend church services, sing their Saviour's praises, get baptised and join a local church. I hardly think it is possible to abide in Christ without identifying with him in these sorts of ways.

(2) Immerse themselves in him.
I used to visit an old man called Eddy Durrant. He loved the works of Charles Dickens. He read and reread his books. Eddy could quote his favourite passages from Dicken's novels. He was especially fond of dear old Captain Cuttle in 'Dombey and Son'. The Captain had a habit of making up sayings and bolstering their credibility by attributing them to well known authorities. I can hear Eddy Durrant now quoting Captain Cuttle: "In the proverbs of Solomon you will find the following words, 'May we never want a friend in need, nor a bottle to give him!' When found, make a note of." It was the concluding, 'When found, make a note of.' that tickled Eddy.

Jesus said: "If you remain in me and my words remain in you ... ." v7. Christians should be thoroughly immersed in the teaching of Jesus - devotees of each and every word. We should know, believe, remember and apply his words.

I will put you to the test! Which of these sayings is not attributable to Jesus:
(a) "Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."
(b) "And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black."
(c) "When you have done everything you were told to do you should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.'"

See end of exposition for the answer.

(3) Implement his teaching.
Jesus said: "Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love." v9and10.

A true disciple of Delia Smith the cookery writer and broadcaster won't just read her books or watch her programs but also implement her recipes. Similarly, a genuine follower of Jesus will practice his blue print for living. Obedience is more important than admiration, adulation or affection. Jesus tells us that it is the hallmark of agape - self-giving love.

Obedience is hard! It requires a strong will, discipline and determination. Remaining in Christ does not happen automatically or even easily. It demands unstinting effort. This is what Paul writes to the Corinthians: Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. Cor9v26and27.

(4) Importune his help.
The help we can expect as Christians is conditional upon applying Christ's teaching and obeying his commands. "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. v7. Whenever we do what Jesus has taught us to do we can demand and expect to receive assistance. Last week I took a 95-year-old shopping and a 96-year-old out to lunch. I was apprehensive about both ventures. I prayed for help and was given it. I asked God to assist me to deliver my school assemblies - and he did. When I was at Pioneer Camp I prayed that God would keep our children from serious injury on the organised activities and my prayer was answered. I am confident that whenever we are about the Saviour's business we will get whatever we need.

(E) The absolute necessity to remain in Christ.

There are three reasons it is a necessity:

(1) That he may abide in us.
Jesus said: "Remain in me, and I will remain in you." v4. If we remain in Jesus we shall share his life. We shall have:

    (a) His joy. "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." v11. This joy is not the intense emotion experienced by Freddy Flintoff and company when England won the Ashes. That by its very nature was short lived. I think it is better to think of Christ's joy as that deep and lasting satisfaction of doing God's will. In his book, 'Soul Survivor,' Philip Yancey wrote about Paul Brand the leprosy specialist and other dedicated Christians who devoted their lives to healing the wounds of humanity in India and elsewhere. He writes of them: Like the Brands, they showed a level of personal fulfilment and even happiness that I had not found among many famous people I had interviewed.

    (b) His love. "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." Jesus loved us while we were yet sinners. We need to love our fellow Christians in spite of their imperfections and regardless of disagreements over doctrine. We are commanded to love those we don't much like so long as they share our belief in Christ.

    On Saturday December 10th 2005 I read a very distressing article in the Daily Telegraph about the appalling state of the roof of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Three Christian denominations have shared custody of the church - Franciscans, Armenian and Greek Orthodox Christians. The Armenians and Franciscans each claim ownership of a third to the church but the Orthodox Greeks disagree, saying that as descendants of the Byzantine founders they should enjoy majority rights.

    According to a 1852 Ottoman diktat all three communities must be given a key to the lock on the front door of the church.

    Three years ago the Greeks angered the others when they changed the lock one night under cover of darkness. They argued that the diktat grants the others keys but not the right to use them.

    Roof repairs have little hope of going ahead while such disagreements remain.

    No love exists between the Christians of different traditions and meanwhile because they are unable to co-operate about anything the Church of the Nativity is going to wrack and ruin. It is the worst possible witness to Jesus.

    (c) His knowledge. "Everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you." v15.

    Friends do not hide things from one another. They are perfectly open and frank. Jesus shared with his disciples all he knew about God and man's relationship with God. We know all we need to know. Jesus revealed the will of God to us. There were many things he didn't tell his disciples. Jesus did not provide an explanation for suffering or impart scientific knowledge. Jesus did what God wanted him to do - make the Father known and reconcile us to God.

    (d) His rights. "If You remain in me and my words remain in you ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." v7. Just as Jesus received help from the Father throughout his earthly ministry so Christians can expect help whenever they are about the Master's business.

    (e) His work to do. "He (the Holy Spirit) will testify about me. And you also must testify." v27.

    I am occasionally asked to write someone a testimonial. It can be a bit of a chore! However if I am invited to write on behalf of a person I love and admire the work is more of a privilege than a chore. It is surely a great privilege to testify on behalf of Jesus.

    Men and women, boys and girls need our testimony. Corrie ten Boon wrote about an elderly woman she visited in a mental hospital who had no visitors. The woman's family took her to the hospital and dumped her there. She never heard from them again. Corrie was able to tell Alida that God had not forsaken her. She talked to her about the love of Jesus. Corrie's devout father supported his daughter in the work. Often in the midst of a very busy workday, with the watch repairs stacked on the counter waiting to be done, Father would say to me, "Why don't you visit Alida today? She's come into my mind .... perhaps she is lonely."

    Dear Papa! It meant more work for him, because a visit to this friend took at least 4 hours of the day. Corrie and her father were together doing Christ's work.

    (f) His glory. "I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they be one as we are one. John17v22.

    Christians are seen at their best when they, like Jesus, do God's will. When Alida, the mentally disturbed women, that Corrie ten Boon visited died this is what her father said: "Corrie, I believe that this friendship, and the time you gave that poor woman has shown God's loving kindness for the despised and lost more than any other work you have done. I'm sure it was important in God's eyes." It was Corrie's glory.

    Followers of Jesus should never forget the golden rule: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." Mt7v12. When ever believers apply this precept they share Christ's glory.

(2) To bear fruit.
Jesus said: "No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." v4.

Some might object to this. I dare say there are those who would consider my brother, Philip, a non-Christian, a better man than me. Philip is a good father, a generous friend and willing to perform menial tasks on behalf of others. He cleans the Brockley Cricket Club pavilion and changing rooms - a job much disliked be the majority of the members. But there are several things he doesn't do:
(a) Make other Christians.
(b) Edify Christians. Philip doesn't build Christians up in their faith by teaching them about Jesus and what Jesus expects of his followers.
(c) Actively seek the well-being of Christians because they are his brothers and sisters.
(d) Pray.
(e) Do good for Christ's sake.

The fruit Jesus looks for is the result of obedience to him and reliance upon him. He said: "Apart from me you can do nothing." v5. We need: his eye to guide us; his hand to uphold us; his arm to shield us; his bosom to lean upon; his blood to cleanse us; his Spirit to make us holy.

The great Baptist Preacher of the 19th century C.H. Spurgeon was glad that men apart from Jesus could do nothing. He told the story about a service in New England many years ago when a lunatic jumped up and grabbed a pillar holding up the gallery. The latter day Sampson yelled, "I'll pull down this house; I'll pull down this house." Some screamed, others fainted and all was pandemonium until one brother shouted out in a loud voice, "Let him try."

Today the church has many enemies - especially in the media, civil service, local and national government. Their aim is to discredit Jesus and bring down his house. Our best response is to say: "Let them try, just let them try!"

(3) To avoid the awful consequences of not remaining in Christ.
If anyone does not remain in me; he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers, such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. v6.

This is another verse that does not sit easy with the belief once in Christ in him for ever - however much reformed commentators huff and puff and wriggle and squirm. Surely Jesus warned his disciples of the danger of falling away for the same reason as the epistle to the Hebrews was written: because it is a very real possibility. Judas did not remain in Christ, nor did Demas and nor did all those Jewish Christians who apostatised and distressed beyond measure the author of Hebrews. See exposition on (Hebrews19v26to39.)

Every person who makes a profession of faith and falls away is like the discarded prunings from the vine. They have been cut out of the vine, they leave the vine and litter the ground where they wither. In due time the withered branches are collected up as so much rubbish and burned. This is entirely consistent with all Christ's teaching on the ultimate punishment of those who actively reject him. They are treated as rubbish and utterly destroyed. (See article on Heaven and Hell.)

Answer to the test: (a) James3v18.

ANY COMMENTS FOR JOHN REED: E-mail jfmreed@talktalk.net

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