Today, we consider this passage from John.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burnt. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. “In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. (John 15:1-11, WEBBE) [1].

Let’s break this down a little.

I am the true vine… Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit… Remain in me, and I in you

Jesus calls us to remain in Him while also indicating that part of this is God’s responsibility or action. “Remain in me” seems to be directed to us, but “he prunes, that it may bear more fruit” indicates that God takes an active role in our lives to help develop us. So, God actively engages us while calling us to actively engage with God. What does it mean to abide in Jesus? Certainly praying, considering what Jesus would have us do and doing that is a good start… more to come on that below.

In this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.

When we “bear fruit” we bring glory to God, but what does this look like? We look like disciples of Jesus when we bear this fruit. Jesus served the Father and helped to heal those around him who needed healing; he was provocative to the self-righteous; he sought out and connected with the marginalized.

Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love”.

How do we remain in someone else’s love?

even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love”.

Jesus calls us to stay in relationship with him so that our spiritual lives may continue to be productive and we pursue right actions. Jesus kept the Father’s commandments and remained in his love. Keeping the Father’s commandments resulted in actions - not simply the avoidance of doing bad things.

I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.

The end results of us continually choosing to pursue relationship with Christ are that we do good works, we bring glory to the Father, we become disciples of Jesus, and we are filled with joy.

[1] The World English Bible (WEB) and the World English Bible British Edition (WEBBE) are modern translations without copyright constraint. https://ebible.org/web/webfaq.htm