John 15:1-7: a reflection

1“I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. 2Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4Remain 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. 5I 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. 6If 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 burned. 7If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.

Jesus gives one of his most searching images: I am the true vine, and you are the branches. And he presses the point that runs through it: Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you, unless you remain in me. And most starkly: apart from me you can do nothing. All our fruitfulness, all that is of lasting worth in our lives, flows from remaining in Christ, drawing our life from him as a branch draws life from the vine.

Notice where Jesus locates fruitfulness: in remaining in him. A branch does not bear fruit by its own effort, apart from the vine; it bears fruit by remaining connected to the vine, drawing its life from it. And so it is with us: we do not bear lasting fruit by our own effort, apart from Christ, but by remaining in him, drawing our life from him. Apart from him, Jesus says plainly, we can do nothing; all our fruitfulness depends on this vital, living connection to him.

That truth is one we constantly need, for we are prone to strive in our own strength, apart from Christ. We can try to bear fruit by our own effort, our own striving, forgetting that fruitfulness comes not from effort apart from Christ, but from remaining in him. But a branch cut off from the vine withers; apart from Christ, we can do nothing of lasting worth. Do not try to bear fruit in your own strength, apart from Christ; remain in him, drawing your life from him as a branch draws life from the vine. Make it your first concern, not to strive harder in your own strength, but to remain in Christ, staying connected to him, letting his life flow into you. Fruitfulness comes not from your effort apart from him, but from remaining in him; abide in Christ, and the fruit will come, for apart from him you can do nothing, but remaining in him you will bear much fruit.

Lord Jesus, you gave a searching image: I am the true vine, and you are the branches; remain in me, and I in you, for as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you, unless you remain in me; apart from me you can do nothing. Help me learn where fruitfulness lies: in remaining in you. A branch does not bear fruit by its own effort, apart from the vine, but by remaining connected to it, drawing its life from it; and so it is with me. I do not bear lasting fruit by my own effort, apart from you, but by remaining in you, drawing my life from you. Apart from you I can do nothing; all my fruitfulness depends on this living connection. I am prone to strive in my own strength, apart from you, trying to bear fruit by my own effort, forgetting that fruitfulness comes from remaining in you. But a branch cut off from the vine withers. Keep me from trying to bear fruit in my own strength, apart from you; help me remain in you, drawing my life from you as a branch draws life from the vine. Make it my first concern, not to strive harder in my own strength, but to remain in you, letting your life flow into me. Help me abide in you, Lord, and bear much fruit.