Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. John 15:4 NABRE
Jesus is teaching His disciples, telling them He is the vine and the Father is the vine grower. Jesus speaks of the communion, the oneness He enjoys with the Father. The disciples are called to be part of the vine, we are called to be part of the vine as well. We are to have this deep communion with Jesus. When we are in communion with Jesus we can do good works. In the case of the vine it is only the good fruit that remains connected to the vine, branches that do not produce good fruit are pruned (or cleansed) from the vine by the Father, the vine grower. This cleansing produces more fruit, clearing away the non-productive to make room for the productive. This is the message Jesus wants to portray to His followers, stay connected, remain in Him and Jesus will remain in you. Jesus goes on to say we cannot produce good fruit on our own, we must remain in Jesus. When we remain in communion with Jesus we also are in communion with others connected on the vine. This is the movement Jesus wants to establish, a people who follow Jesus’ message and produce good fruit.
Following Jesus means we live in the image of Jesus, caring for others, being selfless, loving others. It is only through mobilizing all to follow Jesus that we can bring the kingdom of God here and now, a vineyard that produces nothing but good fruit. This communion with Jesus is a communion to be lived by all. God wants our life to come from the vine, and it is a life that will stand apart, providing nourishment and good wine for all.
Are you on the vine or have you been pruned? Can you accomplish much on your own?
Communion with Jesus is a communion to be lived by all. God wants our life to come from the vine, and it is a life that will stand apart, providing nourishment and good wine for all. Click To Tweet#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #communion #vine #John #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways