Forever Life - Pt 4

[Jesus said] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.” (John 15:1-6 ESV).

Recently I constructed an arbor to plant a grapevine. I already have some wild muscadine vines growing near a small grove of trees on the property, however, I thought a white variety would make a better recipe for jelly. Both vines are doing well and with proper care and pruning I anticipate we’ll be making some muscadine jelly next year! Our fourth stage in experiencing this forever life through Christ is the acknowledgement that we receive it through believing in Christ. When we hear the words of life, and yield to the drawing power of God, and believe in Jesus, we receive him into our lives and with him we receive eternal life, because he is eternal life (cf. John 14:6). Our reading today is even more specific as Jesus says, "I am the vine you are the branches" (v. 5). In other words by believing in Christ, we are united to him the way a branch is united to a vine, so that the life of the vine flows into the branch. His eternal life flows into us and we now have eternal life. This is a great work of God that he is performing all over the world every day. The metaphor in this passage of John 15 is of a vine and its branches. The vine is the source and sustenance of life for the branches, and the branches must abide in the vine to live and bear fruit. Jesus, of course, is the vine, and the branches are people. While it is obvious the fruit-bearing branches represent true Christians, the identity of the fruitless ones is in question. Some Bible students say the barren branches are Christians who bear no spiritual fruit. Others believe they are non-Christians. As always, however, we must look to the context for the best answer. The true meaning of the metaphor is made clear when we consider the characters in that night's drama. The disciples were with Jesus. He had loved them to the uttermost; He had comforted them with the words in John chapter 14. The Father was foremost in His thoughts, because He was thinking of the events of the next day. But He was also aware of someone else—the betrayer. Judas had been dismissed from the fellowship when he rejected Jesus' final appeal of love. He was disconnected from “life.” Forever life can only be found in our connection to Jesus. As we will see, this is also a work of grace. So, allow God to do his work in your life; you will make a great jelly!