A Life Giving Connection with Jesus
Scripture Reading: John 15: 1 - 8 (NIV)
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Message: Life Giving Connection with Jesus
Metaphor of life and connection
The metaphor of the vine and the branches is a metaphor of life and connection
Jesus is illustrating how crucial a connection with Him is
He is also illustrating that growth in life comes from Him
I have often hear people say: I don’t know how I would make it through this if it weren’t for my faith (I have said it myself - thinking back to coming to Canada in the middle of Covid, I am still blown away that we are here today)
Have you ever said these words to someone - I don’t know how I would have made it through this without my faith?
Take a moment to think about the time when you said it… perhaps you’re such a time right now…?
When you say words like this, it is all about connection and life…
Connection (through your faith) with Jesus
And life (that comes from your faith) against all the odds of the situation that you found yourself in
Perhaps, we should remind ourselves that when said these words, we were actually meaning: without Jesus I don’t know how I would make it through this…
That is what this metaphor of the Vine and the branches is all about
We need Jesus
Because we need Jesus more than we care to admit
We need Jesus in the good times and the bad times
Without Him, my life will be dwindling
I will loose my way in life without Jesus
I will get lost without Jesus
The branches will dry out and eventually die without the Vine
We sometimes wonder why we struggle so much?
We need Jesus in our lives
We live in a world that has record high suicide numbers…
We live in a world where people are more and more anxious every day…
We live in a world with more and more mental health problems…
People are more and more depressed and lost…
Sounds like dry and lifeless branches, doesn’t it?
Jesus is part of our lives
The metaphor of the Vine also reminds us that we have a connection with Jesus
The branches are connected to the Vine
What affects the branches affects the Vine
This is profound to remind ourselves of
We are not alone when hard times come into our lives
We are not disconnected when we face hardship
Jesus feels what we feel - the Vine feels what the branches feel
The Vine is affected as much as the branches are affected
We have a Gardener that is looking after us
He is concerned with our well-being
Our struggles to be well is not disconnected
Jesus is part of our lives and our challenges
And the Father is carefully looking after us
Life to bear fruit
Our well-being is important to God
The purpose of branches is to bear fruit
The Gardener wants to see fruit from the branches
God’s concern with us is to bring us to bearing fruit in our lives
Bearing fruit is to fulfill our purpose in life
Our connection with the Vine and life that comes from the Vine is meant to bring out the best in us - in the fruit we bear
Know today that God is concerned with your life - the Gardener deeply cares for the branches
Know today that you need Jesus - for He is the Vine thought which the branches get their life
Know today that Jesus is connected to you - for the Vine feels what the branches feel
And know today that God wants you to find your purpose in life - the branches exist to bear fruit
Comments
Add your comment