“…My Father is the Vinedresser”
Reflections on John 15:1-8
As I looked around our garden this morning I noticed with joy the new growth now appearing on our grapevines. I was instantly reminded of those verses in John 15; verses that resonate with me – and with many other horticulturists!
“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 bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. (John 15:1-8)
These verses are an allegory; we call it the “Parable of the Vine and the Branches”. In it Jesus uses natural imagery to illustrate the spiritual relationship between Himself (the vine), God the Father (the vinedresser or vinegrower), and us as believers (the branches). In this Reflection I am thinking particularly about God the Father and how He cares for us.
So what are the key moments in a vinegrower’s working life? I can think of 5.
The main one is pruning. Carried out in the winter it involves cutting out old non-productive wood to encourage the remainng branches to produce more and better fruit.
The second action happens throughout the whole growing season The vines need to have a close eye kept on them; to monitor their health, to add fertiliser if needed, to remove competing weeds and to control pests and diseases.
A third continuous process is to tie in the developing branches. In Biblical times this would also involve lifting branches off the ground to allow them full exposure to the sun and stop them being trampled in the dust.
Fourthly, the whole vine needs careful management, trimming away unwanted growth and even removing individual leaves to encourage sunlight, air circulation and the quality of each grape as it developes.
And then, finally, the harvest. The vinedresser needs to choose the correct time to pick the grapes and see they are well treated and quickly taken out of the vineyard.
So how does this relate to God’s role in our lives?
John 15 tells us that each of us as believers are branches connected to Jesus, the True Vine. As branches our main purpose is to bear fruit for God through Jesus. We have to be pruned, primarily through his Word, the Bible. Our fruitfulness comes as we abide in (rest in) Christ’s love, accept the mantle of His authority and call upon the power of the Holy Spirit.
So what about us? Jesus is our only source of life. Our fruitfulness depends on maintaining a strong connection to Him.
The “pruning” we receive is not punishment. The words “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;” is better translated as “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He raises up”. God the Father does this through his Word. We need to allow it to bring reproof, correction and instruction. Sickness, tragedy and hardship are not part of His toolkit.
Abiding means trusting and depending on Jesus, not striving or using human effort. We as branches do not labour to produce fruit. All we have to do is allow the Vine’s life to flow through us.
We are called to fruitfulness. But it is God, the vinedresser, who makes us fruitful. He does not want us to be fruitless. His work is to encourage each of us to become ever more fruitful.
The Father who encourages me into fruitfulness is wholehearted in His work as Vinedresser. There is no aspect of my spiritual growth that He does not oversee. And there is no aspect of my physical and soulful wellbeing that He hasn’t addressed by the work of Jesus Christ through his life, death and resurrection. My Father the handbook of spiritual viticulture, the Bible! I am in His good hands as I choose to believe on His Word and lead a life of worshipping Him in spirit and in truth.
“Abide in Me, and I in you.” (John 15:4)
By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, so you will be My disciples” (John 15:8)
As I reflect on these first 8 verses of John Chapter 15, I find encouragement to lead a life where I can “remain in Christ” – to stay close to Him, He in me and I in Him, and so respond to Him. I live in relationship with Him, my Lord as well as my Saviour.
I felt that encouragement as I looked at my grapevines in the garden this morning. Do these verses encourage you too, wherever you are?
All references are from the NKJV unless specified otherwise.
John Partis
bearing-kingdom-fruit.com
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