Tag: John 13-17
Abiding in the Vine!
Scripture reading for November 4th: John 13-17
Several years ago, I planted two grape vines in my back yard along the fence. I had used these potted vines as a sermon illustration of Jesus’ teaching in John 15. I studied grapes and found that they were one of the most widely grown crops in the world. There are many different varieties and colors and people love to eat them fresh, as juice, or as wine. They also need cultivation and tending to be the most fruitful and healthy. Dead and diseased branches need trimmed off and the vines trained to grow in the arbor. The branches are not good for anything but producing fruit. They will not make lumber but are only good for burning.
Jesus used this agricultural example to teach his disciples about their need to stay attached to Him! Jesus was the true vine and the disciples were branches. If they would just “abide” in Him and allow His Word to “abide” in them, they would produce much fruit. (John 15:7) Abiding branches ask the Father for what they need, and He answers! We must stay attached and draw our nutrients from the vine and its roots. A branch that doesn’t remain attached is good for nothing but the fire!
Jesus also went on to say that His Father was the gardener who tended the vine. (John 15:1) The gardener’s job was to keep the vine healthy and producing fruit. Jesus’ Word was the means of pruning His branches. All fruitless branches were pruned off to keep from wasting precious nutrients. Fruitful branches were pruned to maximize fruit production. (John 15:8) Branches that produce no fruit are good for nothing but the fire.
To illustrate the need to abide, I took two branches off my four year old grape vine. I put the branches in water and brought them to church. One branch had 12 clusters of grapes and a second branch had none! After just one hour, the branches were already wilting.
We must stay attached to the vine and also bear fruit. This takes a relationship with God through His Word and prayer! He wants fruit that will last for eternity! What a privilege to bear precious fruit for eternal life! Are you securely attached and producing?
Are you securely attached?
Scripture reading for November 2nd: John 13-17
Several years ago, I planted two grape vines in my back yard along the fence. I had used these potted vines as a sermon illustration of Jesus’ teaching in John 15. I studied grapes and found that they were one of the most widely grown crops in the world. There are many different varieties and colors and people love to eat them fresh, as juice, or as wine. They also need cultivation and tending to be the most fruitful and healthy. Dead and diseased branches need trimmed off and the vines trained to grow in the arbor. The branches are not good for anything but producing fruit.
Jesus used this great agricultural example to teach his disciples about their need to stay attached to Him! Jesus said that He was the true vine and the disciples are branches. If they would just “abide” in Him and allow His Word to “abide” in them, they would produce much fruit. (John 15:7) Being a branch is all about “abiding”! It doesn’t sound too hard to understand! A branch that doesn’t remain attached is good for nothing but the fire!
Jesus also went on to say that His Father was the gardener who tended the vine. (John 15:1) All fruitless branches were pruned off to keep from wasting precious nutrients so that those branches that were abiding could use those nutrients to produce fruit. Fruitful branches are pruned and trained to maximize fruit production. God is glorified when His branches produce much fruit! (John 15:8) Branches that produce no fruit are trimmed off and are good for nothing but the fire.
After four years the original potted vines were nearly 20 feet long and covered a section of a wooden fence that I planted them near. I took two branches off these vines to church for a sermon illustration. One branch had 12 clusters of grapes on it and a second branch had none! I had cut them off and after just one hour, they were already wilted. It is amazing how quickly they die without attachment!
The lesson for us is plain and simple. We must stay attached to the vine and also bear fruit. This takes a relationship with God through His Word and prayer! Are you securely attached and producing? Today is the best time to affirm your attachment!
“Lord, Show Us the Father.”
Scripture reading for November 4th: John 13-17
Jesus did not do anything on His own; as the Son of God, He came to do His Father’s will. His Father’s will was that none that Jesus was given would perish, but that they would all be raised up on the last day. (John 6:39-40) It was the Father’s will that all who looked to Jesus and believed on Him would have eternal life and resurrection of their bodies. To that end, Jesus came to earth and ministered the Gospel message of repentance and faith, calling all to believe on Him. It was to that end that He laid His life down for His sheep, demonstrating the Father’s heart for the lost.
Jesus repeatedly told those who heard Him that He was not here on His own, but to do the will of the One who sent Him. (John 7:28-29, 8:18-19, 42, 10:18, 12:27, 14:6-10) In our reading today, Jesus told His disciples that He was going to die and go away. They were downcast and He sought to encourage them by telling them that He was going away to prepare a place for them and that He would come again and take them to be with Him. Thomas, one of the twelve, was puzzled and asked Jesus where He was going and how they could know the way. Jesus spoke, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) Jesus told them that if they really knew Him, they would also know the Father. He told them that from now on they knew the Father and had seen Him.
“Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” (John 14:8) Philip was not getting it. He wondered when Jesus was going to show them the Father and begged Jesus to do just that. Jesus responded, “Don’t you know Me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen Me, has seen the Father.” (John 14:9) Jesus told them again and again that He was there to do the will of His Father. All the words Jesus gave them were from the Father. All the miracles Jesus did, revealed the Father working through Jesus. Jesus’ promised these followers, “And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” Wow!
Are You Securely Attached?
Scripture reading for November 4th: John 13-17
Several years ago, I planted two grape vines in my back yard along the fence. I had used these potted vines as a sermon illustration of Jesus’ teaching in John 15. I studied grapes and found that they were one of the most widely grown crops in the world. There are many different varieties and colors and people love to eat them fresh, as juice, or as wine. They also need cultivation and tending to be the most fruitful and healthy. Dead and diseased branches need trimmed off and the vines trained to grow in the arbor. The branches are not good for anything but producing fruit. They will not make lumber but are only good for burning.
Jesus used this great agricultural example to teach his disciples about their need to stay attached to Him! Jesus said that He is the true vine and the disciples are branches. If they would just “abide” in Him and allow His Word to “abide” in them, they would produce much fruit. (John 15:7) Being a branch is all about “abiding”! Abiding branches ask the Father for what they need, and He answers! We must stay attached and draw our nutrients from the vine and its roots. It doesn’t sound too hard to understand! A branch that doesn’t remain attached is good for nothing but the fire!
Jesus also went on to say that His Father is the gardener who tends the vine. (John 15:1) The gardener’s job is to keep the vine healthy and producing fruit. Jesus’ Word is the means of pruning His branches. All fruitless branches are pruned off to keep from wasting precious nutrients so that those branches that are abiding could use those nutrients to produce fruit. Fruitful branches are pruned and trained to maximize fruit production. God is glorified when His branches produce much fruit! (John 15:8) Branches that produce no fruit are trimmed off and are good for nothing but the fire. These are like people who refuse to abide in the vine and think that they can make it on their own.
As a sermon illustration this year, I took a branch off this grape vine. It had grown in 4 years to nearly 20 feet long and covered a section of a wooden fence that I planted it near. I put the branch in water and brought it to church. One branch had 12 clusters of grapes on it and a second branch had none! I had cut them off and after just one hour, the were already wilted. It is amazing how quickly they die without attachment!
The lesson for us is plain and simple. We must stay attached to the vine and also bear fruit. This takes a relationship with God through His Word and prayer! He wants fruit that will last for eternity! What a privilege to bear precious fruit for eternal life! Are you securely attached and producing?