We live in Northern California (Bay Area to be more specific) and it abounds here in vineyard and winery. Have you heard of some famous ones like the Wente Vineyard (Livermore) or Robert Mondavi (Napa), etc? Every time we're driving along these vineyards, I can't help but to be in awe of how particularly organized they planted those vines. From afar you can see them perfectly aligned whether you look at them from the front or the side. It is like another work of art, a really neat live art!
Today's reflection is from John chapter 15. In here, Jesus teaches his disciples through an analogy. He likened Himself to a true vine and the disciples its branches and God the Father as the keeper of the vineyard.
If you know anything about growing grapes, around this time of the year they start cleaning the vineyard. They cut off the withered and dead ones, literally get rid of it as they have no use for the vines now. Because these vines are deemed useless, the vine keeper gather and throw them into the fire (John15:6). These dead branches have died because they have lost connection with the main vine; they’ve grown apart and does not get enough from the main vine.
“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." (John 15:5)
Meanwhile, the vinedresser “prunes" the good branch so that it can be healthier therefore bear more and better fruits. As long as these branches remain with the main vine and gets enough nourishment they will thrive and produce fruits.
Jesus said that everyone who knows, believes and follows Him, like His disciples are the branches of the True Vine. And so we have to remain close to the source. How do we “abide in Him”? Jesus said follow my commands. And the commandment says “Love one another”.
We can be Jesus‘ disciples (those who have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and willing to follow Him) we have to be nourished daily by reading and studying the Word of God, meditate on it and pray without ceasing. This way we will know the commandments of God and we can continuously grow spiritually healthy and remain with the ”True Vine” so that we can bear much fruit.
“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples” (John 15:8)
Are you connected to the True Vine? Have you accepted Jesus invitation to be one of His disciples? If you are already a branch of the True Vine, are you the healthy branch that needs cleansing and purifying in order to bear more fruit? Or are you the branch that is not bearing much fruit and dying off that needs to be cut off and thrown into the fire?
Really the choice is ours. The invitation of the True Vine is simple:
”As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.” (John 15:9-10)
This Easter let it be a celebration of our connection with the True Vine, if you are not, then this is a perfect time to accept Jesus invitation to be His disciple, a child of the King.
Let us continue to believe, learn and obey Jesus! Enjoy Easter! Celebrate Jesus!