Abiding in Jesus

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Scripture:  John 15:1 – 8

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. Read more…

Looking to Sunday

by Elaine Poproski

I am not a very good gardener. This, despite the fact that every spring, every year I had a yard, I couldn’t wait to get outside to dig in the dirt. I’d get muddy and scratched and stiff as I cleaned out winter’s debris; my nails would break and split as I dug in the dirt, preparing it for new plants; my bank account would empty as I wandered the aisles of my favourite nursery, dreaming of the colours, textures, and scents that would soon surround my home. The end result was never as I imagined it would be. I am not a very good gardener.

One of the things I could never get the hang of was pruning. Sometimes I’d prune a plant or tree so viciously, there was barely enough left for it to thrive. Sometimes I wouldn’t prune at all, or would be so tentative in my pruning, that the plant or tree grew out of control, weakened, and eventually failed to thrive. I am not a very good gardener.

This Sunday we’re going to read John 15:1 – 8, in which Jesus talks to His disciples by metaphor. He talks of vines and pruning. He draws attention to the vine’s branches and makes what seems to be an obvious point: if the branches aren’t connected to (He talks of abiding in) the vine, they will bear no fruit. It’s an obvious point when we talk of vines and trees and plants, but it’s not about vines and trees and plants. It’s about Jesus’ disciples. It’s about us. We are the branches; He is the vine. If we aren’t connected to (abiding in) Him, we will bear no fruit.

As you prepare for Sunday, perhaps spend some time with Galatians 5:22 – 23, which reads in part, this way: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the fruits of Jesus’ disciples… if they are connected to the vine, which is Jesus. As you prepare for Sunday, maybe spend some time reflecting on the health of the Spirit’s fruit in your life. Is it abundant? Is it healthy? Is there, perhaps, some pruning needed so it’ll grow better? What does it mean for you to abide in Jesus?