Jesus the Vine

Many of us today, are trying to be the vine instead of being the branch, by trying to supply for our own needs. The result is stress, anxiety, restlessness, paranoia, etc. To get relief, people try all types of therapies and medication and still feel that it is just not enough, and need something much stronger. Ultimately, people end up resorting to alcohol and drugs. All of this is because, they are trying to be the vine, by being their own provider. In other words, they are trying to substitute our Lord Jesus, with the things of the world.

Jesus says:

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." - John 15:5

Allow yourself to be the branch, and let our Lord Jesus be the vine, let Him be the provider, and be open to His leadership. This is the reason, in the Bible, people like the tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, blind, etc., were able to experience His wonderful Grace. They were able to draw much from Him, and walked away rejuvenated with His love and blessings, simply because they allowed Jesus to be the vine. On the other hand, our Lord couldn't be of any effect to the Pharisees and the Sadducees because, they were trying to be the vine, by boasting in the law and their own righteousness, and restricted His Grace from flowing to them.

Jesus says "without me ye can do nothing". But in reality, we see many people in the world, trying to accomplish things without Jesus. How can that be? The answer is, just because we see people successful in their professional life, or wealthy, doesn't mean that their life is a success. Many such people are sinking in their personal and family life, hence many try to depend on cigarettes, alcohol and drugs to keep them going. God's Word says, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36). In the end, they all realize that they have been trying hard for "nothing". The Bible says:

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" - John 8:36

When we have a teachable heart, and when we are being under the leadership of our Lord Jesus, we are being the branches. We need not have to rely on cigarettes, alcohol and drugs to keep us going, when we can simply rely on Him. On doing so, we would have His supply constantly flowing in us and that will keep us going. The outome is, we would be more restful, more peaceful and full of joy. Jesus says:

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit" - John 15:2

The word "taketh away" in this context, in the Greek (as the New Testament was originally written in Greek), is the word "airo", which means "to rise up" or "elevate" or "lift up". If we observe the vineyards, the branches are kept on a trellis above the ground level. The Lord being the vine dresser, whenever we fall to the ground, He lifts us up. In the Bible, we notice our Lord is always lifting up people like His disciples, the blind, the leaper, tax collectors, prostitutes, etc. He also says "and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it". The word "purgeth" in this context, in the Greek, is the word "kathairo" which means "to cleanse of filth impurity". The pruning process is not cutting away the branch, but rather its the washing and cleansing of the branch, in order to remove dust, bacteria, pests, filth, impurities, etc. from the branch. How can we, being a branch be washed and cleansed? If you notice, our Lord Jesus, immediately after saying the above, He says:

"Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you" - John 15:3

The Word of God is the living water that constantly washes and cleanses us. Apostle Paul says so to the people belonging to the church of Ephesus:

"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word" - Ephesians 5:26

Our Lord Jesus continues to say:

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me" - John 15:4

How can we abide in Him, and He in us? Jesus clearly shows us how by saying:

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" - John 15:7

When His Words abide in us, Jesus abides in us. Jesus in the scriptures is known as the “Word”. Apostle John makes it clear in his Gospel, where he calls Jesus as the Word:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" - John 1:1

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." - John 1:14

This is why it is important to read the Bible and allow His Words to abide in us. People who seek excuses saying that the Bible cannot be understood, or the Bible is incomplete, etc., do not have the Jewish Messiah abiding in them because His Words do not abide in them. When we are constantly reading and meditating on the Word of the Lord, or listening to sermons that are Christ centered, we, being the branches, are constantly being washed and cleansed. The more we sit under anointed teaching, the more we are cleansed. Apostle Paul also explains:

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" - Romans 10:17

Apostle Paul makes it clear as to faith comes by "hearing" the Word (present tense) and not "having heard" the Word (past tense). The more we hear the Word of God, the more stronger our faith grows. He makes it clear that it is important to listen to a preacher who preaches the Gospel of Grace in Christ:

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" - Romans 10:14-15

Jesus abides in us when His Words abide in us. We abide in Jesus when we put our faith in the Gospel through His Words. Apostle Paul said:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" - Galatians 2:20

The Lord is always for us, He is always with us, and will never leave us nor forsake us. All we need to do is be the branches, and allow Him to be the vine. When we are rooted in the Word of the Lord and have a lifestyle based on Bible values and principles, we are being the branches. This gives an opportunity for the Lord's Grace to flow in us. The result is that, we would lead a quality life in all its fullness, and we would tend towards excellence, and ultimately, our life would be a success in Christ.