I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.” vss. 1-2
John 15:1-4
It takes considerable skill and expertise to be a successful wine producer. Even the highest quality vines need to be watered, tended, and pruned to get the highest quality wines. Expert viticulturists spend years honing their craft and are in great demand wherever grapes are produced. Certainly that would have been true in Galilee during the ministry of Jesus, and he likely saw more than a few vineyards in the course of his travels. And according to the gospel of John he was familiar with high quality wine, and the effect it could have at a wedding reception. It’s not surprising then that in this section of the gospel he describes himself as “the true vine.” For him it was the perfect metaphor for the lives he expected his followers to live. They were his branches and they were expected to produce fruit in abundance. If they bore no fruit, he warns, they would be removed by the vine grower. While that sounds ominous, that’s the ever present reality in any vineyard. Pruning is a necessity for good grape production, and the same is true for every person of faith. It’s one of the ways the Holy Spirit works in our lives to produce the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Ultimately the pruning is a blessing!
Thought for the Day: How have I experienced pruning in my life?
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