Bearing Fruit (John 15:1-5)

Today's scripture: John 15:1-5

For the next two days, our focus is on verses that are probably very familiar to many of us. As often happens, though, sometimes the things that are most familiar require deeper investigation. We do, after all, take what's closest to us for granted.

So, let's meditate carefully on today's verses (and we'll do the same tomorrow). Do me a favor. Read these verses a few times. If you're so inclined, read them in a couple of other translations (the link is for the New American Standard Bible). Observe what John is saying.

Jesus says that He is the true vine, the Father is the vinedresser, and we are the branches. If you've never been to a vineyard, these terms may not mean much, but His disciples would have walked often through vineyards. In fact, the route they would have taken after leaving the upper to the Mount of Olives took them through "ancient vineyards" (Secrets of the Vine, © 2001 Bruce Wilkinson, p. 13). It's not hard to imagine that Jesus stopped and used the vines as illustration as He spoke.

Jesus is the true vine. The vine is the part that sinks its roots deeply into the soil. It gathers water and nutrients, and if it's not healthy, the branches cannot thrive.

The Father is the vinedresser. He is the keeper of the vineyard, and He provides what is needed to make the vine grow and the branches to bear fruit.

We are the branches. We are dependent on the vine, and when we cling to Jesus, we are strong and continue to grow in faith.

As we cling to Jesus, we bear fruit. If we don't cling to Him and grow, we won't bear fruit. This logically leads to an important question: What is that "fruit"? This is open for debate. I've heard this fruit is only those people we lead to Jesus. If that's true, does this mean that someone who is bedridden and hasn't had the opportunity to share her faith doesn't bear fruit? What if she is a gifted prayer-warrior and her prayers for unsaved friends and family lead to their salvation? Or if a very introverted, very faithful servant quietly cleans the children's ministry room every week, which allows the teachers to focus on sharing the gospel with the kids, does the fact that he doesn't actually teach negate his work?

I appreciate Bruce Wilkinson's interpretation of this passage's reference to fruit:

For years I read this passage as a general call to Christians to bring others to Christ. But there's no reason to restrict Jesus' meaning of fruit to winning souls. I have traced the words fruit and good works in the Bible, and they're used interchangeably. Take, for instance, ... Titus 3:14 ... In practical terms, fruit represents good works—a thought, attitude, or action of ours that God values because it glorifies Him. The fruit from your life is how God receives His due honor on earth ... You bear inner fruit when you allow God to nurture in you a new, Christlike quality ... You bear outward fruit when you allow God to work through you to bring Him glory. That would certainly include sharing your faith. (pp. 20-21)

No matter how one defines fruit in these verses, however, it's clear that none of us can do anything to truly glorify God without being intimately entwined with Jesus. And to be intimately entwined, we need to abide in Him. Spend time with Him. Surrender to Him. Focus on Him.

Completely and irrevocably commit to Him.

Only then we will bear God-nurtured fruit.