These days we are eagerly awaiting the signs of spring. Even those of us who enjoy winter are hoping for the snow to melt. And we’re looking for evidence of new growth: sprouting grass, flowers and leaves on the trees!
Springtime, with all its new growth, reminds me of Jesus’ teaching about spiritual growth. Jesus often used earthy analogies to teach his followers about spiritual concepts. One example is found in the gospel of John, chapter 15. Here Jesus uses the picture of a grapevine as he says: “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.”
He also said: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
In nature, a grapevine draws water and nutrients from the soil and sends this nourishment on to the branches, which eventually produce grapes. Careful pruning can enhance the productivity of the branch.
With this process in mind, Jesus teaches his disciples about the nature of his relationship to them: Jesus compares himself to the vine and his followers to the branches. As the vine, Jesus supplies the nourishment needed for the health and vitality of the branches, his followers, in order that they may bear much fruit. God the Father, the master gardener, gives great attention to protecting and caring for what is in his vineyard, pruning as needed.
This imagery gives us insight into the vital, life-giving connection between Jesus and his followers. Originally, Jesus spoke these words to his disciples. They were already connected to him, in relationship with him, through faith. They trusted him and received forgiveness and mercy from him. Jesus was instructing them to remain in him just as he remains in them.
Jesus here gives a promise, not only to his original disciples, but also to us who follow him today. He promises to provide all that is required for spiritual growth, all that is needed to sustain life and produce abundant fruit, to those who remain in him. With Jesus there is never a shortage of the ingredients necessary for spiritual life and health.
But how are we to “remain in him”? Remaining in him simply means to continue to believe in him, to trust him. It means continuing to receive grace from Jesus Christ. That’s the essence of it! As we remain open to Jesus’ work in our lives, he promises to pour his life-giving sustenance into us. Yes, there may be struggles along the way, there may be doubts or questions, but Jesus helps us to stay connected to him.
How does he provide this nourishment? Verse 7 tells us that he does this through his Word. And this is the key to remaining in Jesus: receiving his Word. As we hear the spoken Word of God, as we read the Word of God, as we receive the Word through the sacraments, he feeds us with all the nutrients necessary for life itself. This is what he promises!
And what about the pruning? We can also be assured that the gardener, the Father, will do the necessary pruning in our lives to make us more productive. The things in our lives that are counter-productive, that are sapping our energy, will be cut away. We all have some unhealthy attitudes, behaviors or habits that get in the way of our growth as Christians. God the master gardener works steadily to remove these from our lives.
This means that we can expect some pain as a normal part of our lives. Sometimes the troubles we face, the losses we experience, the challenges we confront, are part of God’s pruning process. While he may not specifically cause these difficulties in our lives, God can use these experiences to shape us, so that we can be more fruitful.
And what sort of fruit can we expect? Well, the nature of the fruit-bearing is not expressly stated in John 15. However, considering Jesus’ words about loving God and others, we can certainly understand that love is a fruit that is produced in relationship with Christ. We might also recall the 5th chapter of the book of Galatians where Paul writes: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” These are some of the qualities that can be produced in our lives.
Over the next weeks, we will watch as new growth sprouts up from the ground around us. May we also experience spiritual growth in relationship with Jesus!
Each month the clergy of the Cook County Ministerium offer spiritual reflections. This week’s contributor is Pastor Deborah Lunde of Zoar Lutheran Church in Tofte.
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