“What Would Jesus Undo: I Am The Vine”
We all have that green thumb in the family! It feels like everything they touch grows…specifically in the garden! I’ve had the privilege of seeing grandparents have that green thumb in their lifetime. See the sowing & reaping season was always interesting to me and their response the same… “we work hard but the result is up to Jesus”! As I’ve grown older and deeper in my walk with Christ those words I’ve carried with me as a reminder that it isn’t the fruit but the connection that’s most important! Jesus is teaching to a crowd in John 15 about something that would be familiar to them! But what about us? How does The Vine matter to us today and why did Jesus chose it?
John 15:1-17 Isaiah 5:1-7 Psalm 80:14-17
- The POSTURE of The Vine
- The Vine is low to the ground and has a position of Humbleness! Jesus chose this example because He was foreshadowing the Cross and showing how He had humbled Himself for us all!
- This is often the hardest part for each of us! To humble ourselves, admit that we can’t do this by our self and are in need of something that’s greater than us! But, if we will humble ourselves we will experience the complete joy Jesus came to give us!
- The UNION of The Vine and Branches
- The Vine and the branches have to work in union together produce fruit! The Vine brings nourishment to the branches that is pruned to bring forth the most fruit! In the time that Jesus is telling this they crowd is used to the vine not bearing fruit for 3 years to make the branches strong enough to bear the fruit in the 4th season! The buds were trimmed and pruned back to be able to support the fruit!
- How many of us in our walk with Jesus are believing for that! We don’t like waiting for what He has for us…but what if He pruning us so that we can be able to support the fruit He is going to let us bear!
- The Branches BELONG to The Vine
- The main reason Jesus came is so that we can be in a relationship and be adopted to the Family of God. Israel missed this point! They were so busy justifying themselves to try and be the vine to bear fruit….that they forgot that they were just supposed to belong to God!
- I love this because there is nothing the branches can do to bear fruit unless they depend on the vine for nourishment…they just have to be the branches! Jesus did the work, prepared the way so that we can just be all that He made us to be!
Here is the thing…God is the gardener, Jesus is The Vine and we get to be the branches! We get to be a part of blessing others because we are connected to Him! How Great is our God!
Take Away
What false vines might you be attaching yourself to? How has that affected you?
What dead branches from your character has Jesus removed from your life?
Interested in More About Our Thursday Greenhouse Gathering: CLICK HERE
Find Out How You Play a Part to #JoinSpartanburg: CLICK HERE
Tyler West 