We are to grow and bear more fruit. It seems that the only way to do that is by being pruned, cleansed. What glorifies the Father is that we “bear much fruit and become disciples.” (Jn 15.8)
What is a disciple? I have always understood that the disciple is the one who has the same line of thought of one’s master. I am Christ’s disciple if I think like Jesus, if I have his frame of mind. And it seems that thinking like Jesus will bear much fruit. That is why John puts “bearing much fruit” and “discipleship” together.
The vine will bear much fruit only if it is pruned, if last year’s branches are cut off during winter. If it is not pruned, it will not have the required energy to ripen the grapes and so it will result in poor quality of the grapes. You will not be able to actually use the fruit for any use. So pruning the vine is extremely vital. Farmers tell us that a pruned vine will learn how to balance itself well.
Jesus speaks about himself being the true vine and we as the branches. The one who prunes the vine is the Father. No one else has the authority to cut off the branches and throw them in the fire. This is the Father’s work. Most Churches have done that in the past. I hope we hear this word of God speak to us clearly. God is the gardener qualified to use pruning tools.
But Jesus says that we are cleansed by his word. What cleanses us is Jesus’ word. Our old way of thinking has to be “cut off” in order to bear more fruit. Last year’s branches will not bear good quality grapes. If we keep on thinking in the way we thought “last year”, we will bear useless fruit. But if we allow Jesus’ words to prune our old way of thinking, this “new branch” will bear good fruit.
You may disagree with me and cut me off.
God help me to be pruned, to remove from myself useless things which prevent me from bearing fruit...this is very difficult sometime and easier at other times...because I'm human and I am selfish....and it's difficult probably for me to be pruned...but I will never grow unless I am pruned..please God give me the courage to grow.
ReplyDeleteCleansing and pruning is not much about fighting your weaknesses but changing your mentality.
ReplyDeleteThen Jesus in my studies He had already said, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12); "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35); "I am the Way" (John 14:6); and "I am the Door" (John 10:9).
ReplyDeleteBut now, just before the night of His death, He told them, "I am the Vine." Like the other great "I am" passages recorded in the Gospel of John, it points to His deity. Each one is a metaphor that elevates Jesus to the level of Creator if one can understand these passages, He is a Sustainer, Savior, and Lord--titles that can be claimed only by God, yet we can follow these things.
The true meaning of the metaphor it is made clear when we consider the characters in that night's drama. The disciples were with Jesus. He had loved them to the uttermost; He had comforted them with the words in John chapter 14.
A branch that is truly connected to the vine is secure and will never be removed. But one that only appears to be connected--one that has only a superficial connection--will be removed. If it does not have the life of the vine flowing through it, it will bear no fruit. Those are the Judas-branches.
There are many people/persons who, like Judas, appear by human perception to be united with Christ, but they are apostates doomed to hell. They may attend church, know all the right answers, and go through religious motions; but God will remove them, and they will be burned. Others, like the eleven, are genuinely connected to the vine and will bear fruit.
To be honest I do not see the clear connection of Judas with the eleven, as if Judas is cut off like a branch and thrown in the fire of hell. I do not really see it this way. It's a very dualistic notion that is not intended to be understood like that in the Gospel of John. "Apostates doomed to hell" is not very biblical, I assure you. It is more a idea that comes out of the Platonic philosophy and his influence on the interpretation of the gospel, rather than what the community of John wanted to convey to us in this gospel.
ReplyDeleteI know you took this quotation from the book: "How to survive in a World of Unbelievers" by John MacArthur. But I do not really agree with all of his conclusions. I believe God is more like the Father presented in the parable of the Prodigal Son than the God presented by MacArthur.