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John 15 English Standard Version (ESV)

I Am the True Vine

¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ² Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³ Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷ If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.⁹ As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

 

REFLECTION

• Read over this passage a few times slowly. If time allows, read the whole chapter.
• Jesus’ disciples are branches, He is the vine. As we remain in Him, we produce fruit. A branch draws its nutrients from the vine. In the same way we draw the spiritual vitality from Jesus in order for us to produce fruit. Thus Jesus says clearly, “for apart from me you can do nothing.” (v5)
• For the branches to bear more fruits, the gardener needs to prune his vine regularly. The great Gardener, our heavenly Father, works with extreme care to prune His vines. We’re assured that God, the gardener, actively tending His vineyard, is fully committed to bring us to maximum fruitfulness. God’s pruning work benefits us, it doesn’t threaten us.
• Remain in the Lord and thank Him for the necessary pruning in order for you to be fruitful.

 

PRAYER

Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for reminding me again today that You are the true vine, and I am a branch grafted on You. If I leave You, I will wither and be picked up and thrown into the fire to be burned. Please help me, let me absorb the nutrient juice of life from You more; please clean me up, let me bloom and bear abundant fruits. Lord, I know that You prune me for my benefit. Although the process makes me painful, it can make me please You and gain the peace of heaven. Lord, I am moved by Your love to come and let You prune and fulfill Your purpose in my life. I beg You to cut off all the superfluous branches and leaves on my body. Although they are temporarily green and lovely, pleasing to the eyes, they will not bear fruit and are useless. May the Lord help me to have an obedient heart, not to sway sideways according to my own will, but only to grow according to Your will. In this way, I will have the happiness of bearing the fruit of life. Amen!

 

HYMN

Remain In Me (I am the Vine) – youtu.be/07nI8uLwmNo