”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. ²He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. ³You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. ⁵I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.” John 15:1-8

“It’s easy to read this passage as one of judgment and threat. But I think the thrust of the passage is promise. Why? It all has to do with context. First, the context of the narrative: Jesus is offering these words to his disciples on the eve of his crucifixion. He knows what is going to happen – both to himself and to his flock – and they do not. They are about to be cut down by his crucifixion and death and he is assuring them that it will not be mere, senseless cutting but that they will survive, even flourish. The second context is that of the community for which John writes. Because by the time they hear these words they have already been scattered, likely thrown out of their synagogue, and have had plenty of reason to feel like they’ve been abandoned. But John writes to assure them that while they have indeed been cut, it is the pruning for more abundant fruit and life.

No doubt that was hard to believe, as there was precious little evidence available to the disciples or John’s community that they had not been abandoned. And no doubt it still is hard to believe on our end as well, as so much of life simply tears at us with no evidence that it is toward some more fruitful future. But amid this uncertainly and distress, Jesus still invites us – actually, not just invites but promises us – that he will not abandon us but rather will cling to us like a vine clings to a tree so that we endure, persevere, and even flourish among these present difficulties.

Here’s the thing: if Jesus had only said, “abide in me or else,” that would be a different matter. But it’s not. “Abide in me,” Jesus says, “as I abide in you.” This is more than good advice. More than an invitation. This is a promise, that no matter what happens, Jesus will be with us. That no matter what happens, Jesus will hold onto us. And that no matter what happens, God in Jesus will bring all things to a good end.”  (in the Meantime, David Lose, On Being Pruned, April 27, 2015)

Why is this story so important?  It is important because it helps us understand the Gospel lesson from the 15^th chapter of John.  Jesus says:

“I am the vine, and my father is the vinegrower.  He removes every branch IN ME that bears no fruit.  Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.  You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you.” 

The first important thing that Jesus says comes in the words “In Me”.  Jesus is not speaking about non-believers.  He is talking to his disciples.  He is talking to those who are “In” him – not outside of him.  And so he says that those who are “In Me” will be cut off if they bear no fruit.  Now, THAT is troubling.  Here, in the story about the Eunuch, someone who was not “in Christ”, the Holy Spirit sends Philip, someone who is not trained in Evangelizing, he is sent to the Eunuch to preach to him and baptize him.  This person was already cut off from God according to Deuteronomy 23 and yet the Holy Spirit went specifically to him – to accept him – to bring him into the fold.  And now Jesus is saying that those who are “In Him”, but bear no fruit will be CUT OFF.  It makes no sense.  It is troubling.  We are people who profess that it is not our works that save us – we are dependent on God’s grace that comes through faith.  Whether we are IN or OUT is not dependent on our fruit production.  As I said, this text is troubling.

That is, until we learn something about this text.  The word translated as “removed” or “cut off” is the Greek word Airo.  It is never translated as “cut off” – no where else in the bible is it translated as cut off.  It is a bad translation.  Airo means to “lift up”.  In the feeding of the 5000, the disciples are told to gather up the leftovers, and they “take up” or “lift up” 12 baskets full of food.  So the text should read: “He lifts up every branch in me that bears no fruit.”  This also fits how the vine grower handles the vines.  New branches tend to grow downward and along the ground.  When they are down on the ground, they get dirty, cannot get any sunlight or air, and do not produce fruit.  The vine grower must go along with a bucket of water, wash off the dirty vines and they tie them up so they can get some sunshine, get some air, and yes produce grapes.

What do we learn?  Look, it is our human nature to say that certain people are either IN God’s favor or OUT of God’s favor.  The Old Testament supported this notion – there are many readings in Leviticus and Deuteronomy that list who is “in” or “out” either because of sinful behavior or the fact that they do not fit in because of a physical defect.  The New Testament brings us the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ who has brought us a new teaching – a new command – love our neighbor and love God.  Yes there are sinful things that we do that we ought not to do, and yes we can cut ourselves off from God so that we do not bear fruit, sometimes for many, many years.  Jesus says to the woman who is not stoned “Go and sin no more.”  Leading a life where we intend not to sin verses living a life where we could care less whether we sin are two different life styles.  And God does call us to accountability.  But when a follower comes along a path of their life where they are not bearing much fruit, must we live in fear that God will lop us off from God’s Grace?  Must we live in such fear?  No.  What Jesus is saying is that those who are in him, who abide in him, and find themselves barren in regards to fruit, will not be cut off, but in fact Jesus will lift them up.  How does God lift us up?  And, how are we cleansed?

First God cleanses us through baptism – which cleanses us from original sin.

Second God lifts us and cleanses us through the regular practice of repentance, seeking forgiveness, and giving forgiveness.  This allows us to let go of hurts and hard feelings and lifts us above bitterness and hatred to smell the fresh air of God’s love and mercy and live in the light of Christ.

Third, we are cleansed and lifted through Holy Communion – it feeds us the nutrients that we need and allows us to physically touch and take into us the forgiving nature of the body and blood of Christ.  Fourth, we are lifted through the mutual conversation and consolation of our brothers and sisters of Christ – those who are also connected to the vine.  Being a part of the active Christian community brings us to accountability in our actions and our inaction, but also allows us to be surrounded by people who do care about us, and love us, and will be there for us – and call us to accountability. 

Finally, we are cleansed and lifted up by the Word of God.  When we take Christ into our ears, when we fully hear about the love of God made manifest through Jesus – when we seriously learn the lessons that Jesus teaches us to obey – and when we hear the word and feed on his body and blood, the Holy Spirit comes into us to build faith – and moves us to preach this good news to others.

Pastor Dave