“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. ² He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. ³ You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide 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. ⁵ I 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.”  John 15:1-5

I believe this text, the “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower”, turns on the verse “He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit.” The reason I say it turns on this verse is the alternative rendering of the verb here translated as “Removes”. This word can also be rendered as “Lift Up”. And since this is written for a people who understand how to grow grapes, it makes sense to me to realize that a grape grower will lift up vines that are down in the dirt and fruitless, rather than just lopping them off. Pruning is necessary for fruit trees and grapevines. But, it is also necessary to tie up the vines that are drooping and not getting any sun.

As such, Jesus lifts us up when we are in the dirt—when we are fruitless and in need of the (Son) Sun.

Pastor Dave