“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 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. 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. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 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. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:1-11

“…love is from G-d, everyone who loves is born of G-d and know G-d. G-d is love. If we love one another, G-d lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. Those who say they love G-d and hates their brothers and sisters are liars.” (1 John)

We often talk about things that are uplifting in our lives. For some people it is a song, or a genre of songs that is uplifting for them. Some will say a good cup of coffee is uplifting. For other people, it is being around family — or friends — or others seem to be uplifting to them. Some might report that going to church is uplifting — that taking communion, hearing the words of absolution to our confessions — remembering your baptism — that these together with the presence of other people of faith is an uplifting experience.

I have read a devotion that insists that the word translated as “prunes” or “removes” in verse 2 is better translated as “lifts up” or “cleanses”. Therefore the text would read “He “lifts up” every branch in me that bears no fruit.” This actually is a better translation if you read this from the perspective of the vine grower. Every branch that is not producing fruit is often a vine that is on the ground — covered with dust — unable to see the sun — choked off from receiving the same amount of nourishment, etc. So, the vine grower will go around and tie up those branches that are on the ground, thus “lifting them up” so they can see the sun, receive the same amount of nourishment.

Do you see how G-d does the same with you and I? When life chokes us off, throws us in the dirt, keeps us down or separated like in these Covid-19 days, who is it that comes to lift us up? How often are we surrounded by our Christian brothers and sisters when we are having a bad go of it – who surround us with their prayers, their presence, and their care, which lifts us up and helps us see that G-d is active through them. When we cut ourselves off from Jesus, who is the vine, then we will surely find our way clouded with doubt, uncertainty, without spiritual nourishment. But when we abide in the vine, when we stay connected through reading the Word, and prayer and worship, then we place ourselves distinctly in the influence of Jesus the vine, who will give us the nourishment we need to thrive.

Pastor Dave