17.09.06 AM

Jesus in John # 52 - Jesus the Great Vine

John 15:1-17

In Hampton Court near London, there is a grapevine called the Great Vine [PP]

It was planted in 1768 by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown and is the oldest known vine in the world.

This grapevine has one root which is at least two feet thick, and some of the branches are 200 feet long.

Despite its age the vine produces 500-700lbs of grapes each year. [PP]

Although some of the smaller branches are 200 feet from the main stem, they still bear the sweet and delicious fruit because they are connected to the vine.

Life flows from that single root and through out the vine bringing nourishment and strength to each of the branches.

Jesus puts the image of the vine and the branches and the bearing of fruit to his disciples. [PP]

Jesus refers to himself as the Vine – we could call him the original Great Vine [PP]

An image which this day I hope will help us and challenge us in our relationship with Christ and our Christian discipleship.

In verse two, Jesus tells us that, "every branch that bears fruit God prunes to make it bear more fruit".

Now, I’m sure we are comfortable with the imagery of bearing fruit.

It is good to know that we are living fruitful, purposeful, productive lives.

But we are not so comfortable with the thought of pruning, even necessary pruning. [pp sacataurs]

Jesus calls his disciples to bear fruit.

Fruit that is the consequence of the life flowing from the vine through the branches.

Disciples are not called to conjure up fruit, as though it can somehow be produced on the branch apart from the vine.

It must be produced as a result of abiding, remaining in the vine.

The disciple allowing Christ’s life to flow through them and Him producing the fruit

The disciple, the branch simply bearing the fruit.

But Jesus not only says the branch must bear fruit, he adds that pruning must take place for greater fruitfulness.

Pruning !

Vine branches often spring forth several shoots at once – a primary fruit, as well as secondary and tertiary fruits.

All three of these fruits would mature into edible, healthy fruits, given the opportunity.

However, the vine dresser (or gardener) usually prunes the second and third fruits.

Why prune them if they would make good fruits? The reason is to give stronger life to the primary fruit.

With the food and nourishment all concentrated into one area, the remaining fruit gains the best of everything, and becomes, in turn, the best fruit. This is the gardener’s desire – he knows best – he’s an expert.

If you are a disciple of Jesus here today, think, for a moment, of your own life. …

With our busy, quick paced culture, with our information society, and vast resources, we can bear much fruit.

But often, we find that our energies are spent in a lot of small ways, scattered here and there, lacking focus and direction.

Our fruit, in its variety, may be good, but is it as good as it might be with a little pruning?

What if the Lord were calling you to cut out a few things ?

It could be a hobby, a habit, a TV program, an area of interest.

What if you channelled the nourishment and sustenance God provides into one outlet, into one branch to one fruit? That of living solely for him, seeking first his kingdom and righteousness.

What could you accomplish? What could you do for God?

Or rather what could God do through you ?

The secondary and tertiary branches in our lives may not be bad things.

But they may also be places where our gifts and graces from God are not best spent.

Our energy, our passion, belongs in the primary branch, the path that Christ calls each of us to travel – follow me!

What is that calling that you have received ? What is it that the Lord is calling you to do with your life ?

Who is it that the Lord is calling you to be in this world ?

Sometimes, our lives become so busy, that we can’t see the vine for the branches.

Sometimes we need a little pruning, from the gentle hand of the gardener.

We need to be pruned that we become more fruitful.

What is it that needs to go in order for us to live fruitful and productive lives for the kingdom ?

[PP – Grapes – Many Branches] Another image that we have here is of many branches in the one vine.

As we walk together as church, we are many branches, each one of us different.

He calls us to love one another, and he has loved us – unconditionally, unreservedly, sacrificially.

He calls us, as we covenant to walk together through thick and thin, to care abut each other, to not say, I don’t need you.

As we regard one another so we see that we are all a different stages of growth, maturity, fruitfulness.

Some branches are bigger, some smaller, some more fruitful, some less, some, sadly not at all fruitful.

And we need to be careful as we regard ourselves, that we have a right perspective on our own fruitfulness.

Paul writes this :

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:3-5)

Let us consider ourselves as church, as part of the one vine, not as separate branches bearing no relation to one another.

Every believer is grafted into the vine, we are related to each other, we are family.

And each one of us must be careful how we treat the one another, what we say to one another, how we act towards one another.

Gossip, arrogance, pride, indifference, envy have no place among God’s people.

God’s desire is that we bear good fruit, and become more and more fruitful.

Not one of us should be content with our level of fruitfulness.

We each should desire more and more pruning so that we become more and more fruitful.

As you look at our life for Christ, how fruitful would you say you are ?

What evidence of the fruit of obedience in day to day living do you exhibit ?

What fruit of the Spirit do you show ?

Paul speaks about “… love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

He also speaks displaying the fruit of the light – all goodness, righteousness and truth - finding out what pleases the Lord.” (Ephes. 5:9-10)

Is the way that you are living, the way that you spend your time, your energies pleasing to the Lord ?

[PP – Where does the vine end and the branch begin ? Being Christ-like] The image of the vine and the branches is also one of not knowing quite where the vine ends and the branch begins.

As your family and friends, your work colleagues, your neighbours look at you do they see Christ ?

Do they see someone who is Christ-like ?

Our Christ-likeness is wholly dependant upon the extent to which we abide in Christ.

Jesus tells his disciples to, "abide (or remain) in me, and I will abide in you" (v4).

Here is an intimate relationship.

I wonder how much you cultivate that relationship.

How much time you spend with the vine ?

As we spend time with Jesus so we will become more like him.

Acts 4:13 “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

Listen to his words, read the scriptures, allow the presence of the Holy Spirit to draw you deeper in love with Jesus.

There is a real danger for many people who claim to be Christians, who may be found in churches up and down our land, who may sing the hymns, pray the prayers, go to the meetings, but are not in relationship with Jesus the vine.

Jesus said this, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:21-23)

“Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them. (Matthew 7:16-20)

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27)

[PP] Are you in relationship with the Vine – Do you know Jesus to be your personal Lord and Saviour ?

Are you standing on solid ground, is your life build upon the foundation of Jesus Christ – his forgiveness, his reconciling you to God ?

[PP Are you in a fruitful relationship with the Vine?]

If you are in relationship with Jesus, then allow his life to flow through you, allow God’s pruning, respond to it, do not resent it, become more and more fruitful.

“let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. … do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. … No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:1,5-6,11)

And if you are not in relationship with Jesus, then respond to his word to you today.

“Repent … and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” (Acts 3:19)

[PP – WBC on grapes]