Fruits Of The Vine

Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.” (John 15:9-11)

This text is preceded by: "Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire, and they will be burned. 

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want, and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples." (John 15:4-8) 

Yes, Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches; however, it is also wise to call us the fruit of the vine.  Normally we speak of the fruits of the Holy Spirit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  But we are to be the fruit providing sustenance to those who are hungry.  

The challenge is for us not to rot on the vine through ambivalence, apathy, greed, and self-interest.  The challenge also is for us to withstand the bruising we fruits sustain when we fall from the branches.  We all fall at one time or another.  Fortunately, the Lord surveying his vineyard, is there to pick us up, bruised or not.

Deacon David Pierce