Jesus: “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 NLT
John 15 records some of the most tender, passionate, and assuring words given to followers of Jesus – not just for the original disciples but all of us who follow Him. Jesus had been telling them that He is going away. This very evening Jesus had shared that He was going to prepare a place for them to eventually be with Him forever. Now He said that He is the true vine and His followers are the branches. They must remain connected to Him to bear spiritual fruit – because apart from Him they can do nothing. He calls them to obey His commands, especially to love one another sacrificially as He has loved them – this is how they remain in His love. Spiritual vitality and eternal fruitfulness depend entirely on abiding in Jesus.
Put yourself in their sandals. Can you imagine that the One on whom you depend, the One who makes you believe you actually can live this life, is going away and you can’t go with Him now? He is going away and also leaving them with a big and confusing job – to remain in Him. And there’s more. The world will hate and persecute them as it did Him. What a situation! How will this ever be possible? How can they remain in Him with all of these challenges and obstacles? Jesus knows. Though Jesus is going away, the Father will send the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, to be with them.
Abiding in Christ, remaining in Him, is walking in the Spirit of Truth sent from the Father. We get it right when we prioritize abiding, not achieving. The primary responsibility of a disciple is not to produce fruit, but to abide – stay connected – to the Vine. Fruit is the inevitable result of being attached to Jesus. We get it right when we acknowledge our need. When Jesus said, “Without me you can do nothing," He invited us to humbly stop trying to force results in our own strength. When I accept that I can do nothing without Jesus, I admit that my own strength and abilities are insufficient, and I need Him for everything. We get it right when we maintain an alive daily connection. Jesus is the center. I intentionally rely on Him daily through the Word, prayer, and active following. We get it right when we stop striving and start trusting and depending. This walking in the Spirit produces the fruit that lasts.
The promised Gift of the Spirit did all of that for the first Jesus followers, and the Spirit will do it for us as well when we remain and abide in Jesus too.
- Walking in the Spirit is only possible as I remain in Jesus. God, help me prioritize abiding and depending.