Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” The Bible makes numerous other references to vines. “Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard” (Isa. 5:3). “Yet I planted you as a choice vine, from the purest stock” (Jer. 2:21). “You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it” (Ps. 80:8). Now Jesus says, “I am the vine, you are the branches.”
Dave, a man in my Bible study class, looked thoughtful as the group discussed this passage. He then said, “You know, I have a wonderful picture in my mind of the vine and the branches, and I think of that being Jesus and me. And God is the gardener who prunes when it’s necessary.” Dave laughed and confessed, “And with me, sometimes it really is necessary.” He then continued, “I also love the idea that other branches are woven around my branch. That’s all of you and also people I don’t even know. We are connected and need to bear fruit.”
We are the branches—now, today. God ensures our productivity. Jesus’ instruction to his disciples involves connectedness and responsibility. We pray and bear fruit. Jesus in his ministry gave many clues as to what bearing fruit could look like: forgiving, loving, caring for orphans and widows, feeding the hungry, visiting those in prison, releasing captives, welcoming the stranger, and so on.
Vines sometimes chaotically intermingle but retain a sense of being braided together. Again a braid has three parts: the vine, the branches, the fruit; Jesus, us, acts of love.