As the temperature warms up many people are beginning to think of planting gardens. My father grew tomato plants each summer in hot and humid St. Louis. I will always remember the feel of a warm, bright red tomato falling into the cup of my hand.
Jesus often told stories about gardening as part of His teaching. In John 15:5 and 8, Jesus said, “I am the true vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing…This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
If a tomato branch is separated from the tomato vine, that branch will not bear fruit. It will die. And if the branch remains in the tomato vine it will produce fruit. It produces the same type of fruit as the vine. Tomato vines produce tomatoes, not cucumbers or grapes. Since Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches, if we remain in Him we will produce fruit that is like Him. The Jesus vine produces Jesus fruit.
What does our fruit look like? Our fruit looks like Jesus. And what does Jesus look like? We see His character and His actions in the Bible. Jesus is loving, strong, merciful, sacrificial, honors God, and tells people that He is the way to the Father. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul writes what we are gradually ripening into if we are abiding in Christ. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” Just as a branch is nourished by the vine, we are nourished by Jesus. As we are nourished by Him, He gradually changes us to become more like Him, to have these qualities in our lives. We will also bear fruit by telling people about who Jesus is and our relationship with Him.
How do we as branches remain in Jesus, the true vine? Let’s compare it with other relationships. How do we abide in or stay close to the people we value most? We stay in communication. It may be spending time together working, cooking, or eating. Maybe it includes talking on the phone or social media. We are more likely to tell the people we are closest to what we really think and how we really feel. We feel safer with them. However, if there is little to no communication with someone, how are we close? It’s the same with abiding in Jesus. Talking with Jesus about what is important in our heart, reading the Bible, doing what the Bible teaches, and worshiping with others at church are some of the most important ways of being close to and nourished by Jesus. “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” (James 4:8)
Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus’ teaching. Thank you that you want me to know you and tell you my worries and my joys. Thank you that you call me to live my life with You and for You. Jesus, I choose to abide in You. Amen.
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