I AM: The True Vine
John 15:1 – 8
There was a missionary in Africa that lived in a central mission that had a generator to supply power for the church and a small house. One day some people from an outlying village came to visit the missionary and they noticed the electric light hanging from the ceiling of his room.
They watched with wide eyes as he turned the little switch and the light went on and off. They had never seen such a thing. One of the visitors asked if he could have one of the bulbs. The priest, thinking that he wanted it for a sort of trinket, gave him one of the extra bulbs.
On his next visit to the outlying village the priest stopped at the hut of the man who had asked for the bulb. To his surprise he saw the bulb hanging from an ordinary string. The man was happy to have the bulb but was disappointed that it did not provide him with light. The pastor explained that it needed to have electricity and a wire to bring the power to the bulb. Without being connected to power there would be no light.
In our text for today, Jesus tells us a story concerning the importance of our connection to the true power of life. The metaphor that Jesus uses is that of a vine, the true vine and the branches which are dependent on that vine for their source of power, their source of life, the life that allows the branches to bear the intended fruit.
Just as the generator provides the power necessary for a bulb to produce its light, the vine provides the flow of life necessary for the branches to produce fruit.
Friends today we come to the end of our seven week series on the “I AM” statements of Jesus as found in the Gospel of John. We have heard Jesus declare “I AM: The Bread of Life; The Light of the World; The Gate; The Good Shepherd; The Resurrection; The Way, Truth and Life. Today we hear Jesus declare “I AM: The True Vine”.
The scene for our lesson today is the same as last week, we are in the Upper Room after they had eaten and Judas had scurried away and Jesus is having a conversation with the disciples and doing his best to prepare these men for what is about to happen just mere hours before Jesus is arrested, taken away from the disciples and ultimately crucified.
This “I AM” statement is different from the others however. In all of the others Jesus makes a singular declaration about his nature, who he is, who God has sent him to be. But in this one Jesus includes the nature, the workings of God as well. Jesus declares “I AM: The True Vine, and my Father is The Gardener”.
Throughout the Jewish Holy Scriptures the Nation of Israel is held up as a vine planted by God. For that reason the grapevine is a prominent symbol for the people of Israel. In fact, in their temple, at the very center of their national life, there was a massive vine, made of solid gold, over 90 feet high. It was a symbol of the nation and its prosperity.
The vine was a favorite metaphor to describe the people of Israel in the Old Testament. Time and again, the people of Israel are likened to a vine. In our Old Testament lesson today we read that God’s people are described as a massive vine, planted by the Lord. God brought them out of Egypt, and planted them in their own land. And the whole purpose for their redemption was that they would bear fruit for his great pleasure.
But as we know, the story of the Old Testament, tells us that even though Israel was planted by the Lord, she didn’t produce the fruit that God wanted. By in large, the Lord didn’t find the fruit he was looking for from Israel, his beloved vine. The vine of Israel proved to be ineffective and unproductive.
This does not mean however that God abandoned Israel. Quite the contrary in fact, he sent Jesus to meet their deepest need. Jesus is their substitute. He will be a sacrifice for their sin. He will bring them to God. Jesus is the most compelling proof of God’s love for Israel. “I AM: The True Vine” Jesus says and “My Father is the Vine Grower”. Jesus is saying that he and God working together to make His children faithful and true to God’s purpose.
God is the gardener who cares for the vine and the branches to make them fruitful. As you all know the goal of the whole farming enterprise is the yield, the produce, the fruit. If gardens did not produce fruits, vegetables and flowers, how many of us would go through all the trouble?
The goal of the garden is the fruit. And so it is with God. God is the farmer, He has planted His faithful seed in His garden, and he wants us to produce, He expects us to produce fruit for his own pleasure. You and I, we were created by God for a purpose; to produce fruit in order to glorify Him.
It is the responsibility of the farmer to insure that vine will produce fruit and he takes measures to see that this happens. So how does the vine keeper ensure that the vine remains fruitful? He prunes it often and with great purpose and intent.
Fruit trees and vines most be pruned to make them healthier and in order for them to bear more fruit. Pruning takes at least three different forms:
- First, pruning involves cutting out dead branches because the dead branches can impede and restrict the healthy branches.
- Second, pruning involves cutting off branches that were too long and straggly and stick out too far. You want thick enough stems to get enough nourishment for the fruit.
- Third, even with branches that are alive and productive, you still cut a little piece off the end. That stress on the plant stimulates new growth prompts the branch to yield more fruit.
And that is where we as we come in to today’s lesson. Not only does Jesus include the Father in his declaration, he also includes us, me and you!
In verse 5 Jesus says “I AM the vine and you are the branches”! Jesus is the vine, God is the farmer and we are the branches that are expected to provide the good fruit for the glory of God.
Jesus said: “Those who abide in me and I in them, will bear much fruit, but apart from me you can do nothing”.
So how are we to be able to produce the fruit of goodness, righteousness and truth? It is by staying connected to the “vine” for our spiritual nourishment and by being willing to undergo the “pruning” that our Father provides for us.
Friends, there is a whole lot of Spiritual pruning going on these day. The challenges in our lives these days, is putting us under tremendous Spiritual stress. It is cutting away the dead wood in our faith, those activities and habits that restrict the flow of God’s grace and righteousness in our lives keeping us from producing fruit in some areas of our lives.
But where we are being fruitful, God is nipping at our growing edges, putting the stresses that we need to encourage us to grow stronger and more fruitful.
Even though we are all “pruned” by the challenges that we face throughout our lives these days, we glorify our Father by accepting that pruning as the grace of the master vine keeper and being committed to bearing the fruits of goodness, righteousness and truth.
Hear the Good News my Friends…………….
Stay in connection with Christ, stay close to the vine! It says to abide in him “to remain,” “to stay put,” “to linger” and “to dwell with him.” The most important thing for a branch to do is to stay securely connected to the vine. Only a branch that receives life-giving sap from the vine will live and bear fruit.
Jesus finishes his metaphor of the vine and the branches by making this promise to his disciples:
If you remain connected to me, and my words dwell in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples!
How utterly simple is that, stay connect and engaged in Jesus, obey his words, trust in his plan and purpose for you, remain close to him and you can ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you!
I wanted to close with these words from the hymn “The Lord of Life, A Vine is He” written incidentally by Mary Kay Beall who was born in Akron and graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University and THE Ohio State University.
The Lord of Life, a vine is he and grafted to him we must be and thus we yield abundantly sweet fruit for all to taste and see. If we be joined to him we know his strength and power will help us grow.
His Spirit’s grace through us will flow to prune and shape us as we go. The Lord of Life, the Source Divine calls us to come, with him entwine. Will we, unhearing dare decline the call of Christ, the One True Vine?
God brings his branches through stressful circumstances. We naturally and naively assume that hardship is God’s way of punishing us or rejecting us. But Jesus tells us that the painful pruning process is not punishment. Instead, it is a tender gift of loving care.
So how do we know when God is pruning us? The answer: When we become more reliant on the Vine for our life and strength. So how do you respond in times of difficulty and disappointment? We draw closer to the Vine in humble dependence and prayer.
Friends, let us draw near to Christ in these difficult times. For when we draw near to him, our pain becomes pruning and it yields a harvest of Spiritual fruit. Jesus declares I AM the True Vine, and you are the branches! Stay close to him, abide in him and be fruitful! Amen.
Chatham Circuit
St Louisville, Chatham & Liberty UMC
April 19, 2020
Second Sunday of Easter
Prelude
Bringing the Light
*Call to Worship
L: The joy of the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ is with us.
P: We rejoice in the blessing God has poured into our lives.
L: Even though we hear words of doubt, we are called to believe.
P: Even though the world would draw us back again into darkness, we focus on the Light.
L: Thanks be to Christ who gives us the victory
P: Alleluia! Amen.
*Hymn: Easter People Raise Your Voices UMH 304
*Opening Prayer
First Scripture: Psalm 80:7 – 19
The Lord’s Prayer
Second Scripture: 1 Peter 1: 3 – 9
*The Apostle’s Creed UMH 881
*Gloria Patri UMH 70
*Message Lesson: John 15:1 – 8
The Message
I AM: The Vine
Bryan Moore
Hymn: Abide With Me UMH 700, 1st 3 verses
Prayers of the People
Offering in Response to God’s Grace
*Doxology UMH 95
*Offertory Prayer
Lord, we offer to you this day, token of our lives and our substance. Take these lives and these gifts and cause them to work in this world which you have loaned us, for the healing and reconciliation of all people to you. Amen.
*Hymn: Victory in Jesus UMH 370
*Benediction
In great mercy, God has given us a new birth into a living hope, for it is the risen Christ who stands in our midst and says, “Peace be with you!” We go forth to walk the path of new life and living hope. And may the peace of the risen Christ be with us!
Closing
Easter People Raise Your Voices
1 Easter people, raise your voices, sounds of heaven in earth should ring. Christ has brought us heaven’s choices; heavenly music, let it ring: “Alleluia! Alleluia!” Easter people, let us sing.
2 Fear of death can no more stop us from our pressing here below. For our Risen Lord empowers us to triumph over every foe. Alleluia! Alleluia! On to victory now we go.
3 Every day to us is Easter, with its resurrection song. When the cares of life o’erwhelm us, Easter people, sing this song: “Alleluia! Alleluia!” Everlasting triumph song.
Abide With Me
1 Abide with me: fast falls the eventide;
the darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
2 Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away.
Change and decay in all around I see.
O thou who changest not, abide with me.
3 I need thy presence every passing hour.
What but thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like thyself my guide and strength can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
Victory in Jesus
I heard an old, old story, How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning, Of His precious blood’s atoning,
Then I repented of my sins And won the victory.
Chorus
O victory in Jesus, My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory, Beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about His healing, Of His cleansing pow’r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, “Dear Jesus, Come and heal my broken spirit,”
And somehow Jesus came and bro’t To me the victory.
I heard about a mansion He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing, And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I’ll sing up there The song of victory.
“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
Prayer Requests:
- Prayers for Sandy, Nancy’s sister
- Prayers for Dick and Mary Ann,
- Prayers for Bonnie and Gerald,
- Prayers for Sally and David
- Prayers for Ellen and her husband, John
St Louisville
Mark Soter Bryan Miller
Warren Parsons Teri Schaller
Dick and Mary Ann Power Bonnie and Gerald Pound
Chatham
Frances Garno Suzann Warner
Jane Smith
Liberty
Sally Lindsay Sandy (Nancy’s sister)
Larry Allen Janet Bryant
Jennifer (Larry’s daughter) Drew, Sarah, & Ellie
Jason White Ruth and Rick Wilson
Birthdays this week
4/19 John Prather
4/20 Jessie Baldwin
4/22 Celeste Nichols
The Life of the Church Coming Events
April 22 – Bible Study, 2PM Telephone 508 – 924-5730.
Words of Confession:
We listen to the news, read the newspapers, and wonder if peace will ever reign in your world, Lord. Today we have been invited to be with the disciples in that hidden place where they also wondered about peace and hope. You broke through. You shattered the darkness and they were astonished again.
Help us to understand that you will bring peace to each one of us. Forgive all those times when we treat this moment of revelation as though it was impossible. Give us the courage to reach out to you and touch our hearts once again. For we ask this in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Words of Assurance:
Lord, we come to you this day, seeking peace and release from our fears and our darkness. We know that you are here with us, guiding, healing and loving us. Help us to reach out to others with the same love you give to us.
Make us people who bring words of compassion and hope, actions of help and loving kindness, to all we meet. Place our feet on the pathway of life, offering ourselves and our gifts for your holy realm. Encourage us to grow and learn about ministries of reconciliation and compassion.
When we falter, pick us up. When we fail, remind us that you believe in us. When we turn and run because of our fear, bring us home again. These things we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.