IT BEGINS WITH a very small bud. Over time the bud develops into a bright flower. The flower eventually brings forth fruit. When the fruit ripens and matures, the vine is momentarily covered in glory. But its grandeur is short-lived, and the clusters are then harvested. Finally, the vine is pruned back to the stem awaiting next year’s bloom again.
Jesus was going to return back to His Father in the very near future, and so He sought to instruct His chosen few in a way that would help them see their purpose and function following His ascension back to heaven. Ironically, the imagery He decided to employ on this occasion didn’t fit the typical Messianic theology. He spoke of Himself, not as some grand, all-conquering autocrat, but as a simple vine—a symbol employed in Old Testament times, not of a singular person, but of a nation at large—Israel (cf. Psa. 80:8-16; Isa. 5:1-7; Hos. 10:1-2).
He (Jesus), like a grapevine would bloom, produce abundant fruit, and then be “cut back” (Mat. 16:21-23; 17:22-23; 20:17-19; Mk. 8:31-33; 9:30-32; 10:32-34; Lk. 9:21-22; 43-45; 18:31-34) at Calvary. As branches of this true vine, the disciples were to do and expect the same. They were to grow, yield bountiful fruit, and then be pruned back again.
Like the twelve two millennia ago, we share this very mandate, obligation and privilege:
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:1-8).
But now notice that Jesus didn’t say, “just bear fruit…” nor did He say, “bear some fruit…” He said, “bear MUCH fruit” (John 15:5, 8—emphasis mine, mb). The adjective “much” is significant.
We talk about not getting MUCH sleep.
We tell folks there is MUCH truth in what they say.
We complain that an activity has taken too MUCH time.
We confess that we’ve eaten far too MUCH.
MUCH in John 15 addresses quantity, amount, extent and degree.
According to the Lord, bearing fruit is first predicated upon abiding in the true vine Himself. In a manner of speaking, we’re to be connected to Him (Rom. 8:9; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 3:27), but being grafted to Christ means more than being in His church body; it means bearing MUCH fruit.
The New Testament speaks of:
. “Being fruitful in every good work…” (Col. 1:10; cf. Jas. 2:14-26).
. Bearing “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23).
. Being fruitful “in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 1:5-9).
. Bearing evangelistic fruit for God (Rom. 7:4; cf. 2 Cor. 5:18), and
. Yielding “the peaceable fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:11).
Are you, good Christian, not only bearing fruit, but are you bearing MUCH fruit for the Lord…?
INCARNATE 