April 9
Bible Reading: John 15:6-11
John 15:8, “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
April 9th, 2024. My Dad is 93 years old today! He’s doing well at 93. Until recently, he was bowling in a league. He still grows a garden every year. And he takes care of a small orchard of fruit trees. He sprays his trees and prunes them and waits expectedly every year for harvest time. One year, his fig tree was so productive that he invited neighbors to come pick some and even set some fruit out by the sidewalk for the neighbors. His goal, of course, is to do everything necessary so that his trees will be as fruitful as possible. God has the same goal for us in our Christian lives. This passage holds the key to how that is possible.
Note the use of repeated terms in this passage. The term “abide” appears 11 times; the term “fruit” appears 8 times; “branch(es)” 6 times; and “vine” 3 times. The passage obviously has to do with fruit-bearing. It speaks of bearing fruit (John 15:4), more fruit (John 15:2), much fruit (John 15:5), and lasting fruit (John 15:16). So, this is the key. God wants us to bear fruit—the fruit of obedience (John 15:10), showing love for one another (John 15:12), doing good works to the glory of God (Colossians 1:10), and blessing others with our gifts (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). But in order to bear much fruit, we (the branches) must abide in close fellowship with Jesus (the Vine).
The one simple thing that lies at the root of bearing much fruit is “abiding” in Christ. When my dad prunes his tree, he removes those branches that are unlikely to bear fruit and that impede the more productive branches. Once cutoff from their life-source, they cannot bear anything anymore. It’s the same when the Christian, as Jesus made clear when He said, “apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Put simply, it is the vitality of our connection to Jesus that makes all the difference in us doing those things that are pleasing to God.
The word “abide” is the simple word, “remain.” It speaks of staying with and remaining close to Jesus. It involves the practice of spiritual disciplines, three of which are spoken of in this context. Abiding in Christ requires that we “abide in (his) word” (John 15:7). Abiding in Christ involves loving one another in the context of fellowship (John 15:12). And abiding in Christ necessitates prayer (John 15:16). The practice of these disciples does not equate to abiding in Christ, but is essential to the maintenance of an intimate and growing personal knowledge of Him.
Kenneth Wuest put it this way: “In John 15, the abiding of the Christian in Christ refers to his maintaining unbroken fellowship with Him. He makes his spiritual home in Christ. There is nothing between himself and his Savior, no sin unjudged and not put away. He depends upon Him for spiritual life and vigor as the branch is dependent upon the vine.”
Kenneth Wuest
He is the vine. We are the branches. God wants for you to bear much lasting fruit in your Christian life. And that’s possible to the extent that you abide in Jesus.
The key to bearing much fruit is to remain in close connection to Christ!
ABIDING IN JESUS
Abiding in Jesus,
Oh refuge so sweet,
No trials can move me,
My rest is complete;
Tho’ dangers surround me
And tempests may rage,
There’s naught but His presence
My thoughts can engage.
Refrain:
Abiding in Jesus,
Oh, sweet is the rest;
Abiding in Jesus,
I’m happy and blest.
Abiding in Jesus,
Oh, sweet is the rest;
Abiding in Jesus,
I’m happy and blest.
Abiding in Jesus,
There’s fullness of joy,
No trouble or sorrow
His peace can destroy;
His will is my pleasure,
My sweetest delight;
His presence my sunshine,
Eternally bright. [Refrain]
Abiding in Jesus,
Oh, refuge divine,
How sweet on His dear,
Loving breast to recline;
Thro’ clouds and thro’ sunshine,
He leadeth me still,
And daily my life
With His blessings doth fill. [Refrain]
LookingtoJesus 