Key Verse
“I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains
in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do
nothing.”
John 15:5 WEB
Lesson
Have you ever stopped to look closely at a vine? You
may have heard them called a climber or creeper plant. One of the most famous
teachings of Jesus is that of the True Vine. Jesus said I am the vine and you
are the branches. Why did he make this comparison? Vines are usually pretty
small. Why not compare himself and his church to a mighty tree? Jesus wanted
his followers to realize their need and dependence on him.
Vines have several characteristics that jesus wanted
to emphasize to his followers. The branches of a vine cannot support
themselves. They are too weak on their own to support their weight.1 This is
why they must hold on to something like a large rock, tree, or wall. Vines must
wrap around something stronger than themselves in order to absorb sunlight.
Jesus wanted his followers to understand that as fallen, sinful humans, we are
not like the branches of a mighty tree that can stand on their own. We are like
those of a vine that must cling to something stronger than ourselves.
Vines share another characteristic with Jesus
followers. Vines are very resilient. Their branches can bend and twist and
withstand a lot of flexing and movement without breaking. Unlike a large tree
who’s branches often break in a storm, the branches of a vine can bend and flex
to withstand strong winds. They are resilient. When we become followers of
Christ and a branch of God’s vine, we gain resilience.
As Christians we know that God has everything under
control. We learn patience, and to have trust and faith that God will see us
through the storm. The followers of God are compared to a vine throughout the
Bible, even in the Old Testament. When we follow Jesus we recognize our
dependence on God and we become branches in His vine. We can flexibility and
resilience to the difficulties of this life. Only when we remain in Christ will
we bear much fruit, because apart from him we can do nothing!
Questions
Have you ever swung from a vine?
Have you ever tried to break a vine? Which was easier,
a vine or tree branch?
How do we become branches in God’s vine?
What did Jesus mean when he said you will, “bear much
fruit?”
Sources
1 http://www.britannica.com/plant/vine-plant
Written by David F. Garner
Photo Credit: Brennon Garner
Written by David F. Garner
Photo Credit: Brennon Garner