Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray with Me”.
When I walk my dog, we see grapevines on back fences, producing clusters of small, tasty, dark blue grapes. I decided to grow some, so I picked a cluster, dried the seeds, and planted them in a flowerpot. Nothing grew.
The next year I put three cuttings in a jar of water. They grew roots, I forgot about them, and they dried out. I planted them anyway.
Can you believe it? After a long cold winter, one cutting grew and produced a few leaves. It survived the next winter and this year produced an extravagance of leaves. But no grapes. Maybe next year?
Psalm 80 calls Israel a vine that God transplanted from Egyptian slavery to the Promised Land. Jesus borrows the vine picture in John 15, but his vineyard isn’t Israel. It’s himself. He said, “I am the vine and you are the branches. My father, the gardener, cuts off dead branches, and prunes the rest.”
This new vine doesn’t grow in soil, it grows in God. Jesus said, “I am in the father and the father is in me. You too are in me. Stay there, live there” (14:11, 15:1).
Some comments about the grapevine.
1. Jesus calls his followers branches, and tells them to remain in the vine. Sounds like a stay-at-home directive, not like the Great Commission where Jesus sends his disciples around the world.
What does it mean to remain in Jesus? He said, “My father and I will make our home in you” (14:23). I think we remain by welcoming him home, by listening to his quiet, inner voice, by attending to his presence. Remaining is a mystical relationship with Jesus.
2. Jesus encourages the branches to bear fruit. Ha! Something less mystical for us practical types. I think Jesus wants me to grow several varieties, replacing my driven, frustrated, angry inner life with fruit of the Spirit like peace and joy.
My temptation to isolate gives way to building relationships with family and church and community.
Let’s pray.
O Jesus, my life spins madly off in all directions. Help me remain in you and be at peace.
I avoid people. Help me to welcome them into my life, as you welcome me into yours.
I live with inner idols, imagining myself at the centre of love, and popularity, and success. Destroy my idols, until only you are present in my thoughts and hopes.
Teach me to bear fruit, doing my duty of love to family and church and community.
As branches draw life from the vine, help me to draw life from you.
Amen.
I’m Daniel, on the channel “Pray with Me”.
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