Statement seven... part 1...

Six are done, and now there remains only the last Statement that Jesus makes in this fashion in John.  The first six, all powerful and humbling, remind us clearly that we have no need to concern ourselves with food or light, our door is marked, our Shepherd awaits, we have no need to fear for our lives, and our path is true... our Truth is more true than anyone could imagine, because He is our Truth.  So now we come to the climactic Statement of this series, and we see one more concern alleviated.

"I am the vine; you are the branches.  The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me."

John 15:5, HCSB

I am always thinking about where things come from, and how things will be sustained.  It is a real concern for us in this world, as we have bills to pay and mouths to feed and advancements we would like to make.  We need to know where things will come from, and we need security in that knowledge.  Until now, and I do mean right now, I have been content to just know that it will be okay, and that God will provide.  However, right now, and I do mean right now, I am having a moment of clarity as I look at the way this is worded, and I know that I can now see where things are to come from.

Granted, Jesus speaks primarily of Spiritual things to be accomplished.  But if He is the vine off of which I grow as a branch, then He is what sustains me.  If you doubt this, do me a favor and go remove a branch from any plant or tree, and see if it can thrive on its own.  Really... try it.  You, too, will have a "DUH!" moment at the exact second the branch separates completely. 

Now, one thing that should be pointed out is that for proper growth and shaping, any bush or tree or vine must be pruned and trimmed.  Is this any different than the time we spend removing things from our lives that are counterproductive to the Christian walk?  We are trimmed, and we are pruned, because we are the branches that stick out from the Vine.  The Vine is not pruned... what comes from it is pruned.  You see, the Vine is perfect, and needs no adjustment.  His branches, however, are deserving of being removed, but instead undergo trimming and pruning in order to produce more and better fruit.  Think about it...

It should also be clearly stated that we, the branches, do not have the opportunity to be or to become the Vine.  We are the branches.  This is no different than recognizing that He is the Creator, and I am the creature.  Sure, some branches have little twigs that pop up, and some further growth is allowed, but that does not replace the original vine.  I will never be in that position, no matter how much my individual branch may carry, and there is nothing anyone on the planet can or will be able to do to change this.  

In another Gospel, Jesus encourages us to think not of the tomorrows, and not to worry (loosely taken from Matthew 6:34), and I would submit to you today that we can take hold of that with this seventh Statement.  He is our sustenance, and we come from Him.  Coming from the Son, what could possibly stop His nourishment of us?  We have nothing to fear in this proper placement, and we need to know that the pruning that will come is necessary, and we must accept it in order to grow.  Pruning is not death, though, and we will have a steady stream of Him as we come from Him and stay with Him... but we'll get to more on that later.

God bless you all!!!