John 15:5-8
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
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What makes a fruit different than a vegetable? Fruit is what a plant produces. A vegetable is itself a plant or a root. Fruit is vibrant, sweet, living. Vegetables are starchy, dense, filling. It is no mistake that we call a lazy person a "couch potato" or someone who "vegetates," while we associate being "fruitful" with every manner of productivity. One is associated with life. The other associated with death. (You're welcome to all those veggie-haters out there!)
In John 15, Jesus uses yet another earthy metaphor to once again define who he is and who we are called to be, and this time it revolves around fruit.
Jesus tells us that he himself is like a vine, and that we are the branches. In John's typical style, the logic of the passage is not linear, but spirals back and forth, revolving around a central idea. The references to Jesus and to us his followers are intertwined, much like the Vine and branches he describes. With each spiral we get more clarity on what is meant, until finally the meaning is laid bare towards the end.
I am the Vine, you are the branches.
Abide in me, and I in you.
Apart from me you can do nothing.
Abide in my words, and I will abide in you.
My command is love, and you will prove you are mine by this love.
The greatest love is to die for a friend.
You are no longer servants.
I have called you friends.
It takes some mental energy to tie all these thoughts together, but it is very important that we do. Each thought hangs on the one that precedes. Pull one out, and the reality fades away. For example, we might agree that love is important. But if we do not begin with Jesus and our abiding connection to him and his word, we will quickly miss the uniqueness of the love that is required here. Not just any love will do. It must be a love that gives, a love that is like fruit emanating from the connecting vine. The personal connection to the living God must exist, for this is a kind of love that cannot be mustered or even imagined apart from his direct involvement.
I've included the passage from Genesis 1, because it occurs to me that this is not a new idea that Jesus is offering. He is simply restating God's good design which was there in the beginning. Humans are made in God's image, uniquely crafted to reflect God's nature. And that nature is to overflow in giving and creating.
The idea of being fruitful and multiplying should conjure images of rainforests, oceans teeming with life, and yes, bustling cities and thriving rural communities. The earth is brimming over with life and energy and ideas and plans being executed day after day.
And you and I are being called to participate in this global multiplication of new life. We are called to be more than consumers. Rather than spend our days taking from others, we should be drawing inspiration directly from a relationship with God and then spilling out his love into the world that so desperately needs to see Him.
Lord, convince me once again that I am made to bear fruit for you and so glorify you the ultimate Creator. Let me drink daily from your life-giving word, remembering the love you gave by dying for your friends. Let the fruit come directly from you and let it be all for you as well.
