Scripture. John 15: 1-2
I Am the True Vine
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
When gardening it seems counterintuitive to me that anyone would want to remove branches from a vine. After all, if a vine is growing well, then it seems like removing branches will only cause it to struggle and become weaker. However, the opposite is true, if done properly.
How does one properly prune a vine? I had to look it up! This is what I found. Pruning must be done at the right season. Pruning during the growing season can cause the vine to suffer and bleed sap. Pruning during the late winter is better because the sap isn’t running in the stems, growth isn’t stimulated too early (and suffer from a late frost) and the cuts are better able to heal. Pruning of small stems can be done in the growing season, which may help deter some disease, but that brings us to the other point that doesn’t always make good sense. Pruning of the inexperienced vinedresser usually isn’t hard enough. Light pruning will not make the vine respond vigorously. Light pruning leaves too much unfruitful wood, and results in less grapes and more disease.
As I was reading about vine dressing, I couldn’t help but see the connection that Jesus was teaching about how God the Father cares for us. His will is that we would be fruitful and our faith would lead to eternal life. Often the very things that we cling to in this life distract us from Him and the good things that God would put into our lives. When we don’t get our way, we struggle.
But, these trials have the effect, if we trust in the Lord, of causing us to turn to Him. In turning to the Lord, we are connected to the one who can increase our faith. As our faith grows vigorously, and we become abundantly fruitful in faith, we rejoice in faith and life.
Jesus is the true vine. Through Jesus and His death on the cross and resurrection we have the gift of eternal life. At our baptism we were grafted in to Jesus and are now His branches. Jesus promises that we will be healthy and fruitful because our heavenly Father will continue to care for us, prune away all that is harmful and distracting, and prepare us for the joys of eternal life.
One more thing. We have a wisteria vine that is presently climbing up the posts of our back deck pergola. I have heard that the wisteria as a vine has a strong growth response to pruning. My grandchildren visited in the early Spring and the vine ended up with more than a little mischievous pruning. I’ll let you know how the vine looks later this season!
Let us pray
Lord God heavenly Father, thank you for your continual care for me throughout this life. Help me during times when I must undergo pruning to see in all things, even the difficult times of my life, your fatherly divine goodness and mercy. Strengthen my faith that I may bear the fruit that you desire, and rejoice in life everlasting. In Jesus name. AMEN