John 15:1-8 CSB
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. [2] Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. [3] You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. [4] Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. [5] 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. [6] If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. [7] If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. [8] My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.
Matthew 7:15-20 CSB
"Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. [16] You'll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? [17] In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. [18] A good tree can't produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. [19] Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] So you'll recognize them by their fruit.
Land Mines to Faith
As Jesus and His disciples walked through the Judean countryside, they would have seen laborers tending the vineyards—work that required two distinct stages. In the late fall, workers removed dead, brittle wood. But in the springtime—the very season of this Upper Room message—the gardener would lift the heavy, fruitless branches off the ground, propping them up so they could catch the sun to stimulate productivity.
During Jesus’ days and for us today, there have always been many counterfeit branches trying to be the root. There are some that leave the church to carry their own messages, and some who outright deny the Lord, never having been part of our church body. False prophets were present before and during Jesus’ ministry, and we struggle with many false prophets today—groups that deny that Jesus is the Son of God. They refuse to believe in the resurrection, saying that Jesus was just a man with no deity and denying that He is of one essence with the Father. Others bring in heresies that simply do not follow what Jesus taught.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 7 that we will know they are false by their fruits. Recognizing these land mines takes discernment from the Holy Spirit and prayer; we need the Holy Spirit to give us the vision to see the falsehood. Often, this can be the quiet feeling that something is just not right with what is being seen or heard. It could be a church service where we just do not feel the presence of the Lord or find the Word to be lacking. This is harder for new Christians, which is why we need to walk hand in hand with our new brothers and sisters.
Eventually, the true nature of what is false is found out by whispers of the things that go on behind closed doors—falsehoods that are uncovered. Sometimes, the counterfeit is a well-known religious organization and not some borderline group on the fringes. Jesus was always pointing to the religious leaders of the day—the Scribes, Sadducees, and Pharisees—as being “blind guides.” Although they had the true law and the prophets to build on, they continued to create man-made rules to have a relationship with the Father, effectively hiding the truth for the soul.
Jesus says plainly that He is the truth. He is the source of strength. He is the root that supplies substance to the branches so that those who believe in Him and remain in Him will bear much fruit. Today, many churches focus on self-help sermons and ways that we can better ourselves, but we must make sure that the gospel is not watered down.
The message of Jesus dying for our sins needs to be in the forefront. This is the true gift and miracle. We can get blinded when we focus on trying to get earthly things from the Lord instead of serving Him; when we do that, we put the cart in front of the horse. We often come to Jesus confused, broken, and gasping for help. Our focus must remain on the things Jesus says—bearing much fruit by relying on and truly following Him.
There might be a time of pruning, when things become a struggle. These are the times that we are driven deeper into prayer and the Word, denying ourselves and clinging harder to the Lord. The loving Father is pruning us so we can bear more fruit. Jesus says that He has come to give us an abundant life. Without the Lord, we do not have life. When we walk in the Lord, we have fellowship with Him. Our prayers are heard so that we can bear more fruit, not to lift ourselves up, but to lift the light of the Lord so that others can be drawn to the truth.
Reflection Questions
- In your walk, do you ever find yourself looking to a person, an organization, or your own efforts to be the “root” of your strength? How does Jesus’ claim to be the True Vine simplify your focus?
- Have you ever experienced that “quiet feeling” from the Holy Spirit that something wasn’t right? How did you respond, and how can you help a “new brother or sister” learn to listen to that discernment?
- When you are in a season of struggle, is it easier for you to see it as a “punishment” or as the Father “lifting you up” to catch the sun? How does the promise of an “abundant life” change your view of the shears?
Prayer
Father,
I thank You for being the Gardener who tends to me with such care. I praise You for the gift of the Holy Spirit who gives me vision to see the land mines and the “quiet feeling” of discernment when things are not right. Keep the message of the Cross at the forefront of my mind today. When the pruning comes and life feels like a struggle, help me to cling harder to the Vine, trusting that You are preparing me for an abundant life that only comes through Your Son.
Amen.
