I heard a message recently on John chapter 15, where Jesus talks about being the Vine, while we are the branches.  If we want to survive and bear fruit we have to remain attached to Him, to the Vine.   The pastor shared a story from the book “Secrets of the Vine” by Bruce Wilkinson.  The author, Bruce, went to a vineyard to get a better understanding of how gardeners care for their vineyards to bring about the best results – lots of fruit for wine.  As Bruce and the owner of the vineyard walked through the rows of huge, twisty, lush vine branches, Bruce noticed some of the branches down low were not as green or healthy and were without any fruit.  “Are those the ones you cut off because they’re not bearing fruit?” he asked, thinking of the verse that said God would do that very thing – cut off any branches who aren’t producing what they were made to produce.  The vineyard owner said, “No, these are often not bearing because they’re not receiving enough sunlight.  Sometimes they’ve become pressed down or covered up in mud because they’re near the ground.  We tie them up high so they’ll be able to drink in the sunlight – to see if they will become fruitful.”

The greek word used in John 15:2 where it says “cut off” is “airei” which can mean “taking away” but also “lifting”.  That sheds a whole new light on this parable for me.  I’ve had trouble in the past reconciling the wrathful, seemingly short-tempered God of most of the Old Testament with the loving, merciful God of the New Testament.  In reading some stories in the Old I find myself thinking, “How could this be the same God? Continue reading →