Weekly Bible Study - John 15:1-8

3 May 2015
5th Sunday of Easter   

Time-lapse photography offers us a unique glimpse into the workings of plant

life. We may observe fragile tendrils of a vine as they reach out and wrap themselves around other branches, embracing and holding them tight in the process. It is no coincidence that Jesus uses this image to detail his relationship to the Father and describe his life within us.

Jesus uses an analogy to speak of the relationships between the Father (the “vine grower”) himself (the “vine”) and of his disciples (the “branches”). These are more than just familiar images. The analogy brings our attention to the connections between the vine, the vinegrower and the vine's branches. There are mutual responsibilities within this connectedness. The Father creates and sustains the life of the vine. The Son embraces, cares for and nurtures his own, his branches, sharing the life given by the vine grower with the branches. We not only remain secured to the vine, we draw from the very life of the vine to bear fruit: which is the reason the vine grower (God) planted the vine in the first place.

“Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” The branch cannot survive unless it is firmly attached to the source of its life. There is more to this analogy than a relationship of intimacy between Christ and his followers. This image suggests an integration of the disciple into the very life of Christ with God in the Spirit.

The follower not only draws life from the vine, but must “cultivate” that life and, as Jesus says, allow the Father to prune the branch. We draw from the divine nourishment as we nurture our inner life in communion with the church, through prayer, Scripture study, worship and sacraments. The follower who draws life from the vine must also bear fruit for others.

In his letter to the Galatians, St. Paul enumerates these fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  The health of the branches is evidenced in the fruit it produces. Bearing fruit is our way of giving glory back to the Father.

It is as simple as the everyday images that Jesus uses to speak of the kingdom of God: We draw our life from God and our nourishment from his Son that the church may bear the fruits of God's Spirit.

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, the Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.