John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 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. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 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. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
Of the many pictures of the relationship between God and His people, the vine and branch picture emphasizes complete dependence and the need for constant connection. The branch depends on the vine even more than the sheep depends on the shepherd or the child depends on the father. As Jesus was about to depart from His disciples, this was important encouragement. He would remain united to them and they to Him as truly as branches are connected to the main vine. (Guzik)
“Left to itself a vine will produce a good deal of unproductive growth. For maximum fruitfulness extensive pruning is essential.” (Morris)
“Deadwood is worse than fruitlessness, for dead wood can harbor disease and decay…God removes the deadwood from his church and disciplines the life of the believer so that it is directed into fruitful activity.” (Tenney)
“And if it is painful to bleed, it is worse to wither. Better be pruned to grow than cut up to burn.” (Trapp)
I’m intrigued by – “that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples”. What fruit is in your life that proves you to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? What do you say, think, and do that proves you to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? Too many times people have determined to use what they say, think, and do as a means to be good enough before God. They perform acts they think will make them good enough. They seem to keep a mental ledger book of both the good and bad they do in hope that the goodwill outweighs the bad and thereby justifies them before God. This vine bears no fruit and if it does the fruit that is yielded is rotten. A true caretaker of these vines will try to prune them and develop new growth that will produce good fruit. What has been cut off will be cast into a fire. At some point, the caretaker will no longer give care to this vine. He will dig it up and burn it all.
A true vine will produce fruit that proves they are disciples of Jesus Christ. The works (fruit) they do honors and glorifies Jesus Christ. The good works they do is not about being good enough but rather out of love and reverence for Jesus Christ. There is no seeking to be good enough. They know their redemption is not found in being good enough but rather in faith and reliance on Jesus Christ. They humbly surrender to the honor and glory of Jesus Christ and cast off all self-worth and self-reliance. By their fruit, they show they are His disciples.