John 15

Let the good fruit weep out of you

Today I drove into work after a night of freezing rain. Trees were covered in ice and melting swiftly. As I drive under the branches, water poured down on my vehicle. Every five hundred feet or so, a new tree would be pouring down water. I felt a pouring out of cleansing water washing away all the leftover salt from the icy roadway conditions. And, at the same time, I was reminded of John 15, parable of the Vine and branches where Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches, and the Father is the Vinedresser. We are each equipped to bear good fruit and share that. Our fruit should be weeping for joy out of us like the water was flowing off those trees. What a beautiful reminder and experience on the way to work today. The outward pouring of fruit often comes with inward pruning. To know this is to know the Father, Son and Spirit are working in us to craft us more and more into the likeness of His image.

John 15: 1-17, Jesus said, “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. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 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. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another. (ESV)