"V" is for Vine

In John 15:1, Jesus says of Himself, “I am the Vine”.  The vine of the grape is the trunk that brings the life giving sap up from the roots into the branches.  The sap must be allowed to flow freely into the branch in order to produce fruit.  The vine gives its life to the branch by the branch staying attached to the vine.

A good crop of grapes does not just happen.  A good vineyard has a dedicated “vinedresser” whom in the case of a child of God, is God the Father.  Each branch is important to the vinedresser, to bring forth the finest crop possible.

If a branch is left to itself it straggles over rocks and handy tree trunks.  Or it may fall to the ground and creep along in the dirt and mud.  The vinedresser will come along, clean off the branch, prune it where needed, and tie it close to the vine.  Soon the branch is thriving again.  The branch must remain totally dependent on the vine, close to it, pruned here, pruned there, in order to bring forth much fruit.

Jesus said He is the true Vine and His followers are the branches.  We are created for a living relationship with the Vine (Jesus), and the Vine (Jesus), gives His life to the branch.

“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 bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit.  I am the vine, you are the branches.  He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit…By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit.”

John 15:1-2, 5,8