John 15:5 the Vine and the Branches

I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing

Observation: (Matthew Henry)

This is the last night Jesus is alive

He addresses with the disciples the ways in which they will be tempted

1. They will be tempted to go back to religion instead of relationship

2. They would be tempted to be offended and mad at one another

3. They would be tempted to shrink from apostleship once met with hardship

The only way they will pass temptations test is by remaining in Christ like Christ remained in the Father during His temptation in the wilderness.

The vine and branches observation:

The vine is an unsightly plant, like Jesus is described in Isaiah 53.

The vine spreads, like the gospel is to be spread throughout the world.

The root is unseen (like our life with Christ), 

Has many branches but all come back to one root. Like the multiple denominations, whose methods are different but all come back to the root of Christ.

Fruit observation:

We cannot bear fruit apart from Christ

We look for grapes on a vine the way we look for Christianity from Christians

Those that do not bear fruit will be taken away out of justice to them and kindness to the fruit bearing branches.

The very first blessing God ever gave was be fruitful and multiply, It is is still the blessing 

He gives. We limit that blessing to the physical, but God is calling for spiritual multiplication.

Pruning for fruitful branches happens in degrees, like refinement for our souls.

Those that bear no fruit after awhile will bear no leaves also.

It is in His word that we embrace him and abide in Him.

Application:

Meditating on His Word, His goodness is VERY IMPORTANT. It is the only way to bear fruit. It is from meditation that prayer and praise spring forth, the kind of honest praise and spiritual worship that pleases the Father.  Meditation on His word all day long, one scripture, anchors the soul. 

Remaining in Him, meditating on who He is through His word is the only way to withstand the three temptations outlined in John 15. 

Prayer:

Father, the Jesus Blood that covers me is also the sap that energizes, strengthens, and nourishes me. Thank You for bearing fruit in me, keeping me attached to You, lighting my steps with Your word. I love You!