“I am the real vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch which is part of Me but fails to bear fruit, He cuts off; and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. Right now, because of the word which I have spoken to you, you are pruned.
Yochanan (John) 15:1-3 CJB
In the above Scriptures, Yeshua draws on vine symbolism familiar to His hearers, and integrates agricultural principles common to their experience. He does this to teach us the necessity of being fruitful followers. The “fruit” He has in mind is the same as that which Rabbi. Shaul (Paul) refers to as the “fruit of the Spirit” Gal 5:22-23
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, self-control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things.”
And this is the fruit which Yeshua Himself describes in Matthew 7:16-20
“You will recognize them by their fruit. Can people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every healthy tree produces good fruit, but a poor tree produces bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, or a poor tree good fruit. Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire! So you will recognize them by their fruit.”
Yeshua wants each of us to bear spiritual fruit.
Because fertile soil and adequate water were scarce in Israel, the gardener had to ensure that every part of his land, and every plant, was as productive as possible. He made every effort to make sure that each vine would produce as much fruit as it could. Branches bearing fruit were pruned (cut back) to produce even more fruit. The branches not producing fruit were not cut off, for this would have ended their “fruit-bearing lives” and would have undercut the gardener’s ultimate purpose to do everything possible to increase his yield. Rather, the gardener would lift up the unproductive branches. “Lift up” is the other common meaning of the Greek term usually translated “cut off,” as in John 15:2,
“Every branch which is part of Me but fails to bear fruit, He cuts off; and every branch that does bear fruit, He prunes, so that it may bear more fruit.”
This would better expose them to the beneficial effects of light and rain, and would give them a better opportunity to grow. Lifting up the unproductive branches was yet another part of the gardener’s unceasing and tireless efforts to improve productivity.
Similarly, God will do everything possible to help us grow and be fruitful. He tenderly brings some of us to the sun and rain, to give us opportunities to be productive. However, God prunes those of us who are growing and producing well, for even greater fruitfulness. While the pruning is not always pleasant, the results are beneficial. Let us welcome whatever God does to help us grow.
Author – Myrym Arrus
Editors – Joanie Schumacher, Charmaine Bailey