Post by Les on Apr 23, 2024 9:40:26 GMT -6
Grafted as One By: Anne Le Tissier
Click here for the Audio Message
Remain in me, as I also remain in you.
John 15:4
Today's Scripture & Insight :
John 15:1-17
A sinister passenger lurked in the 1860s steamships powering across the Atlantic. Its name? Phylloxera—a microscopic louse with an appetite for roots.
Panic tore through France. Church bells rang in terror as thousands of vineyards shrivelled and died, alongside many livelihoods. In desperation, a hefty reward was advertised: who could stop phylloxera severing the water and nutrient flow from roots to vines? Finally, someone came up with an effective defence: grafting European shoots into phylloxera-resistant American vines.
The process of grafting involves inserting one piece of living material into another so that they now unite and grow as one. It’s how Jesus describes our relationship with Him in John 15:1: “I am the true vine.” He is our only spiritual life-source. “Remain in me” (v. 4)—in other words, “Keep living here with me.” By faith we are grafted to “the true vine” as His branches. And as we obediently respond to Jesus’ words (vv. 7, 10), His life-nurturing Spirit produces God’s fruit in us (vv. 4–5). Our lives are no longer just ours, but a wonderful extension of His.
Temptations to grow distant from Jesus are like the invasive louse looking to hinder the vital flow of spiritual nourishment. Just like phylloxera-resistant vines, Jesus is our source of life and our defence against worldly tugs and fears. Eternally one with Him, our spiritual sustenance and health comes from cherishing this vital union and life-giving friendship (v. 15).
Reflect & Pray
How does it encourage and reassure you to see yourself as one with Jesus? What practical things could you do to help restore your focus on Jesus throughout each day (for example, setting an alarm or keeping a particular object on your desk)?
Thank You, Jesus, for cherishing me as Your friend and binding me to Yourself.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
One of the distinctly beautiful features of the gospel of John is its seven “I am” sayings. These statements serve to identify Jesus with Yahweh—the eternal, ever-present, covenant-keeping God who revealed Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14: “God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I am has sent me to you.” ’ ” Jesus’ declaration in John 15:1, 5—“I am the [true] vine”—is the seventh “I am” statement (see also 6:35; 8:12; 10:7, 11; 11:25; 14:6) . On the eve of His death, Jesus reminded His disciples of how essential it was to remain connected to Him. Through Christ’s words we understand that “loving obedience” is required to abide in Him: “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love” (15:10).
Arthur Jackson
John 15:1-17
King James Version
15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Click here for the Audio Message
Remain in me, as I also remain in you.
John 15:4
Today's Scripture & Insight :
John 15:1-17
A sinister passenger lurked in the 1860s steamships powering across the Atlantic. Its name? Phylloxera—a microscopic louse with an appetite for roots.
Panic tore through France. Church bells rang in terror as thousands of vineyards shrivelled and died, alongside many livelihoods. In desperation, a hefty reward was advertised: who could stop phylloxera severing the water and nutrient flow from roots to vines? Finally, someone came up with an effective defence: grafting European shoots into phylloxera-resistant American vines.
The process of grafting involves inserting one piece of living material into another so that they now unite and grow as one. It’s how Jesus describes our relationship with Him in John 15:1: “I am the true vine.” He is our only spiritual life-source. “Remain in me” (v. 4)—in other words, “Keep living here with me.” By faith we are grafted to “the true vine” as His branches. And as we obediently respond to Jesus’ words (vv. 7, 10), His life-nurturing Spirit produces God’s fruit in us (vv. 4–5). Our lives are no longer just ours, but a wonderful extension of His.
Temptations to grow distant from Jesus are like the invasive louse looking to hinder the vital flow of spiritual nourishment. Just like phylloxera-resistant vines, Jesus is our source of life and our defence against worldly tugs and fears. Eternally one with Him, our spiritual sustenance and health comes from cherishing this vital union and life-giving friendship (v. 15).
Reflect & Pray
How does it encourage and reassure you to see yourself as one with Jesus? What practical things could you do to help restore your focus on Jesus throughout each day (for example, setting an alarm or keeping a particular object on your desk)?
Thank You, Jesus, for cherishing me as Your friend and binding me to Yourself.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
One of the distinctly beautiful features of the gospel of John is its seven “I am” sayings. These statements serve to identify Jesus with Yahweh—the eternal, ever-present, covenant-keeping God who revealed Himself to Moses in Exodus 3:14: “God said to Moses, ‘I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: “I am has sent me to you.” ’ ” Jesus’ declaration in John 15:1, 5—“I am the [true] vine”—is the seventh “I am” statement (see also 6:35; 8:12; 10:7, 11; 11:25; 14:6) . On the eve of His death, Jesus reminded His disciples of how essential it was to remain connected to Him. Through Christ’s words we understand that “loving obedience” is required to abide in Him: “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love” (15:10).
Arthur Jackson
John 15:1-17
King James Version
15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.