Jesus presents many ideas thru stories. He links common concepts to
help us better understand Him (allegories). Last week, we heard about how
He is the Good Shepherd Who laid down His life for the sheep (for you and
me). In other places, God uses images of marriage to show the close
relationship of Christ to us and in us. Today, He uses the Vine and
branches.
I think you remember and realize what happens to a sheep with no
shepherd. The sheep without a shepherd is unable to defend itself from
enemies. It would only be a matter of time before the sheep would be dead.
Jesus tells us He is the Divine Vine and we are the branches. Apart
from Him, we will wither and die; just like the sheep. Without spiritual
food that comes from a direct and regular connection to Him, the gift of
life (Christian faith) will in time be dead and gone.
A person can claim to be a Christian, show a certificate of Baptism or
confirmation, even declare they ARE a member of a church. But apart from
the life-supporting food of God's Word and Sacraments, their faith will die.
Jesus says so.
So, why is it that we fall into the temptation and un-reality that we
can bring about our own faith? Or, why do we feel we can get along fine
un-attached to Christ most of the time? Or hook up with Jesus whenever we
get an urge, or a spare moment?
We do so because the Old Adam in us loves that idea. By our old
nature, we still feel we don't need God. It is as creepy as an old zombie
movie where an arm cuts itself off from the body and go its own way. Such
is the evil inside every person. The Old Adam wants to cut us off from
Christ.
Remember (again from last Sunday) how grammar is important in the
Bible? Jesus says "I am" present tense, "the Vine, and you are," again
present tense, "the branches". He is talking about a relationship.
God never tells us perhaps, some day, you will achieve branch-hood by
being a fruitful person with good works or noble thoughts. You are already,
present tense, branches of Christ. You have been made clean, justified, by
the Word of Christ. Jesus says so here. The Holy Spirit has given you life
thru the Word. He cleanses you and sustains you with 'the power of God to
salvation' - the Gospel.
As Christians, we confess life itself sprouts from our Creator. Just
as a branch needs to remain connected to continue to grow, so we need to
stay connected to Christ to remain alive, grow, and produce the fruit of the
Spirit. Some translations use the term 'abide' which is to keep living.
Keep living in the Word.
Abiding, or living in Christ the Vine means we regularly receive Holy
Communion. It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in, with,
and under bread and wine.
Remaining in Christ the Vine means we regularly gather here to hear God's
Word in Bible readings, sermons, liturgy, and hymns each week.
Living in Christ the Vine means regularly reading from God's Word on
your own, and adding to it with good, sound teaching from Lutheran books,
reading the Book of Concord, Portals of Prayer, programs like "Issues,
Etcetera" and The Lutheran Hour; and being in a Bible study.
Again, God warns us when we neglect or refuse to do these, we will
become like a branch cut off from a vine. We won't produce fruit. Or, you
will NOT have peace, patience, self-control, strength, or anything of value
to God. You will not be good for anything but a brush fire. Or, namely,
you will be burning in the fires of eternal hell.
In the COLLECT, the prayer where the collected theme of the day is often
found, we asked that God would make our minds to be of one will: not that
we would twist and bend to each other, but that He would make your desires
and thoughts like His. We also ask He will mold us to love what He
commands: that is, to produce fruit. And desire what He promises (vigor of
faith, trust in Christ, eternal life, and the like) so our lives will be
fixed where true joys are to be found. This happens was God feeds us with
His Word and Sacraments. He works in us so we will ask for whatever we
wish: so we will be of one mind with HIM.
It is no stretch of the story, or analogy to talk about fruit. Those
who produce NONE? God will cast them into hell. Without faith, you CAN'T
make fruit (HEBREWS 11:6). Those who produce some, God works in their lives
so they will create or yield more.
Just as you can not become a branch by deciding to be one, you do not
produce fruit by choice. God puts situations and opportunities, rain and
sunshine if you will, in our lives. A branch in Christ produces the fruit
of faith as a natural result. Put another way, how you react to things in
life displays the fruit of faith.
When you are confronted by a hard person or a difficulty, do you try to
make life tougher for them; & make the problem worse with grudges / revenge?
Is your aim to put yourself first, no matter who you hurt? Do you feel:
"as long as I'M saved, that's all that really matters"? When you do so, you
are standing the words Jesus said in John 15:8 on their head. The Father is
NOT glorified by your actions, and you are NOT proving yourself to be a
disciple. 1st John 4:20, just after today's Epistle, explains you can't
love God if you don't love your neighbor. (You know who this means).
This is why we must keep going back to God for more forgiveness; and
for more vitality in the cross (spiritual sap, it you will). The pruning
and cleansing He gives is not fun. But if is not done, we Christians will
be less fruitful, and even barren. With the double-edged sword of the Word
(Hebrews 4:12), God can cut even to the hidden parts of life with the power
of the cross. Then He gives us the true strength of Easter Resurrection
forgiveness so we can "bear fruit".
So what is this "fruit"? It is our compassion for others: physically
& spiritually. Fruit is delight in life It is a stillness or trust God is
at work in your life. It is authentic non-PC tolerance for genuine
diversity. It is tenderness in dealing with folks. It is honesty /
integrity in dealing with others. Fruit is reliance on God in daily life,
humility to put other people ahead of you, restraint or self control; and
many others acts.
As Christ says elsewhere, "when they see your good actions, then
glorify our Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16). That's fruit! Anything you
do as a child of God with faith in Christ to serve your neighbor. (See
Matthew 25:34-40).
Christians are like branches. As we remain attached to the cross in
the power of Word and Sacraments, we remain alive and nourished. We give
and do good to the world around us because of Christ for us and in us. Yes,
the Father's pruning hurts. But He makes us even more fruitful.
May the Word of Christ abide in each of us richly in all wisdom as His
branches. May the Lord work in us and thru us to produce great crops of
faithful living so His Kingdom will grow (Philippians 2:13). And may we be
secure in the joy of our risen Lord Jesus! Amen.
Pastor Michael Harman,
CTS-FW `87
St. Peter LCMS - Newell, IA
vacancies at ...
Immanuel, Pomeroy and First Evangelical, Fonda
(grammar still tests at 7th grade... hmm...)
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