by Mr. Titus Menezes
John 15
I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – Jn 15:16
A few weeks earlier, I was called to share on the Kingdom of Heaven. I chose from the list this topic since I had already spoken on this a couple of years back and it would be less effort. But God being a God of surprises had His way. Being also the month of the rosary, it will help in our reflection.
I was creating in my mind a vivid, beautiful picture of the Kingdom of Heaven – probably something like a place with green grass, crystal clear, sparkling water flowing, clean air, people dressed in white, hallelujahs being sung in harmony to the Lord and so on. But this I knew was a future kingdom, a glorious kingdom. This glorious kingdom would be available after we pass on from this life i.e. after death. Let’s call it the kingdom in resurrected life. This is the Kingdom of Heaven in heaven.
But here too we follow the same stages as the Lord went through: Life – Passion – Death – Resurrection. The Life & Passion is the earthly life and a suffering life and this I would call the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. To get into that future glorious kingdom, we have to pass through it here on earth. And as I was praying about this topic that morning, the Lord put in my heart the Mysteries of the Rosary. If we liken the glorious kingdom to the glorious mysteries, have a look at the other mysteries.
The Joyful mysteries (J) related to birth
The Luminous mysteries (L) related to the public ministry
The Sorrowful mysteries (S) related to the sufferings
We can map it so much to our lives – Joyful relating to our new birth in Christ, then the other two mysteries fit well into our lives - John 16:33, Luke 9:23. So to be in that glorious Kingdom of Heaven, you need to look what you are doing in the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth - How are you managing or dealing in these two areas: your ministry for the Lord and what is your attitude to the obstacles that you face in life.
Frequently while referring to the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus used parables to make it a reality to the people of Israel. And one of His favourite example was that of a vineyard – Mt 20:1 - For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourers for his vineyard.
Mt 21:28-31 - "A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go.
A man had two sons. Jesus is referring to a family. There exists a man who is the father of two sons. And when we refer to a family or father and sons we are talking of a relationship.
He went to the first and said - It is the father who is speaking to the son not the other way round.
'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' Can you see the tenderness and love in this verse. Son! He is not addressing as hey you, as a servant but as his very own.
Go – do we come across this word anywhere in the bible?
Mark 16:15 - "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.
The go of the gospel. The man tells his son go and work. He does not say go and play or do anything else. He gives the son specific instruction to work and to work in the vineyard.
A vineyard is a reference to God’s kingdom or territory and we find its mention many times. The vineyard is a place where you can experience kingdom values. The vineyard is the place where fruits are produced. The father is telling the son to do something; some action is required of the son. God is giving you an opportunity to be in His kingdom here on earth, in this life.
He tells him to go to the vineyard today. Not tomorrow, not next week or a year later, he tells him to go to the vineyard today. Can we see the urgency in the man’s statement? Can we hear the Father’s call in this statement?
Lets look at the first son’s response. He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. This son responded arrogantly but had a change of mind and went to work.
The father went to the second and said the same;
The father went out and repeated the same invitation to the second son. Two sons in the same house, could he not have sent out a single request – common both of you get to work. No! Instead he goes and makes a personal request, an individual request. God does the same. He is not sending out by the lot but he comes to each one of us and makes a personal request.
and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go
But he did not go to the vineyard. He remained outside the vineyard. It was mere lip service.
This parable ends with the question – who did the will of the Father? But I ask a different question today – who was in the vineyard? The one who went to work! That son was in the kingdom.
Jn 15 is the climax of this usage of the word ‘vineyard’. Where does a vine grow? In the vineyard – a place marked out, it is not just any piece of land. Jn 15 does not use the word vineyard even once but it tells us everything that happens inside the vineyard and that is what is important to us in this life. This passage is about the Kingdom of Heaven here one earth.
This passage speaks why we are called, why God is putting His Spirit in us. Is it just Jn 3:16 – to have eternal life? (that's J to G mystery). There is much more to it and this we find John 15:16 - I chose you and I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.(L & S mystery). That's what we are called for!
As I was reflecting on the question why did God create man? we know to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him and I add to glorify Him. We find all this v4, 9, 16 and 8 respectively.
John 15:5 summarises everything for us - I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
We have different images of Jesus, Jesus as the Good Shepherd, as a King, and so many other titles but not one is as close as a vine and a branch and that what makes this passage interesting. You can live without a shepherd or king but no branch can exist without a vine.
Two phrases stand out clearly in this passage – abide in me and bear much fruit with the rest of the passage telling us how this can be done. The word ‘abide’ is used 11 times. let us examine our celebrated passage – Jn 15
I am the true vine and my Father is the vine grower - Whom would you like to meet in heaven? Now don't tell me your spouse whether he or she made it and how could he or she make it given the life they lived here.
Obviously it’s the Father and the Son. Jn 15:1 states I, Jesus, am the true vine and my Father is the vine grower and v5 states that we are the branches. So the very people we intend to meet after we pass on from this life can be met when are in the vineyard of the Lord. Jesus in the opening line makes it clear they both are present in this vineyard and you and I are not alone. And how do we get into the vineyard – by doing the Lord’s work!
I am the true vine – with these words, Jesus makes it clear there are and will be many other vines in the world but they are all counterfeit, fake, duplicate. He alone is the true vine, the real vine, the genuine vine. Jn 14:6 - Jesus said "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. It is the same word truth that He uses to call Himself as the true vine that will bear fruit.
(Ch 14 speaks of the Father and the Holy Spirit while first half of Ch 15 speaks of Himself). My Father and your Father is the vine grower or the gardener. He decides what grows there. He is the sole owner of the vineyard.
Fruitless branches - Jn 15:2 - He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit.
He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Many times we understand these as people who have not had that personal tangible God experience – they are outside the vineyard. These branches are like the seed that fell on rocky soil who sprung up quickly and then died out or who fell among thorns choked by the pleasures of the world. We are discussing people who are in the vineyard and not people outside the vineyard. These branches are people who were once convicted but have now fallen silent. And Jesus puts the blame on the Father – He removes it
Fruitful branches - Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit – those branches that bear fruit He prunes to make it bear more fruit. He has done away with those branches that are fruitless but even those that bear fruit, He prunes – He cleanses, purifies from defilement, imperfections. It is a continuous exercise. He knows what trimming is the best and gives it to that branch so that bears even more fruit
Each of us is undergoing some pruning in our lives – some cutting, trimming, its painful and wish it never happened to you. Sorrowful mysteries! You must have felt that you are doing kingdom work, all these should have gone.
Cleansed by the Word - John 15:3 - You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. The root Greek word for cleansing and pruning is the same. This is the point of our repentance. The word cleanses us, prunes us. You and I did not change our lives on our own but it was the Word of God that cleansed us.
Through this we were taken out from the vine of the world and connected or grafted to Jesus. This cleansing has happened and therefore you are in the vineyard and that's why Jesus says you have already been cleansed. The Word of God shows us right from wrong, the very vices we are to be free from.
Abide in me - John 15:4 - Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.
The word ‘abide’ in simple words means remain, dwell, stay. Some translations say remain in me and I will remain in you. If you do not remain in me, I will not remain in you. But at a deeper level the word abide signifies oneness, intimacy, closeness, share in things, fellowship. Talking in the context of marriage - and the two shall become one. We often understand this only in terms of physical relationship but it has to go beyond that. The oneness should be that you miss the presence of the other person. If you don't get to that level then you have never become one – I can live without you. A continuous fellowship, exchange on a one-to-one basis!
This is what Jesus is implying here when he says abide in me – together we will see the fruit of our effort. This fellowship is possible only through personal prayer, spending quality time with the Lord. So at no point can we say that I am a fruitful branch, I can manage on my own and I don't need the vine. The result is very clear – you become a fruitless branch and we saw what happens of that branch
I am the vine, you are the branches – John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.
Jesus does not show Himself as a strong tree like a coconut or jackfruit tree. He uses the weak and humble plant – a vine. It has no great looks and can’t be used for anything else as well. Regarding the branches – we are not the naturally grown branches but grafted branches – taken out of the world and connected to Jesus. Adopted sons of God – Eph 1:5. Jesus calls these branches to remain in Him.
A vine can survive without a branch but a branch cannot survive without a vine. Jesus does not say come to the refuelling station once in a while, refuel and go. He is not giving a dealership or franchise to be on your own. He pleads for an online, continuous refuelling. To live for Him, everything has to flow out of him. It is the vine which will supply all the nutrients and ingredients for producing the fruit.
In v2 we read that the Father want us to bear more fruit. Jesus here mentions of bearing much fruit. the focus is on bearing abundant fruit. Why is the Father and Son not satisfied with the fruit that we bear? What does it mean to have more and much fruit? what is the purpose of a fruit in this case the grapes? To produce juice! More fruit means more juice. From where would the fruit get the juice? From the branch! And from where would the branch get its requirement? From the vine! In other words there is more flow into fruit from the vine through the branches. There is more of Jesus flowing into the branches when we produce more fruit. We become more like Jesus. We sing more of you and less of me, to be like Jesus. The Father wants us to become more like Jesus who has the personality of the Father. Mt 5:48 - Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. 1 Peter 1:16 "You shall be holy, for I am holy." This is the route to holiness to become more and more like the Father.
Thrown away branches - John 15:6 - Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. (read Ezekiel 15:2-6)
The sap that is flowing in the branch is the Spirit of the Lord. When we fail to abide in the Lord, His Spirit will dry out and the branch will begin to wither away. This is a clear sign of lost or poor connectivity i.e. prayer. These are the branches that did not produce any fruit and are of no use to the Father. Why are these branches thrown into fire? The wood of the vine can serve no other purpose. It cannot be used in carpentry, as a prop or for that matter even a peg, its not hard or strong and so the only purpose it can serve is as firewood – a reference to Hell.
A divine promise - John 15:7 - If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Any tree that is producing abundant fruit gets special attention, everything is provided for so that it can yield a bumper crop. Jesus is saying the same thing. (read Jas 4:3, Jas 5;16)
Glory to the Father - John 15:8 - My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
If a tree produces abundant fruit, no one pats the tree, the appreciation goes to the gardener who managed to get such abundant fruit, so it is here as well. Much fruit means much abiding, much pruning and this is a true disciple who has developed an exclusive fellowship with the Lord. If anyone wishes to be my disciple, let him deny himself, pick up his cross and follow me.
Abide in My / Father’s love - John 15:9-11 - As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.
Jesus lets out the secret to abide in Him – keep my commandments. John 15:12 - "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 14:23 - Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
Some of us have come to believe that Jesus will love us anyway because God is love. But Jesus tells us that He has kept the Father’s commandment and that's the reason He abides in the Father’s love. So it is to be with us. Friends when we close our eyes on earth let us rejoice that we hold nothing against anyone – we have sought and given forgiveness. Jesus adds something more here – if you do this my joy will be in you and your joy may be complete. This is the joy and peace of the Holy Spirit.
People not in a relationship with the Lord often misinterpret this phrase – do as I command you – am I a dog or a slave to take instructions? When the dog takes instructions, he becomes a nice dog. But Jesus is not talking of short term interest. Initially we do not like to obey just like the first son but gradually we begin to realise of how we can be benefitting from doing what the Lord is telling us. If we do not listen to His commands you can be sure you will lead a dog’s life.
The calling - John 15:16 - You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name.
Coming to our theme this year - 2 Peter 1:10 - be all the more eager to confirm your call and election.
Our calling is to go and to bear fruit for the Lord – no matter in what position or place the Lord puts you in – we have to bear fruit that will last forever. From a true vine we can only have true fruit i.e. the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We are called to be ‘ambassadors’ for Christ – to carry His message, we are called to be ‘advertisements’ for Christ by our fruit bearing. Our fruit must cause others to ask a question – what is it that He has and I do not have and that is the point of evangelisation. We don't need to catch anyone by the throat and bring them to Christ, your outlook of life will do the job.
When we do not show the sincerity or eagerness in confirming our calling and election then we become those branches that wither away and can only be burned.
Where is your branch? Is it abiding with the true vine or are you busy caught up with something else. Don't look at others in the church and say they are not so concerned. Through God’s grace you were called into the vineyard. That's not the end of the story. You may say I don't do the things I used to do before. Very good but that's only the cleansing part. That's not the fruit production part. You may be having a good time of personal prayer with the Lord – you are abiding in the vine but what matters most is bearing fruit a 100-fold and that depends on how you go about with the luminous & sorrowful mystery.
This is what we are called for, appointed for – to bear fruit. Amen