The Vine

Most of you know that I started gardening during the Covid-19 Pandemic. While it seemed like something fun to do while the world was “shut down” I fully embraced it and I continue to enjoy gardening. I am not sure what drew me to gardening during the pandemic, besides there being little else to do but I enjoy the peace it brings and literally eating the fruit of my labor. Although I am a native New Yorker, gardening was not foreign to me. I grew up drinking tea with mint from my grandmother’s garden and grapes and other vegetables from my backyard. I find gardening to be relaxing, as I dig into the dirt and deposit plants I grew from seed, watch those plants flower and produce as I water and take care of them, I am reminded of biblical principles and teachings. In some ways, gardening makes me feel closer to my roots and closer to God.  

A vine, as defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is a plant whose stem requires support, and which climbs by tendrils or twining or creeps along the ground. A grapevine, for example, has a main vine that sends nutrients from the root of the plant to the branches, which then thrive and bear fruit. I have had success with cucumbers from the very start of my gardening. Cucumbers grow on vines, and I have learned that the more space they have to spread, the more they produce. I have learned to be careful when removing ripe cucumbers from the vine because is I am too hasty, I can easily damage the vine, causing its death and hindering future harvests. I learned very quickly that nothing can grow separated from the vine. It makes sense to me that Jesus would use this parable to make such a vital truth plain and clear. 

In this seventh and final “I Am” statement found in John 15:5, Jesus says, “I Am the vine…” Again, we find Jesus using a parable as teaching tool to convey a particularly important lesson. Parables compare things that are common in everyday life and moral truth. They are easy to comprehend stories that teach deeper truths. Those listing to the words of Jesus would be familiar with vines because common occupations were artisans (carpenters, clothing makers, masons, those who worked with gems, stones, metals, and the like), herdsmen, fishermen and farmers. Farmers and the average person would know that vines are flexible climbing stems rooted in the ground that typically have long dangling branches bearing flowers, fruit, or leaves. The branches or stems of vines require support. 

Jesus reminds us that He is the source of all and is necessary for every life (Genesis 2:7, John 1:4, Romans 11:36, 1 Corinthians 8:6). He uses this parable to remind us that not only is being in relationship with Him necessary but that being connected to Him grows and changes us, requires flexibility and constant connectedness on our part ((Matthew 7:24, Ephesians 4:22-24, Colossians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 5:17). It is only when we are connected to Him, The Vine, that we receive life, all the nutrients we need to survive and that which is necessary for us to flourish. Staying connected to Jesus, The Vine, allows life to naturally flow through me. When I am connected to Jesus, The Vine, I have access to everything I need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). He does not want me to live “brittle and dry” as though I have been cut off from Him. That is why I must maintain my connection to Jesus, The Vine to continually draw nourishment and life from Him. 

I cannot produce fruit if I am separated from Jesus, The Vine. Jesus, The Vine, connects me, a branch to the root The Father. Jesus, The Vine, is my life sustaining connection that allows us to produce fruit. Some people are confused and think the branches are what produce fruit, but it is the vine that causes growth. When I stay connected to Jesus, I can do all things (Philippines 4:13). I am renewing my determination to staying connected to Jesus, The Vine. I know that staying connected requires a strong relationship, significant time spent in The Word, strict obedience to The Word and spending time in prayer. I will maintain a strong, intimate relationship in which I am challenged to grow and be transformed into the woman God designed me to be at the beginning of time while knowing beyond any doubt that I am completely loved. I will take time to read, listen to and meditate on His Word and listen to Word-centered music. I will align my will to the Will of God, living in complete surrender to His authority, basing all my actions and decisions on His Word. I will purposefully and regularly commune with God in silent solitude focused on expressing adoration, confession and seeking forgiveness as well as conveying gratitude and thanksgiving. 

My staying connected to the Jesus, The Vine, is not just for me, my connection has implications for others. When I am securely connected in union with Him, I become more like Him each day. I receive His strength, guidance, love, and comfort. When I am securely connected with Him, I can share His strength, guidance, love, and comfort with others. Strawberries are another plant that I have had much success with, during strawberry season I can pick 50 strawberries every three days. Strawberries also grow on vines. Established strawberry plants multiply by “sending our multiple runners” across the surrounding soil. At the end of every runner is a tiny plant that can produce new strawberry plants which can individually be planted and produce more strawberries. Just like the strawberry plant secretly connected to its vine that produces runners which can be replanted, my connection to Jesus, The Vine, if lived humbly yet demonstratively before those I encounter, can provide the opportunity for others to grow in their relationships with Him.  

Join me Under The Church Hat for this month’s exercise: 

Describe in less than 250 words how you are provided for, protected, and guided by God because of your connection to Jesus, The Vine. 

Describe in less than 250 words how you humbly display your connection to Jesus, The Vine, to those around you. 

Describe in less than 250 words how you have grown and changed over the last year because of being connected to Jesus, The Vine.  

Write your prayer of gratitude for your life sustaining connection to Jesus, The Vine. 

Choose a passage from this month’s devotion to meditate on this month.