2024 04 28 Sermon Vine & Branches
Vine & Branches
Easter 5 B
John 15:1-8
Rev. Karl-John N. Stone
A few days ago I got back from tagging along with my wife Beth Ann on the first week of her sabbatical. One of the goals of her sabbatical is to reconnect with many of the people and places that have been formative in her life, faith, and ministry. We started in the Finger Lakes region of western New York State where two of her good friends from college live, Amy and Hans. They are both wine aficionados, and in fact Hans’ job is to be the chief scientific advisor to all the grape growers around the Finger Lakes region, which is regarded as having excellent conditions for growing grapes.
As we reconnected with Amy and Hans they took us to some of their favorite vineyards. It was fun to walk into a tasting room and see the vine-growers recognize Hans and come over to greet him. Hans also pointed out to us his experimental vineyard, a small farm where he and his team can try experiments on their vines, and learn ways to improve the health and yield of the grapes as the vineyards adapt to changing climate conditions.
As we tasted the local wines the grape growers taught us a few things, like how different growing conditions produce different characteristics in the grapes and wines. The grape vines that are planted lower on the hillside, closer to the lakes have hotter growing conditions and richer soil, and therefore develop a fruitier flavor. The grape vines planted higher on the hillsides farther from the lakes have colder growing conditions and rockier soil, which produces a more “earthy” flavor.
Well, I could go on, but what does all of this have to do with the gospel of Jesus Christ? “I am the true vine” said Jesus, “and my father is the vine-grower. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t bear fruit; and he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it can bear more fruit.” The image of the vine goes back to the Old Testament, where it symbolized God relationship with the Israelites. God had rescued them from slavery in Egypt, and had transplanted them (like a grape vine) to grow in the promised land. Like a vine, they needed tending and nurturing in order to produce the fruit of God’s kingdom, and fulfill God’s purposes to bless the world. But over time, the vine yielded less good fruit and more wild grapes, and so God sent prophets to tend the vine and make the people healthy in their faith and life again.
Now, with Jesus saying he is the “true vine”, he’s saying that he is fuliflling the tradition of the prophets as one who tends and cares for God’s people, so that we can grow more healthy in faith and life. We are Jesus’ followers; and when we stay connected to him, like branches to the vine, then we can produce the fruit of God’s kingdom and take part in God’s purposes to bless the world.
Jesus talked about the vine and the branches with the disciples on the last night he had with them. He said all of this after the Last Supper, and after he had washed the disciples’ feet as an example of humble service; this is why he mentions “You are already clean, because of the word I’ve spoken to you.” It goes to show how important the symbolism of the vine and branches is to Jesus—it was one of the last things he would ever get to say to his disciples before he went to the cross. And as he spoke he also made a promise, which he fulfilled in being raised from the dead: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you!” The resurrection power of Jesus continues to be at work in all who follow him in faith.
“Remain in me and I will remain in you!” We are connected to God because Jesus lives in us through faith! We’re like branches growing out of the vine that is Christ! And by God’s grace we produce the fruit of God’s kingdom—things like encouragement, care, love, forgiveness, welcome, acceptance, outreach—by staying connected to the vine. Of course, similar to the grapes in a vineyard, the kinds of fruit we each produce will vary. When you are planted in a time of life filled with rich soil and warm weather, the way you live your faith will have a “fruitier” flavor. When you are planted in a time filled with rocky soil and cold weather, the way you live your faith will have an “earthy” flavor. But no matter where the vines are planted, they are all watered by God’s gift of baptism, so that new branches and new fruit grow from the vine that is Christ.
And here’s the thing—whether your flavor is fruity or earthy, one flavor is not better or worse than another. They are just different. The main thing is that the true flavor that God wants for you shines through. A vineyard needs different kinds of grapes and wines in order to thrive; and we as a church and as the people of God need diversity amongst ourselves in order to thrive. We can embrace our diversity knowing that God needs different “flavors” and different “grapes” in order to fulfill his purpose to bless the world.
Now, this doesn’t mean that everything we attempt to do or say in the name of Jesus is the result of us staying connected to Jesus. Even though we are branches connected to Christ the vine, we do fall into sin and selfishness, by things we have done and things we have left undone. We do waste energy on things that lead us away from producing the fruits of the Spirit; we do waste the energy given to us by Christ the vine when we reject opportunities to grow in his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and self-control, and to share these gifts with others. We do crowd out things that are most important in life, and fill our time with things that aren’t so important. Therefore, we need to be pruned by God for the well-being of our long-term spiritual health. We need to allow God to prune away whatever leads us away from Jesus. Pruning is helpful and necessary for a vine to thrive, but it still feels painful and uncomfortable in the moment. But those times of pain and discomfort that we all go through, with God’s grace can become times of growth and new life. In the pruning, God provides new opportunities for us to produce more fruit as we connect with Jesus, connect with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and connect with the community around us. Through the connections we make God is at work to form our faith and life in the way of Jesus—all for the sake of God fulfilling his purpose to bless the world. Amen.