Our Blog

By: Pastor Horton

“I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

It was a challenging growing season in our community garden.  Rain fell early in the summer in what seemed like buckets at a time.  It felt like we were constantly chasing down little bugs all over our plot who liked to eat our produce as they moved from plant to plant.  And even our veteran gardening neighbors experienced challenges.  After they had taken some time away from their garden, there remained a few strong plants with healthy vegetables, but many others had withered, spoiled, and perished.

This is the picture language Jesus gives to us in John 15.  It is familiar imagery as the disciples would have walked past vineyards in Israel with our Lord as they travel alongside him during his earthly ministry.  Think for a moment of the different vineyard references we are given in the Bible: from Naboth’s vineyard to the parables of Jesus.  The disciples understood that those grape plants rooted in good soil and receiving adequate moisture and sunshine would typically produce good fruit.  Vines not connected to the plant would dry up, and it would be impossible for them to produce fruit.  Disconnected and dried up branches were fruitless and worthless and would be destroyed.

Jesus shares with us one of his great “I Am” statements in John 15.  Jesus says, “I am the Vine.”  Jesus is the life-giving vine.  Apart from him, our faith may wither and ultimately die.  That makes Jesus vital for you and for me.  Jesus is the life-giving vine because He gave His life for us.  On the cross, Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins and became lifeless.  In His resurrection, Jesus took his life back up so that all might live eternally through Him.

Our church and school went through a bit of a challenging growing season this past year with an unusually high turnover of divinely called workers on staff.  You may personally be currently going through a challenging growing season as you face a health concern or a financial struggle.  Or your challenging growing season may involve particular sins which your Old Adam desperately desires to maintain a connection with instead of the good blessings given by God.  Challenges to both our body and soul remain in this fallen world.  Which means temptations remain.  Temptations to despair in God’s ways or to turn to ourselves thinking we can live and grow apart from our vine.  God gives us one source of forgiveness, life, and salvation.

No matter the place: at church, at school, in our family, or within ourselves, it is God alone who connects us to the life that Jesus gives.  He provides the water of life through the truth of his Word.  He nourishes our faith and strengthens our connection to him through the Sacraments.  He builds us up in our lives by providing us with believers who act as a support system within our bundle of branches.  He gives us the opportunity to pray, praise, and give thanks at home and in church as we flourish in our connection to him.  And he helps us bear spiritual fruit in abundance to the glory of God the Father.  We branches have a very special connection to the Vine, Jesus.  Continue to grow in Christ all the more as the harvest approaches and we look forward to the day when we are safely home with the Lord.  In the words of our school theme, stay “Connected” to Jesus!