The True Vine

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned,” John 15:5-6, KJV.

Vines are particularly important to the life of perennial plants. They are known for spreading out, scaling walls, and going just about everywhere. Then I thought about a tomato plant and how dependant that vegetable is upon that vine. If the tomato is pulled away from the vine, there will be no more growth when it is on its own. This is exactly what Jesus was describing to us about Himself.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me,” John 15: 1-4, KJV.

Who is our source? The source is where all of our help comes from. The sun that shines outside, the moon that glows at night, the soil where seeds are planted, and the very bodies that we carry around each day are all from One source. Our very existence depends on this source who is God.

Who are we away from the source? There are many who wander aimlessly through life, unable to identify their true purpose. I’ve heard many testimonies about being confused as to one’s calling in life. It is so sad because the answer is indeed in the Word of God. When a person is separated from God, they are going to feel empty, longing for something more. They will feel as if there’s something missing. When Jesus ministered to us about the vine, He put it on a level where we could relate and understand the gravity of detachment away from Him.

There was a very specific point that Jesus made in this passage during the first few verses. He revealed that He is the true vine, the pulse that pumps life through the entire body. I consider the importance of a heart to a human body; one cannot live without it. Jesus goes on to point out that God, the Father, is the husbandman, the farmer. What does a farmer do? He prunes his plants. He oversees what is growing on the plant and also what is withering. Those that are dry and lifeless He pulls away from the vine making room for new fruit. Those who are emerging, He helps them along by trimming off the rough edges. Isn’t that what happens as we go through trials?

The purging process I imagine to be a carefully detailed job. I don’t see it as one that is taken lightly. I believe that when the farmer planted that vine, he wanted all of the fruit to grow into full maturity, but some withered along the way. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,” 2 Peter 3:9, KJV.

This is why it is vital to be connected to God, to stay in His word, to stay in prayer, to remain dependant upon Him and not ourselves. If we aren't, death is inevitable.

The Welcome Mat

“I ASSURE you, most solemnly I tell you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way (elsewhere, from some other quarter) is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep,” John 10:1-2, AMP.

When I first bought a house in Charlotte, I went out and bought a “welcome mat” and laid it at my front door. It was a symbol that showed those who approached the home that I was a warm and inviting person. It was a prelude to the kind of person I am. It represented the neighborly greeting that I had for those who chose to walk onto my front porch. But this welcome was limited to those who only had good intentions towards me.

Now, I would doubt seriously that anyone would put out a welcome mat to invite thieves, murderers, liars, backbiters, or manipulators. I sure wouldn’t. I would not want someone to come in and harm me or my family. I would try to place as many safeguards up as I possibly could, within reason of course. But this is where we differ from God. He has no conditions on the type of character we must have in order to come to Him. We can come as we are.

The welcome mat that Jesus lays before us is one that I’m sure is clean when we approach it, but all sorts of stains get left there once we “wipe our feet.” I imagine it to be clean, pure, and pristine in its very nature because that’s who He is. But once we step on it, I visualize all sorts of stains that tell of where we’ve been or of what we may have been doing.

Consider when it’s raining outside and you live down a dirt road. After you’ve darted across the yard to get to the front door, there is mud on the bottom of your shoes. Or if it’s a sunny day and you accidentally step into dog poop on the ground. What about walking along a paved sidewalk, your shoes get caught in gum that was thrown down by another? Now, that’s a mess. Would we enter the house without wiping our feet?

We take the time to either wipe our shoes clean or take them off all together. We wouldn’t dare think about trekking any of those elements into our “home.” I take this view and apply it similarly to crossing the threshold into God’s kingdom. We treat our homes with such respect and are very selective in whom we allow in, but for some reason think that God is not like that.

The welcome mat is set out, but we must be willing to wipe our feet before we go inside. As we visit another's home, do we bombard inside with mud and dirt on us without any regard? The mat is placed there for a reason and we are expected to use it. Just as the Bible is placed in our lives…we are expected to use it. This does not mean that you’re perfect or spotless; it means that you are in agreement to allow God’s welcome mat to clean you up.

Jesus says in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” He is the door. He cleanses us, having already taken upon Him our sins. God makes His presence known in the lives of those who welcome Him. Not only does He welcome us, He sends out personal invitations. All we have to do is receive.

"He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight," Psalm 101:7, KJV.

Additional Reference: Matthew 10:40

One Mediator

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” 1 Timothy 2:5, KJV.

As I read this scripture, I ponder on the meaning of the word mediator. This adjective has several synonyms that prompt me to view Jesus from different perspectives. Consider the following synonyms for mediator: referee, arbitrator, negotiator, and moderator. I believe that Jesus acts in all these capacities and them some.

What does a referee do? Well, aside from the formal definition, I consider ball games that I watch. In football, the referee is right there on the field with the players. He’s not in the stands with the spectators nor is he in the sky box where the owner may sit. He is down where the action is taking place. At times the referee feels what the players feel with the blows taken. Because they are on the playing field, they experience some of the same things. This is where I think on how Jesus feels when His children are acting in disobedience, on the field but going against the rules. Also, when one of His children is hurt to the core and in need, He knows. Recall when Jesus spoke of feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and shut in, and clothing the naked. He said, “…Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of these, ye did it not to me. (Matthew 25:45)” He is personally involved. He is certainly my referee.

Then I meditate on the position of an arbitrator. An arbitrator is usually found in a court house or in some legal capacity acting as the go-between. This position requires that the facts be reviewed with the goal of a settlement among the opposing parties. When I consider this as it relates to Jesus, I imagine the love Jesus had for us when He came to Earth. When in arbitration, settlements aren’t always reached; so, is the same with salvation. As an arbitrator, Jesus offers the sacrifice made for the free gift of salvation. In court proceedings parties either choose to agree with whatever is placed on the table, or decide to take the other option by going to trial. Those who reject Christ are the ones whom you find saying, “Well, I don’t want to get saved now. I’ll just take my chances.” What a risk to take?

I believe Jesus also acted as a negotiator on our behalf. I offer this view because atonement for sins from the Old Testament was done away with. Atonement was done away with because there was a better sacrifice coming, one that would take care of past, present, and future sins. I believe this because in the beginning God said, “Let us make man in our image (Genesis 1:26).” The word us lets us know that there was more than one member of the Godhead. So, when the decision to make man came about, it was a joint effort. And I believe that when sin atonement moved away from sacrificing animals, a negotiation was made. A negotiation consists of a give and take. God gives life through Jesus and in order to receive we are to trade in our sinful nature for deliverance. Jesus offers Himself as Lord and Savior and we are to take up the cross and follow Him.

Lastly, I believe Jesus acts as a moderator—a representative. In His acting as a representative, Jesus is our lawyer. In front of God the Father, He defends our case. As His children, God sees us through Jesus. When Jesus sat in on arbitration, encouraging a settlement, that’s when the decision was made. As salvation was accepted, the case was already won! Jesus then presents our case before the Father and confirms us. He speaks on our behalf as we boldly spoke on His behalf. We decided to live acknowledging Him before men. He stands in the gap, bridging us with God the Father.

He is the mediator, the man, Christ Jesus.