Jesus, the True Vine – May 9, 2021

Psalm 98, John 15:1-11
May 9, 2021

We take a step back in time today.  We set the “Wayback Machine” to a time when Jesus was with his disciples in the Upper Room.  Do you remember the Wayback Machine?  Brownie points if you can tell me who used it.  So we’re with Jesus and his disciples, and Jesus is preparing them for the terrible time just ahead, a time when he would be taken from them, quite violently.

He said a lot of things to them that night.  The passage we read is right in the middle of those pages of the “Red Letter Bible” that are all red!  This is a long monologue, and Jesus gave them a lot of words of comfort that night, though I’m sure they didn’t know the extent of their soon-to-be need for that comfort.  He said a lot about his relationship with them and the close connection they had – and would continue to have.  Though I’m sure that would seem next to impossible over the next 24 to 48 hours. And one of the things he said to them was this.  “I am the vine, and you are the branches.”

As I’ve thought about those words this week, I have to say that I am not a big fan of vines.  Oh there are some decorative vines that I like.  Wisteria is nice. Clematis is also very nice.  And vines can make for a nice privacy screen.  We have a little of that going on over at the house.  We have several different kinds of vines growing on the giant cat enclosure.  (Or as we like to call it, the prisoners’ exercise yard!)

But a lot of times when I think of vines, I think of things like poison ivy, which is just nasty!  It’s also very shiny this time of year, which means it’s loaded with the oil that gives us the itchy rash!  I also think of wild grape vine, which I believe may someday take over the world, like one of those sci-fi horror movies!

Last Summer, I did a lot of work over on the side of the parking, right lot over here.  A wild grape vine had covered that nice Ficus bush, and it was in the process of killing the two Mulberry trees next to it.  So I got my Sawzall and  started cutting it off at the root!  And some of those vines near the base were over three inches thick.  They were like small tree trunks!  Take a look at the difference over there when you leave.  The bush looks great now, and the trees are coming back.  But you can still see the dead vines inside the bush!

The reason I say this, is that I do like the metaphor Jesus uses here, referring to himself as “the true vine.”  Because it amazes me that a vine has life flowing through it over such a long distance. The water from the roots, and nutrients created in the leaves, go up and down inside of all plants, but in the case of vines they can travel hundreds of feet!  That’s quite a connection!  And Jesus is using that to describe his connection with his disciples!

By the way, do you remember what the structures are called inside the plant that carry those things up and down the stems and branches?  There are two words.  Maybe you remember them from your High School Biology class.  (There’s more brownie points available here!)  They’re called the Phloem and the Xylem.  Xylem takes water from the roots to the leaves.  Phloem takes the nutrients produced by the leaves down to the roots.  I can’t remember where I put my coffee cup, and I can’t remember why I walked into a certain room, but I remember stuff like that!

As I said, I’m not fond of vines, but the way that “vascular system” – which all plants have – keeps the vine alive over such long distances is amazing to me!  And I like how Jesus uses that metaphor to describe his connection to us and our connection to him.  It’s a strong connection.  It’s a connection that happens over a distance!  “I am the vine, and you are the branches,” he said.

Then there’s the second part of that sentence. “Apart from me, you can do nothing!”  As I said, to get rid of those vines, I sawed through the branches at the bottom.  I cut off the flow of the water and nutrients through the Phloem and the Xylem.  I severed the connection!  And that took care of the branches.  They all dried up!  When we are cut off, when we are “apart from Jesus,” we too “dry up.”  “We, too, can do nothing!”  That completes this metaphor!

So, that’s the first thing here.  And I would ask you, do you know that you have that connection with Jesus?  Is it that strong connection that a vine has with its long branches?  Or, do you feel like you’ve been cut off from him?  Do you feel like somebody has taken a Sawzall and severed the branch and cut off the connection between you and Jesus?  Do you feel the need to re-establish that connection?  If you do, I hope you do!  I hope you reach out to God, and feel him reaching out to you!

The second thing I want you to think about, is that this scene does take place in the Upper Room.  And the passage I read, “I am the true vine,” comes right before Jesus said another very important thing.  He said, “A new Commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

Remember that the early church leaders saw those words as some of the most important words Jesus said that night.  “Commandments” were very important to the Jewish people.  Their lives and their whole relationship with God were based on the Ten Commandments – the Torah.  And as I’ve said before, to add one – to add a “New Commandment” – was huge.  Eventually, they referred to the time of Jesus and his disciples in the Upper Room as “The Thursday of the Commandment” – in Latin, “The Thursday of the ‘Maundatum.’”  Or, as we know it, “Maundy Thursday.”

I like that these two things come right after one another.  In our passage for today, Jesus is describing the connection he had with them, and how important that was and would be!  And then, right after that, he gives them this New Commandment.  And that Commandment speaks of the connection they were to have with each other!  “Love one another as I have loved you!”

Throughout the pandemic, we’ve heard the words, “We’re all in this together.”  And that’s great!  I hope more and more people are taking that to heart!  But let me tell you, that was God’s idea all along!!!  Our relationship with him has always been important, of course!  But along with that, our relationship with each other is just as important!  God has always known that.  In fact, I believe that when he made us, he “wired us” that way.

That’s been quite a challenge this past year.  We’ve tried our best – as I described it – to be God’s people, even though we cannot be together as God’s people.  That’s been the challenge.  And I’m grateful for the on-line worship and meetings we’ve been able to have.  I shudder to think what this would have been like before Facebook Live and Zoom!

But that does make me think of this question I’ve heard for years now!  “Can I be a Christian and not go to church?”  You’ve heard that question, I’m sure!  “Can’t I just watch on TV?”  Of course instead of answering the question, what I really want to do is ask the person why they are asking the question in the first place!  Are they being theological?  Or are they just wanting to avoid church?

And when I do give my answer, it’s always the same.  Yes, of course you can be a Christian and not go to church.  But!  Why would you want to be?  And if you do, do you expect to have a strong faith?  It’s very hard to experience the joy and the depth of faith without the supportive gathering of believers who uphold and edify one another.  It’s very hard to have the support we so often need in this crazy life, without the fellowship of the Church.  And besides, it’s what God wants you to have!  Because he knows how important it is!

And yes, sometimes relationships within the church get “strained.”  That is the downside.  But living in the supportive community, being the body of Christ, is so important and so meaningful to us!  And that is what God wants for us.  He wants us to be in relationship with him and he wants us to be in relationship with each other!

That’s the nature of this thing Jesus was establishing called the Church.  And yes, it is “rooted” in relationship God had with the people of Israel for thousands of years before.  And yes, it continues with us, as we seek to be God’s people, connected to Jesus, the true vine, and connected to each other, loving one another as he loves us.

Prayer

Eternal God, we thank you for connection we have with you.  Jesus is the true vine, and we are the branches.  Help us to know of his presence and his power as we seek to live our lives for you..  Help us to know that your spirit dwells within us, so that we may know your peace, and share your love with each other.  For this we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.