Life in the Vine
Notes
Transcript
In last Sunday’s Gospel Jesus referred to himself as a Shepherd and to us as sheep. Today we hear Jesus calling himself the “true vine” and us “the branches.” Jesus calls us these other names too—salt, light, sheep — and now branches. He does this to build us up and to announce how dearly He loves us. When Jesus calls us branches, he does so to show us our purpose in life. These are terms of endearment from the Lord to us, his beloved people.
Jesus Calls Us Branches
Jesus Calls Us Branches
This shows us a sense of “connectedness,” a unity that now exists when we are living our lives as a part of Christ rather than apart from him.
If we as branches are connected to the true Vine, that means that we have the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.
When we are connected to Christ by faith, He provides us with the proper nutrition by Word and Sacrament. As a result, we bear fruit.
We fertilize our gardens and grass to make them grow and flourish each season.
We as branches must be “fertilized” too. God provides the fertilizer we need through Word and Sacrament.
Neglect of Fertilization
Neglect of Fertilization
Can cause our lawns, gardens, and shrubs to dry up, go limp, lose color, and eventually wither and die.
In the same way we need the nourishment God provides in frequent attendance at worship and Holy Communion. I fear for those who separate themselves from the means of grace, and we should pray for them and reach out to them.
The Holy Spirit—the author of the Book of Hebrews—speaks of this very clearly in Hebrews 3 and Hebrews 4, and warns through the letter against drifting today.
The Divine Worship Service is the means God uses to dispense these vital nutrients. There are several countries around the world today who are trying to make these physical gathering illegal. Why? Because the devil knows that is where Christians are nourished and strengthened for service. Further, the devil knows if He can keep us away from physically meeting that he is gaining ground.
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Fertilized Branches in Christ
Fertilized Branches in Christ
Being “in Christ,” we are branches as He is the Vine. In Holy Baptism we are grafted into the Vine, Christ Jesus, who is the true Israel of God. Through this grafting God, by His grace, washing away all our sins. Jesus said it like this, “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you” John 15:3.
The Word spoken over us in Holy Baptism, combined with the water, makes baptism Baptism.
It is also the Word of God spoken, which we hear in the readings, the sermon, and as we speak it to one another when we gather together; it is in the Holy Communion where our Lord gives Himself to us. All these things continually cultivates and fertilizes.
And this is precisely why the devil tempts us to stay away from the Divine Service, because he knows exactly what God does for us when gather together.
Fertilized branches then produce fruit.
By grace we produce good, sweet fruit that others, by our Christian witness and vocation, would want for themselves.
Examples of these fruit are identified in Gal 5:22ff.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Beautiful vines of the California wine country produce the “fruit of the vine.” Through this fruit of the vine we receive the forgiveness of sins and strengthening of our faith in, with, and under the bread and wine of Holy Communion.
Branch is defined as “woody extension growing from the main stem.”
Branch is defined as “woody extension growing from the main stem.”
Key words are abide:
When we abide we grow.
When abiding we are in Christ.
And we abide as we hear Christ Word and Sacrament in the Divine Service.
And growing:
Continuous action: As we continue in the study of God’s Word and in regular reception of the Sacrament of the Altar, we never stop growing in Christ.
When growing as branches, we have the awesome power of Christ’s resurrection victory pulsating through our veins. Just as plants thrive on chlorophyll, we thrive on the resurrection victory and power of Christ.
Conclusion
When connected to and abiding in Christ, (show bright, beautiful flower) we are like this flower—flourishing, vibrant, full of life, receiving the nutrients needed for life.