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It was in relation to the parable of the vine that the Lord first used the expression "abide in Me” (John 15:4). That parable is so deep and rich in its meaning, yet so very simple. It is an illustration that gives us a clear, concise meaning as to the Lord's relationship to those that are joined to Him by grace through faith. The parable teaches us the nature of that union. The connection between the vine and the branch is one of life.
Without the vine the branch is incapable of providing fruit. And so the Lord said, "…for without Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). Therefore, the believer can only be pleasing to God when the service he renders is through the power of Christ, who indwells him by means of the Holy Spirit.
A vine without branches in the same way can bear no fruit. Here we see the wonderful condescending grace of Jesus Christ, that although His people are dependent upon Him, He has chosen to work through them. Although God is sovereign, and powerfully runs his universe in spite of us, He nonetheless has chosen to graciously work through us rather than apart from us.
Christ has inseparably joined Himself to the redeemed sinner. We are weak, but He is strong; we are poor, but He is rich. Just as the branch is dependent upon the vine for life, so we are dependent upon Christ in everything, including prayers to the Father.
In the Lord's discourse in the gospel of John, our Lord seems to connect friendship for Him with that of prayer, and His choosing of His disciples seem to have been with the intent that through prayer they should bear much fruit.
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you…You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you (John 15:14,16).
We still have another declaration from Jesus: “Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:23-24).
In our Lord's affluent statement to His disciples about choosing them that should bear fruit, He clearly teaches us that this matter of praying and fruit bearing is not a petty business of our choice, or a secondary matter in relation to other matters, but that He has chosen us for this very business of praying.
All that glimmers from the branch belongs to the vine. The branch does not exist for itself, but to bear fruit that exposes the excellence of its source. It has no reason for existence except to be of service to the vine. This is a glorious calling of the believer in all that he does including the privilege of intercessory prayer, as intended as recognition of the vine; Jesus Christ. Evangelize, as you abide in the vine and pray without ceasing.
John Leeder, Pastor
Pacific Hope Church, San Diego
www.PacificHope.com
1E.M. Bounds E.M. Bounds on prayer (New Kensington, PA.: Whitaker House, 1997), p. 208
2 Ibid., p. 209
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