John 15:5
Praise the Lord everybody. In the scripture John 15:5 Jesus is speaking to His disciples as He begins to prepare them for His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus was concerned that after He was gone that they might lose focus on who or what was their true source of life, power, and redemption, being that they were Jews raised under the old testament’s Mosaic laws. Remember it was Jesus who told the Pharisees that “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,”(John 5:39) Jesus wanted to reinforce the fact that He is the truth, the way, and the life, and not the law.
Jesus was worried about the many “weeds” that would begin to grow in among His disciples after He was no longer with them. Weeds that could choke off their faith and hinder their ability to produce the “fruit” they were meant to bring forth. Just as the Pharisees were a threat then, today we must be just as concerned about the “weeds” that plague the Body of Christ today.
Jesus said, “I am the vine”. In today’s world we see so many false Prophets posing as “pastors, Apostles, Bishops, and Evangelist”. They have been elevated to cult leader status. The body of Christ has become a cult of personalities where parishioners follow man and not Christ. Paul said “follow me as I follow Christ” a large portion of today’s Church has forgotten this principle, that is why we see so many dead and dry churches.
If we are not plugged into the “true vine,” which is Christ, we cannot survive as fruitful men and woman of God. Only if we abide in Christ and He in us can we see a fruitful and powerful Body of Christ. We will see healings, deliverances, and other “signs and wonders” along with anointed ministries and ministers. Those churches that are plugged into men and sit under leaders who are teaching false doctrine not Christ wither on the vine and eventually they fall to the ground. Many Christians have been heard declaring “I love my Pastor; I know he’s wrong but…” or they say, “my family has been going to this church for generations and despite the Pastors sins I will never leave.” These “weeds” are just that, weeds, and they will eventually cause their followers to dry up and die.
Only Christ has the words of life. Once Jesus asked His disciples after a hard teaching that caused many of His followers to leave, “will you leave me also?” and it was Peter who said “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:66-68) Jesus is the true vine as stated in John 15:1, and he also states that His Father is the “vinedresser” meaning that He is the one who prunes, trains, and cultivates the vines as only He can. The “weeds” of the world do not have the ability and know how to cultivate and help the vines to reach their maximum fruit production.
Those Christian believers who want to be productive and produce much fruit in Christ must remain in Him by attending Bible teaching churches that preach the full council of God, a full unadulterated Gospel, a strong prayer life, and devotional life along with an obedient spirit. Remember, “Neither is their salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
King James Version (KJV)
“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.”
New International Version (NIV)
“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.”
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.”
New American Bible (NASB)
“I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
The Living Bible (TLB)
“Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can’t do a thing.”