We see that Jesus is the source of our life. He is the vine; we are branches. Our life flows from Him. Apart from Jesus, we can’t do anything at all. He is our life. When we remain in Him, we have life, and we bear fruit. What is that fruit? When we keep His commands, we love. That is the command that He has for us. Love. When we remain in the vine, that is the fruit we will bear. 

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Good morning! So glad to be with you this Friday as we kick off the weekend! There’s a lot going on here—tomorrow morning, we have a 5K for missions at St. Matthews, and I’ll be walking it, not running! Come join us if you’re looking to support missions. After that, it’s off to see Southern Miss play before Sunday church.

In this passage, Jesus introduces Himself as the “true vine,” while God is the gardener who lovingly tends to each branch (each of us). Every branch that doesn’t bear fruit is removed, but those that bear fruit are pruned for even greater growth. Pruning can be difficult, as it often involves painful lessons or sacrifices, but it ultimately leads to a healthier, more fruitful life rooted in God’s will. Jesus’ imagery shows that, just like branches, we can’t flourish on our own—our life and strength come only from our connection to Him.

Remaining in Him (sometimes translated as “abiding”) means constantly seeking Him in prayer, scripture, worship, and sacrament. These “means of grace” keep us spiritually connected and grounded. When we stay in this connection, we bear fruit—not just any fruit, but the fruit of love. Verses 12-17 echo this command to “love each other as I have loved you,” reminding us that Jesus laid down His life for us, setting the ultimate example of selfless love. He calls us friends, not servants, showing us how close and personal our relationship with Him is meant to be.

Our calling, then, is not just to love on our own strength but to let God’s love flow through us as a natural outgrowth of our abiding in Him. Jesus emphasizes this point, saying we “did not choose” Him, but He chose us for this purpose. So, as we go through our days, if we stay connected to the vine, we will bear this fruit of love, honoring God and impacting others.

In a practical sense, today’s lesson invites us to consider: Are we prioritizing our connection to Jesus in a way that lets His love work through us? As we stay rooted in Him, may His love flow freely through our lives, renewing us and drawing others to God’s grace.