The Abiding Vine

John 15:1-11

Remember the children’s song that says, “There are many things that I can do all by myself”? Well, our reading from the gospel of John today says something completely different, something more along the lines of “there is one very important thing that I cannot do unless I work with Jesus Christ,” which now that I think about it, doesn’t quite have the same ring to it. Here’s how Jesus puts it: “Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me” (John 15:4).

Try as we might we simply cannot produce the fruit of righteousness unless we allow Jesus to work in and through us. Those of us who grew up in the days before cordless phones remember that in order to make or receive calls the phone itself had to be connected to the line. Nor can we expect an electric appliance to work if it is not plugged into the socket. Trying to produce good fruit without being connected to the vine makes about as much sense. It is the vine—Jesus—who gives the branches—believers—what they need in order to bear fruit–serve God faithfully.

Another image that comes to mind is that of a factory assembly line. If the workers alone that line were to suddenly disregard the product being produced and pursue their own ideas the results might be interesting, but they would certainly be less than ideal. Only when each worker tends to the task at hand can the best product be created. Jesus has not called you and me to “do our own thing” in the work of the kingdom. We have been set aside for particular tasks that further the coming reign of God. When we embrace those tasks and go about them with energy and enthusiasm we will find ourselves as part of a greater whole and doing great things.

Prayer: Lord, may we serve you with obedient faithfulness and may we be about your work. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

If Only…

John 18:28-38

We can have all the information in the world, all of the emails and letters and TV broadcasts and newspapers and magazines and spreadsheets and campaign ads and tweets and, yes, blog posts, but at the end of the day we may be left asking the same question that Pilate asked of Jesus. Jesus said, “’For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.’ Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’” (John 18:37b-38a). I can imagine Pilate smirking as he said it, as if he had heard that sort of thing before. After all, everybody claims to have the truth in some shape or fashion.

Years ago, just as the internet was becoming more common, a woman who regularly visited the church I served approached me with an email she had received. The email claimed that members of the board of directors of Proctor and Gamble were Satan worshipers and that the CEO of the company has said so publically. The woman was aghast at the news and wanted to know what I thought about it. I tried to explain to her that even though she had gotten the item off of her computer it didn’t mean that the story was factual. That particular rumor had been going around for some time.

“What is truth?” It’s a question that we all must wrestle with constantly. It is so easy to accept what we want to believe. There is no such thing as a compassionate conservative; all liberals are out to destroy the country. The president is a socialist; his main rivals are idiots. The denomination to which I belong willingly ignores the Bible; anyone who disagrees with me is filled with hate. I hear variations on these comments on a regular basis and they make me sad. Jesus spoke the truth when he said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (15:12). Love is what Jesus wants; not hate or apathy or disdain or disinterest, but love. And this love is true because Jesus died for it. If we could only begin there, with the love of God, and reorient our lives accordingly. If we would only let go of the falseness of life. If only…

Prayer: Lord God, help us to hear your truth and to embrace it even as we seek to embrace one another in love. For it is in Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen.

NOTE: Beginning on February 25, I will be including blog posts each Saturday written by "guest bloggers" who will offer their insights on the readings for that particular day. I deeply appreciate the willingness of these folks to share their time and talents with us. Be sure to stop by on upcoming Saturdays to see what they have to say.

A Matter of Life and Life

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Acts 3:11-26

John 15:12-27

There is a fascinating theme running through our three readings for today. In Ezekiel 37:1-14 the prophet tells of a valley of dry bones restored to life. This is an image both of resurrection (the raising of the bones) and of inspiration (the granting of breath), one suitable for both Easter and Pentecost. But it also speaks of life before and after death. In the book of Acts we read Peter’s words to the crowd in the temple. Speaking of Jesus he says, “and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses” (Acts 3:14). Here again there is reference to both resurrection and inspiration, for it was by the name of the resurrected Jesus that Peter and John were able to heal a lame man. But again there is an emphasis on life before and after death, because Jesus, who was crucified, is the “Author of life” and the source of life eternal. In John’s gospel we read Jesus’ familiar words, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). Here Jesus points to his death as the source of life for others, inspiring his disciples to live his message of love even in the face of death because death does not really end life; it leads to resurrection. John’s gospel ties it all together nicely.

It is this last passage that is referenced in the Walt Disney film “The Jungle Book.” There Bagheera the leopard offers this eulogy for his friend Boloo the bear. “But you must remember, Mowgli, ‘Greater love hath no one than he who lays down his life for his friend.’ When great deeds are remembered in this jungle, one name will stand above all others: Our friend, Baloo the bear” (“The Jungle Book,” Walt Disney Pictures, 1967). These are “inspiring words” when offered in the film’s context; Baloo has died––Bagheera believes––while saving the life of Mowgli. But in the original context of John’s gospel they are more than inspiring because they point to the life that comes after death.

The season of Eastertide in which we find ourselves is about more than resurrection OR inspiration. It is about life, and the life that comes after life. It is a time to rejoice that Jesus was willing to die, and to remember that God continued to act, even through that death. Like the valley of dry bones and the man born lame, Jesus, too, was raised up. We may look forward to being raised up as well, may hope in the life that comes after death. And we may thank God that Jesus was willing to die for friends, a term which refers to us. Truly, Eastertide is a matter of life and life.

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for your work in raising us up to share in the resurrection life of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.