The Father’s Vine Dressing

​John 15: 1 – 11
 
The apt metaphor of ‘vine dressing’ used by Jesus to describe His Father’s responsibility in stimulating Christian growth implies a clear-cut goal that life in Christ is not one that stagnates. The natural grapevine pruning process commences within weeks of it being planted and progresses through the year as the vinedresser relentlessly pursues the pruning process till the vine bears its choicest fruit (with at least two major pruning seasons: one in late winter and another in late spring). And in the event a branch bears no indication of being able to bear fruit, it will normally be severed, so it does not compete for the plant’s precious nutrients. The metaphoric configuration identifies Christ to be the plant and believers as branches (John 15:1-3), and the rendering seems severe, but clear. The critical focus here is the Father’s desire and expectation for ‘fruit.’ Biblical ‘fruit’ is commonly referenced to one’s character in terms of changes to one’s dispositional traits (Gal 5:22-23).
 
The logical prerequisite, however, is that the branch in order to bare good fruit must organically be part of the stem; implying that on one’s own, spiritual character growth is well-nigh impossible when an ongoing relationship with Jesus is not in place (John 15:4-5). And it is based on this bond that two very essential ‘fruits’ mentioned here are developed: love and obedience (John 15:9-10). Both are divinely appointed qualities that are at the opposite end of the spectrum to man’s innate self-centeredness and willfulness. The acid test for love is its near fatal addictive component with the love object, where one’s entire energy, time, and focus is devoted to another. And when it is mutual, as we abide in His love, there are no limits to what one can achieve. 
Divine obedience, a core lifestyle, and unlike anything we may have learnt, only proceeds out of a growing love and honour relationship with God; an inner dynamic as we delight and embrace His laws’ demands (John 15:10; Ps 1:2-3). Obedience in this sense, arises from a way of life in Christ, certainly never a matter of normal compliance that is usually temporal and a response to our fears and pride. So, by implication, to not seek to obey God (i.e., including His laws) is to disobey Him. 
 
As in any vineyard pruning exercise, the Father’s focal perspective is always towards productive growth, and He skillfully axes anything in us that stands in His way to reach His goals in our lifetime (John 15:6-8). This can be rather disconcerting and painful, but the key to understanding this inevitable process is the heart of God - that He has always our best interest in view. Let us have eyes to see that He is patiently conforming us to His Son (Rom 8:29). It is crucial to realize that our perception of what is important may differ from God’s, and by stubbornly holding on to our preferences, we would certainly not learn to trust Him. An inability to distrust one’s own capabilities is a dangerous signal that one invariably cannot trust God, and in turn, His pruning process. There are no other ways for us, except Jesus’ own exemplary obedience when He obeyed His Father and gave Himself up for our sins (Rom 5:19) and laid the foundation of Christian living for us. And it is only through obeying that one discovers growth. Therefore, accepting willingly the Father’s sustained purifying process in our lives, as this passage reminds us, is to embrace the friendship, love, and joy of God (John 15: 7, 9, 11).