24 Series Devotionals - Day 39
A Fruitful Life
“Let me sing now for my well-beloved….My well-beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill. (Isaiah 5:1)
When Jesus told Mary His hour had not come, she did not take it as a rebuke nor did she indicate any offense at His words. She simply sums it up for the essence of the Gospel by saying to His disciples: “Whatever He says to you, do it!”
In the scriptures, wine is used as a metaphor for the product of life. Water is necessary for life, but not the product of it. We are the branch connected to the vine to receive our life, and the result of our life is the fruit we bear!
A fruitful life requires doing what Jesus tells you to do.
Grapevines have branches that bear fruit, but they must also have branches that presently bear no fruit, but are growing stronger so they can bear fruit in the future. There can be genuine life without visible fruit in a vine. However, the vinedresser watches the vine and cares for it until it does bear fruit. (Jesus is the “vinedresser,” watching and caring for us.)
As Jesus continues to prepare his disciples for his leaving, he teaches them about fruitfulness. He has instructed them in prayer, he has offered assurances of Heaven, peace and God’s presence. In John 15:1 shows them a grape vine on their way to the Garden of Gethsemane and says, “I am the true vine!”
When God spoke to Moses through the Burning Bush, Moses asked what he should tell the sons of Israel when they asked who had spoken to him. God replied, “I AM WHO I AM.” Jesus could also say, “I AM,” because He was sent by the Father. He and the Father are one. (John 10:30)
In other chapters and verses in John, Jesus incorporates the name I AM when he says -
“I am the Bread of Life” (6:35)
“I am the Light of the World” (8:12; 9:5)
“I am the Door” (1:7; 9)
“I am the Good Shepherd” (10:11; 14)
“I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25)
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” (14:6)
“I am the True Vine” (15:1)
He is our sufficiency. When we do what he says, we live a fruitful life.