John 15 - Christian life is not about striving but staying

 

John 15

Jesus started His farewell from John 14 and continues till John 16 to His disciples. For this chapter He uses the image of a vine and branches to describe our relationship with Him.
He calls Himself the True Vine, the Father the Gardener, and believers the Branches.
The heart of this chapter is in verse 5:  Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

Christian life is not about striving but staying.

v:5 “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.”

STAYING CONNECTED - Jesus uses the image of a vine to describe our dependence on Him.
Just as branches cannot live or produce fruit unless we are connected to the vine, we cannot live fruitful, purposeful lives without remaining connected to Christ.

• “I am the vine” — Jesus is the source of everything in our lives - life, strength, and nourishment, provision etc.

STAYING CONNECTED gives, us strength. We don’t have to strive to be fruitful — we simply have to stay close to Jesus. The fruit will come naturally when our hearts stay rooted in Him.

• “You are the branches” — we are created to stay connected to Him and reflect His life.

NOT STAYING CONNECTED – will dry us up.
Living independently, on our own wisdom or strength, we lose peace and joy. Just like a branch separated from the vine, our lives wither without His life flowing through us.

• “Remain in me” — to abide means to stay close, rely, and draw life from Jesus daily.

STAYING CONNECTED DAILY - It’s not a one-time act, but a continual relationship — praying, listening, trusting, and obeying.

• “You will bear much fruit” — fruit represents love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).

STAYING CONNECTED – we will be fruitful. If our life reflects love, joy, and peace, it’s because His Spirit is alive in us. The fruit reveals the root.

 

• “Apart from me you can do nothing” — our efforts without Him may look successful but lack eternal value and spiritual power.

STAYING CONNECTED – we find our purpose. A branch doesn’t exist for itself — its purpose is to bear fruit that honors the vine. Our lives are meant to reveal Christ’s beauty to the world. Giving nourishment to others and spreading the good news.

Let us pray:

Lord, may we always stay connected to you, when life feels dry draw us closer to you. We welcome your pruning oh Lord if it for us to bear fruits, for we know without You tending us we are nothing. Lord, help us abide in your word, let your word shape us according to your master plan and put in our hearts to abide in your love so that we may also love others, just as you love us. Amen.