I learned a new word this week:
“Viticulture” – the cultivation and harvesting of grapes.
Dating back 8,000 years, viticulture is as much a discipline of art as it is a discipline of agriculture. In today’s scripture reading from John 15:1-8, Jesus identifies the two constants of viticulture as being the same two constants for being a follower of Jesus.
Constant Number One in viticulture is a vine which provides the nutrients for the cultivation of grapes. Jesus claimed to be this constant for his followers as he said, “I am the true vine.” To appreciate the significance of Jesus self-identification as the true vine in today’s scripture reading, it is important to understand that the image of a vine in the Old Testament described Israel’s connection to God through the observance of the Torah (religious law of Israel) and the message of the prophets of Israel to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.
Jesus’ statement that he is the true vine is a turning point in the Gospel of John as Jesus’ abiding presence becomes the lifegiving sustenance and substance of discipleship for his followers. Jesus’ claim to be the true vine is a statement that a new day has come as Jesus’ disciples were connected to God through the word Jesus has spoken.
Constant Number Two in viticulture is a vine grower who prunes the vine for the purpose of cultivating a fruitful harvest. The work of a vine grower with vines can last for decades as a vine is cultivated through the removal of old, unproductive wood so that new growth can occur, the size and shape of a vine is controlled by its placement on trellis wires, spacing for airflow and sunlight, tending to the development of grapes through a canopy which consists in the production of buds, green stems (shoots), leaves, and the harvest of grapes.
A vine grower, in the time of Jesus, knew that grapevines, if left unattended, would grow along the ground by sending little roots into the soil. During dry and nonproductive seasons, the branches of a grape vine could grow along the ground but not produce fruit. When the time came for fruit, vine growers would lift the vine up off the ground through a trellis or lattice work. The process of lifting them to be properly positioned for bearing fruit took a week or two because lifting a branch too fast or too soon could cause the branch to break and be separated from the nutrients it drew from the vine.
The Koine Greek word used in John to describe the vine grower’s pruning of the vine is aerei which can be translated as either “takes away” or “lifts up.” What is the word that Jesus is teaching as he describes himself as the true vine and his Father as the vine grower? I believe Jesus is teaching that it is God’s desire that the lives of Jesus’ disciples should be fruitful as they are pruned by God the vine grower to abide in Jesus, the true vine. I believe that Jesus is teaching that it is God’s desire that our lives should be connected to the lifegiving word of Jesus. I believe Jesus is teaching that it is God’s desire that our lives should be a fruitful harvest of faith in the abiding presence of Jesus.
I believe the constant abiding presence of Jesus results in the fruitful harvest that is described in today’s scripture reading from I John 4 as our lives bear fruit to the word of Jesus that abides in us.
The fruit of the abiding presence of Jesus as we love one another.
The fruit of the abiding presence of Jesus as God’s love is revealed through us.
The fruit of the abiding presence of Jesus as we abide in the word that Jesus taught and the word that Jesus taught abides in us.
The fruit of Jesus’ abiding presence as the vine grower lifted us up to life in Jesus’ abiding presence
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ Abiding Presence
by Pastor Marc Brown
April 28, 2024
Accompanying Scriptures: 1 John 4:7-12 | John 15:1-8
Fort Hill United Methodist Church
Order of Worship for April 28, 2024
Scripture Lesson 1 John 4:7-12 | John 15:1-8
The Good News “Jesus’ Abiding Presence”
Music “The Servant Song” by Richard Gillard
Prayer
Blessing
Closing Music “Adagietto” by Georges Bizet
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