I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit.
John 15:1-2 NET
In a vineyard, the vinedresser works to maximize the grape harvest. When he finds a branch without fruit, he cuts it off the vine and tosses it out. And he prunes the productive branches to focus the vine’s energy on growing big grapes rather than long branches with lots of leaves.
In John 15:1-17, Jesus used this vineyard model to illustrate the importance of his disciples remaining in him. In his illustration, the Father is the vinedresser, Jesus is the vine itself, and we are the branches (John 15:5).
Throughout the extended passage, Jesus repeatedly warns us about failing to remain in him. If we fail to remain in him, we will be unfruitful. And like the unfruitful branch on a grapevine, we will be cut off and thrown out.
But even fruitful branches on the vine are not safe from the pruning shears. The grapes on a branch will grow near where the branch is attached to the vine. But left untended, the branch will continue to grow. And the energy that might have gone into growing bigger and better grapes goes into producing leaves instead. Cutting off that excess branch will allow the branch to focus on producing fruit instead of leaves.
That is true of my life as a believer as well. If I am a fruitful branch, I should expect periodic pruning from the Father to enhance my fruitfulness. What does he prune? Anything that hinders an abundant harvest. This pruning could involve people, possessions, activities, or attitudes. Anything that keeps me from maximum productivity in the kingdom is subject to the Father’s pruning shears.
The Father’s pruning may not be pleasant. But we can rejoice when we experience his pruning because it enables us to be even more fruitful, producing a harvest of righteousness and peace (Heb. 12:11).
