A Fruitful Branch

"I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  John 15: 5

(This is the third of an eight part series on John 15)

We as Christians are the branches and Jesus is the vine.  This verse talks about the utter dependence that we must have on Jesus.  In order to "bear much fruit" - (not just a mediocre amount of fruit but "much fruit" - a large amount) we must be completely and totally reliant on Him.  If you are trimming a grape vine or fruit tree and throw the "bad" branches that you cut off onto a pile;  you will notice that these branches will do nothing.  No fruit will ever grow from a severed branch.

It's the same with us - without Jesus we can do NOTHING.  Another interesting choice of words "Nothing" - I looked up the meaning:

NOTHING - no thing, not anything.  No part, no portion.  One of no consequence, no significance.  Something that has no existence, no quantitative value, zero.

Again that is absolute - no beginning and therefore no ending - NOTHING.  Another way of looking at this is the opposite of "nothing"  - With Jesus all things are possible and when we trust God we can do anything and everything that He wants us to do.

Let us strive to become a "fruitful branch".

Part 1:  The True Vine

Part 2:  We are the Branches

Part 4:  Branches Wither Away
Part 5:  As the Father Has Loved Me
Part 6:  Complete Joy
Part 7:  A Friend's Love 
Part 8:  Chosen Fruit