PARABLE

PARABLE.

The Vine and the Branches

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “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. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other. (John 15:1-17)

While not strictly a 'kingdom parable' The Vine and the Branches is an entirely appropriate one to conclude this series, as it sums up the requirements of kingdom living so beautifully.

The first key to kingdom living confirmed here is the importance of being in the vine. Of being in Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, and only Jesus!

Most Christians will say, "David, I am in Jesus!" But are you really? Do you follow a human leader, or do you follow Jesus? Do you follow a particular churches theology, or do you follow Jesus? Do you do good works of your own choosing, or do you follow Jesus? Do you have one foot in the world, or do you follow Jesus? Do you have faith in faith, or do you follow Jesus? And so on.......

My friend, I also have to ask myself these questions, for I am human too. It is so easy to slip into a religious lifestyle, thinking we are following Jesus, but in reality following a human, the ways of an institution, or our own will.

We can do nothing without Jesus. Without growing on the vine, we, the branches, cannot produce godly fruit. Yet, how often do we try and do things, even good things, in our own strength. For there are gOOd things and there are GOd things. One too many 'O's. Ooooooh Dear!

In a similar illustration elsewhere, we, as Gentiles, have been grafted into the, originally Jewish, olive tree. Like the Jews, we too can be pruned out if we do not live holy lives!

This leads on nicely to the second part of the parable which instructs us to obey God's commands if we wish to remain in the vine of the kingdom.

Of course, as we all know, God's primary command is.....

Obedience to God's will is the key to entering into the kingdom. From the Old Testament.....

Indeed, we are to be slaves to righteousness!

As we conclude our series on the 'Parables of the Kingdom' it seems appropriate to finish with a prayer, as instructed by Jesus.

Amen.

I have always been interested in the Book of Ruth and have had some understanding of it. However, on the day I started into full time ministry, the Lord sat me down and proceeded to reveal the meaning of this amazing story as an allegory of the relationship of Jews and Gentiles in the End Time Church. This is not so surprising, although it was to me at the time, when you consider that the ministry role He has given me, along with others, is to join with Jesus in 'building His end time church.'

If you are really busy, (aren't we all!) you may wish to split the study into sections, returning as time allows.

But please make sure you read all 4 parts to get the full understanding of today's application of this amazing story.

This has been a short teaching this week, so I hope we will both take some time to reflect on this whole series of kingdom parables and how we are applying the lessons to our lives, mine and yours.

The parables are the both amazing - and the primary way that Jesus taught the principles of kingdom living.

Jesus wasn't much into theology - other than to criticize the Rabbis who treated theology as their god! I trust you and I are not the same!!!

Jesus was into living His life, and showing us how to live our lives, in very practical ways. He was not interested in buildings, titles, formal programmes or detailed theological arguments. His interest was in helping people, and doing whatever His Father told Him to do, even to dying on the cross.

Our role is the same. We are to love our God so much that we will sacrifice our life desires and ambitions, even our worldly goods and comfort, to do what He desires of us, and to love and help others, as Jesus did.

A huge task! A big sacrifice! But one with the ultimate reward of inheriting the kingdom of God.

What more could we wish for?

IMAGES AND ART: Jerusalem

Mt. Zion

Also known as Mount Sion, the Upper City, the Southwestern Hill

Aerial from the South

The modern Mt. Zion is a misnomer applied by Byzantine pilgrims who thought that the larger, flatter Western Hill must be the original City of David. Archaeological evidence has shown that this hill was only incorporated within the city's fortifications in the 8th century B.C. but the name has stuck. The Hinnom Valley borders this hill on its western and southern sides.