“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." (John 15:1) Jesus gave us the truth about our connected nature in this statement. Each of us is a branch of the true vine. When God prunes a branch, Jesus knows it and feels that pruning. We cannot stand alone, for a branch dries up and withers without this connection. Jesus does not want us to separate in any case even though He must feel every pain and heartache coming down the vine from all those branches. Jesus makes a point in the next verse of the pruning His Father does. You or I may feel alone during a pruning and the devil may tempt us to think that is the case, but nothing could be further from the truth; we are connected firmly to the Truth.
Branches upon branches, all crying out to and receiving the true light of grace from the Vine. As we think on the number of branches attached to the True Vine, we are staggered by the mighty cares and responsibility of our Lord. Millions, perhaps billions of branches all dependent on the Vine. But it is not our place to worry over the cares of our Lord; He is more than capable and mighty to save. We also should know that it is not just fears, worries, pain, and sorrow that flows to our Vine. Jesus also knows the good deeds, our lovingkindnesses, and sacrifices we make for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Yes, at first we think of all the bad stuff the Vine must endure with us, but there are better thoughts to know.
Recall your wedding day and those good feelings - the Vine was there with you. That triumph at work, the passing of a test, and the good news that came in the mail - all moments we shared with our True Vine. Jesus is the Good News, but we also have good news to share with our Lord. When we enter into prayer this day, maybe it doesn't have to be a list of the woes of the world this time. I'm sure Jesus likes to hear our good news too!
Bucky
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