A Branch That Bears Fruit

John 15:2, "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

We are going to take a close look at our text and examine it with regard to its meaning for you and me in this time of our lives. We learned last week that Jesus is the Vine, and that our Heavenly Father is the Vineyard Gardner. Now, we read about the branch. The identity of the branch is revealed later in our chapter as "you." (See Verse 5.) In fact, the branch is everyone that calls himself or herself a Christian.

Our verse tells us that the Master Vinedresser takes away the branch that does not bear fruit and cuts back the branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit.

Modern horticulturists agree that the purpose of pruning is to obtain maximum yields of high quality grapes and to allow adequate vegetative growth for the following season.

Whether we are referring to an orchard of grapes or a believer's walk with the Lord, it is clear that the motive for cleaning and pruning is for the yield of abundant fruit for the present and for the future. Our Heavenly Father made us for His glory, and He knows what it will take for each of us to lead successful, fruit-bearing lives today and tomorrow. He only wants our best.

The Word of God contains many lessons about bearing fruit. First, let's examine these verses found in various parts of the Bible, and as we do, expect to gain insights regarding what Jesus is teaching in John 15.

Psalm 92:12-15, "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing. To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him."

Matthew 7:18-19, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Titus 3:14, "And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful."

Matthew 12:33, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit."

We were all born by God's purpose and for His purpose. Our study has caused us to remember that one of His main purposes for us is that we should bear fruit, and bear more fruit. As He washes us with the Word in our reading and studying, may our tender Vinedresser teach us and train us to draw closer to Him.