Grow the Kingdom!

For Tuesday, April 8, 2025:

John 15:5 NIV, Jesus speaking: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

Jesus continues his urgent last-minute teaching as he prepares to go to the cross. He wants current believers to be locked in, so that they won’t forget about him and drift away. Historically, that has been the Israelite’s trend. God is good to them, everything’s going OK, and then they say, “Thanks, God, but I can take it from here!” And God gets put on the back burner. Jesus expects better than that from his followers.

2K years ago, the economy of Israel was largely agricultural. Therefore Jesus uses an agricultural metaphor to make his point, something everyone at that time would understand. A grapevine is a large stem that grows from the ground. It sprouts smaller branches that actually produce the grapes. That branch must remain connected to the vine to produce fruit. By the way, if it no longer produces fruit, it must be pruned from the vine so as not to waste resources.

God gave Moses commandments on Mt. Sinai and on the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Apart from that, Jesus is our only source of heavenly teaching. So he tells us to remain connected to his words which are now immortalized in our Bibles. Tell everyone and teach truth to newcomers. Remain connected to other believers and to the Church. Stay true to the source so you’re not pruned from the vine.

Apart from Jesus, we can accomplish nothing beneficial to the Kingdom. But with Jesus, each of us can accomplish great things!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship