Remain

I had the joy and privilege of attending a women’s retreat with my sister and niece recently. What a joy it is to gather with a group of women who are seeking to go deeper with God. I was reminded of the proverb “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17), because I was, indeed, sharpened by the wonderful ladies of Pioneer Drive Baptist Church.

Our focal text was from John 15, the Vine and the Branches. Inspired by the Spirit, John allows us to listen in on their last conversation with Jesus before his arrest. As the disciples gathered around the table for Passover, Jesus used the opportunity to drive home the things he wanted them to remember. He told them about his Father’s house; a house that has many rooms (John 14:2). He was going there to prepare a place for them, and they would know the way because they knew him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6).

He also gave them a promise that they would not be alone (John 14:18). God would send the Holy Spirit to teach them and remind them of everything Jesus had taught them during their time together (John 14:26). The Spirit would be their advocate and guide, and through him they would find the peace Jesus spoke of: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” (John 14:27)

Peace. Shalom. The Hebrew word means wholeness, completeness, health, security, and even prosperity in the best sense. When you are enjoying God’s peace, there is joy and contentment; however, we know that God’s peace is not how the world defines peace.

The world will tell you that peace exists only when there is an absence of trouble and things are going your way. However, we know that as believers we can enjoy peace even when the storm is still blowing because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The peace he brings surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7), and we can only have his peace when we are connected to God.

Jesus then told the disciples it was time for them to leave from that place (John 14:31b). They were going to the Garden of Gethsemane, and soon Jesus would be arrested, put on trial, beaten, and hung on a cross.

Jesus knew his hour had come, and he also knew what his disciples would be facing. They needed words of encouragement; thus, he shared his last “I am” statement.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also 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.” (John 15:1-4)

In researching this passage, I discovered something that I did not know about vines. According to a number of commentaries, the wood itself is soft and not good for building anything; thus, a branch has one purpose and that is to produce fruit. However, it cannot create fruit on its own; the branch must draw life from the vine. In his commentary on the Gospel of John, Matthew Henry likens Jesus to the root of the vine: “The root bears the tree, diffuses sap to it, and is all in all to its flourishing and fruitfulness.”

No wonder Jesus used a vine to illustrate his point. Like a real branch, we too can only bear fruit when we are attached to Jesus who supplies our “all in all”.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:5-8)

The key word we see John repeatedly using in this passage is “remain”. In fact, he used it eight times, which means we should ask ourselves what point was Jesus making here.

Menó is the Greek word for remain. You will also see it translated as abide, to stay, to continue, to dwell, to endure, or even to tarry. The concept then that Jesus is wanting us to key in on is that we are to remain in fellowship with him so that he can work in and through us.

Simply put: We must stay put!

As David wrote, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6 my emphasis added). When reading the psalms that David wrote, you sense his longing to be a permanent resident in God’s house, basking in the Lord’s constant goodness and care each and every day. Friends, this is what Jesus wants for all of us; that we too would have that same longing to be with him. His desire is that we will abide - dwell - with him, and when we do, there will be fruit.

You may be wondering what this fruit looks like. These are just my thoughts, but I feel it is a life marked by love and joy. It’s those people whom you just like to be around. They are the ones who have peace even when things go wrong. They have patience and self-control when tested. They are kind when others aren’t, and goodness is something that seems to overflow from everything they do or say. By no means are they perfect, but they are humble and readily seek both God and man’s forgiveness when they stumble.

However, this is not where Satan wants us to tarry. When problems strike, he wants us to forget where our strength comes from (Philippians 4:13). He wants to separate us from Christ because he knows better than anyone that when he is successful in his efforts to detach us, we become like a dead branch. We stop producing fruit and we become useless. One thing we must remember is that uselessness invites disaster.

So how do we avoid disaster? How do we stay attached? If you look back at the passage, Jesus tells his disciples to love each other: “Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12) We know that Jesus loved us so much he laid down his life for us (Romans 5:8). While we may not be asked to do that for our neighbors, the proof of our love is in our actions. It’s treating others the way God treats us, and here is the amazing part - Jesus chose each of us to do this! 

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16)

He chose us out of the entire world and has ordained us to do his will. We weren’t an afterthought or some sad leftover because there was nobody better. Since the beginning of time, he has called us by name and set us apart to be his ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). To go into the world and bear his fruit so that we will bring glory to our Father’s name.

In a world that tells us to never slow down, our Savior calls us to remain. To be still. To tarry in his presence, and when we pray for his will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10), he will give us the desires of our heart.

As the song says, Lord, teach me to abide!

For the glory of God our Father! Lisa

Discussion Questions

What does peace mean to you? Does it align with Jesus’ definition of peace?

If you are honest, how attached are you to the Vine, Jesus? Are there changes that you need to make to create more space in your schedule to abide with him?

How does it make you feel to know that God chose you?