WHO IS JESUS? Part 3

I AM THE VINE
December 9, 2007
with Adam Waters

Has anyone here ever been in an argument?
With a friend?
With your spouse?
Today with a friend or spouse?
We have argument/division/etc. when we lose he principle of "oneness."

PRINCIPLE OF ONENESS
**Told the story of Adam/Eve.
**Not good for "man to be alone."
**This principle reflects in the relationship of Christ and His Bride (the church).

REMAIN
**menon (pronounced meh-known)
**to abide, live with, endure and exist together
**it's a participle (an -ing word)
**we are in the continual process of remaining together
**literally means: to exist in the sphere of where Jesus is

JOHN 15
**Before we read the text, we need to understand where we're at in the Jesus story. This is after the PAssover meal, after Jesus has told them He's going to die, after Judas has left, and they are now walking to the Garden. At the end of 14, they leave on their walk. We find the apostles and Jesus traveling through a vineyard. He's telling them his final words, his final chance to help them grow. And, he's still teaching.
** “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off (ORIGINAL MEANING: he lifts up the wild vines out of the mud and cleans them up) every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches (ORIGINAL MEANING: he cuts back the leaves to make room for grapes) that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. (Jesus never removes us from Him, we make the choice to leave the vine.) “Yes, 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. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. here is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, (THE ONLY JOB OF A BRANCH IS to make grapes) so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.”

COMMUNITY WITH CHRIST

—Jesus: THE TRUE VINE
—Disciples: THE BRANCHES
—Father: THE GARDENER
—True Disciples: PRODUCE FRUIT
—True Friends: OBEDIENT
It is impossible to be united with God and remain ignorant of His ways.
It is impossible to be untied with God and not manifest His love.

WHO IS JESUS?
**He is OUR vine.
**our nourishment
**our food
**our strength
**our support

How do we own him as our vine?
**strengthen your relationship with him
**all relationships are very different
**find what best builds friendship for you and do the same in your relationship with Jesus
**strengthen/thicken the part of your branch that is closest to Christ