by Marie K. MacPherson
Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me … You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (John 15:4, 16).
Trees produce leaves. Plants produce vegetation. They belong together. Out of the life of one springs the life of the other. So, too, with vines and branches. Or, should I say the Vine and branches?
Ever since our first parents, Adam and Eve, produced offspring, each and every one of us, from Old Testament through end times, is born steeped in sin. We struggle not only with the effect of original sin and its taint in our world, but also with our own individual sins—weaknesses that Satan, the world, and our own sinful flesh seem to exploit. When confronted with our wickedness, we see a “chief of sinners” in the mirror. Where do you belong? Where do I belong? Certainly not with the Holy Trinity!
But, from eternity, God foreknew both the epic battle that the world would have with sin, and that each of us individually would wage against it—to no avail. Yet, He Who created humans in His image also created a perfect rescue plan for us, so we could belong to Him once more. Through circumcision, God grafted the Old Testament believers into His family. Through Baptism, God grafts end-time believers into His family. Because of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, our Father now holds His hand out to each and every human being: perfect inclusion, perfection belonging—no exceptions! You are chosen! You are a branch who has received the Life of the Vine!
Now what?! Chosen Christians are called to reflect that Life of the Vine to the world, bearing fruit by embracing one another. Romans 7:4 reminds Christians, “you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.” It is easy to look at others in the world and label them as enemies, especially when they have different political, religious, or ethical beliefs than we do. But, when God looks at those individuals, He wants them to belong to His family, too. A fruit of faith can be to show other individuals, made in God’s image, that they, too, are chosen!
You are chosen, chosen to share God’s love and forgiveness with others. You are a branch grafted into the Vine. Salvation belongs to our God (Revelation 7:10), and because you belong to Him, salvation belongs to you, too.
Chief of sinners though I be,
Jesus shed His blood for me;
Died that I might live on high,
Lived that I might never die.
As the branch is to the vine,
I am His and He is mine.
(ELH 429:1, written by W. McComb)