The Branch Abides

In John 15, Jesus takes up a powerful metaphor – making the claim that HE is the true vine.  In this word picture, Jesus identifies Himself as the source of spiritual life and blessing.

He identifies His followers as the branches and gives us a command: To Abide in Him.

“Abide” translates the Greek word MENO and means: to stay in a given place, state, relation or expectancy…

While the idea of staying put seems passive in nature it is here an active command.  Believers are to be actively remaining or abiding, in Christ.  The most important thing in the life of any branch is clinging to the life-giving vine, so believers in Jesus Christ are to be actively clinging to Him as our continual source of spiritual life.

Abiding – not human effort – is the source of true spiritual growth and productivity – as Christ would say in verse 5:

"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”