8. The Branch—

John 15:2 (NRSV) — 2a He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. …

Here we meet one of the keywords of the parable—branch. A vine needs branches. Without branches it can do nothing for it can bear no fruit. As important as it is to know about the Vine and the Vine-grower, we need to realize what the branch is.

A branch is simply a bit of wood, brought forth by the vine for the one purpose of serving it in bearing its fruit. It is of the very same nature as the vine, and has one life and one spirit with it. Just think for a moment of the lessons this suggests …

(i) the lesson of entire consecration. The branch has but one object for which it exists, one purpose to which it is entirely given up and that is to bear the fruit the vine wishes to bring forth. And so the believer has but one reason for his being a branch—but one reason for his existence on earth—that the heavenly Vine may through him bring forth His Fruit. Happy the soul that knows this, that has consented to it, and that says, I have been redeemed and I live for one thing—as exclusively as the natural branch exists only to bring forth fruit, I too—as exclusively as the heavenly Vine exists to bring forth fruit, I too. As I have been planted by God INTO Christ, I have wholly given myself to bear the fruit the Vine desires to bring forth in me.

Acts 17:28 (NRSV) — 28 For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; … …