29. You can do Nothing—

John 15:5 (NRSV) I am the vine, you are the branches.

Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, 

because apart from me you can do nothing.

In everything the life of the branch is to be the exact counterpart of that of the Vine. Of Himself Jesus had said: "The Son can do nothing of Himself." As the outcome of that entire dependence, He could add: "All that the Father does, does the Son also likewise." As Son He did not receive His life from the Father once for all, but moment by moment. His life was a continual waiting on the Father for all He was to do and say.

Christ says to His disciples: "You can do nothing apart from Me." He means it literally. To everyone who wants to live the true disciple life, to bring forth fruit and glorify God, the message comes: You can do nothing. What had been said: "He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit," is here enforced by the simplest and strongest of arguments … He says to us "Abiding in Me is indispensable, for of yourselves you can do nothing to maintain or act out the Heavenly Life."