The ‘bottom line’ of this parable is our relationship with the Father, and his purpose that we become mature, fruit-bearing daughters and sons. A New Time has arrived with the coming of the Spirit in which we are ‘no longer’ like servants in a master's household—no longer minor children under guardians and trustees (Med.#4). As adult sons and daughters we, like Jesus, may know what our Father ‘is doing’ and bear fruit for him, out of a relationship with both him and our Eldest Brother that is characterized by friendship.

While this relationship with the Father is the ‘goal’ of discipleship, Jesus is still the essential means to come into, and ‘dwell’ in this relationship; for he is both the ‘pioneer-leader and maturer’ of our faith in the Father (Med.#33). Jesus is the Father's instrument, through whom we have been both chosen and ‘placed’ [Gr. e-theeka]—‘placed as (adult) sons’ [Gr. huio-thesia] (Med.#5 & #8)—for bearing fruit. Jesus (the vine stalk) is also the channel of the Father's word to us (‘the branches’); and it is through his love, in laying down his life for us, that the Father's unconditional love reaches us. Only through dwelling in Jesus can we bear fruit.

As our ‘pioneer-leader’, Jesus is also the model for our relationship with the Father. The vine stalk and the branches are of the same ‘stuff’; for he identifies the ‘gardener’ in the parable as both ‘my Father’ and ‘the Father’ to his disciples. To underline this, Jesus tells them that he is only teaching them the things he himself has learned from the Father. As a twelve-year-old human child, Jesus was busy learning his Father's affairs and commands, by taking time to listen to his Word and to ask questions of the teachers of the Law (Med.#25). Then living in his Father's love as an adult Son, Jesus fully obeyed his commands before teaching them to his disciples. And his unconditional love for his disciples shows us how we should love our brothers and sisters (Med.#54).

There are two kinds of fruit the Father expects us to produce: words and actions which flow out of our inner character (Med.#16), and people who put their faith Jesus as a result of our lives and witness (Jn.4:36-39). In the above passage, Jesus refers to love and joy being produced in our lives. Paul calls these the ‘fruit of the Spirit’, along with: peace, kindness, goodness, gentleness, self-control, patience and faithfulness (Med.#30)—the last two being also implied in John 15. Through ‘dwelling’ in Jesus, such traits become ‘lasting fruit’ in our lives. When we go out and speak words of witness and do miracles and deeds of mercy, people around us will be impacted—such that they recognize Jesus' character in us and give praise to the Father (Med.#11). Such people can be deemed ‘lasting fruit’ when they themselves become ‘fruit bearing’ disciples of Jesus.

We can only produce such fruit, though, if we ‘dwell in’ Jesus. By using such conditional words (‘if’ and ‘unless’), and commands like ‘dwell in me’ and ‘love each other’, Jesus emphasizes the role of our choices in bearing fruit. Yet, how do you hear these conditional words? Do you hear them as: ‘if you don’t shape up, you’ll be cut off’? Then you probably grew up in a family characterized by conditional love. But when you rely on the Father's unconditional love in Jesus, you will hear him saying: ‘this is how to ensure you will keep growing and bearing fruit in your relationship with the Father, especially during difficult times’.

The first kind of choice we need to continue making, in order to keep bearing fruit, involves learning our Father's business like Jesus did. This means: listening to (reading) his Word, asking questions of those who teach it, and asking the Father for direct insight into his ways as we meditate on his Word. The second choice follows this learning process. Will we obey his commands? However, the Father wants us to obey out of love and friendship as adult daughters and sons, not out of blind obedience and fear as servants and slaves. His love for us in Christ is very wide, deep, long and high (Med.#50). He is merciful and forgiving of all our missteps as we go about learning to do his will. All that is required to dwell in this loving relationship is that we never stop seeking to obey his commandments, especially his command to love our brothers and sisters.

Thirdly, we must choose to ask for what we need if we wish to bear fruit. The invitation to ask, however, was never intended to help us satisfy childish desires to accumulate more ‘stuff’ in our lives. Rather it is a promise to mature daughters and sons who are learning the family business. These may ask: to know what the Father ‘is doing’, and to receive the resources needed to represent him and carry out his work.

Fourth, we must choose to stay close to Jesus during times of ‘pruning’. For a branch on a vine, pruning means the loss of almost its whole length, a necessary procedure if that branch is to bear ‘much fruit’. For Jesus' disciples pruning meant losing him as an earthly companion (Jn.13:33). And it also meant the pain of helplessly watching him suffer physical torture and public shame as a crucified criminal. All pruning is painful. It feels a lot like being ‘removed’ and ‘thrown away’, even though the purpose is optimum fruit bearing. For us, such pruning times may involve the ‘death’ of a fruitful ministry or a promising vision, or the loss of a companion, or the pain of watching a partner experience horrible suffering. While we may initially stand against the Enemy and ask the Father for grace and resources for recovery, we can choose ultimately to trust our Father and Jesus (Jn.14:1), embracing such losses and pain as the Father's ‘pruning’. Even so, Jesus himself embraced the cross, in order that he might produce much fruit to his Father's glory (Med.#36 & #23). We are that fruit.

During the pruning, it is a great temptation to try to hold on to passing seasons, ministries or relationships that have borne fruit. But if I put my identity in the pruned off part of my ‘branch’, I will end up on the same pile as the rejected, fruitless branches, feeling punished and abandoned by the Father. To keep bearing fruit I need to trust the Father's purposes and loving character, let go of the past, and choose to find my identity in the ‘stub’ of my life that is still attached to the vine. Over many years I have had to do this a number of times. Despite the feelings of vulnerability and pain, I have chosen to keep asking my Father questions, while meditating on his Word and continuing to obey his commands like Jesus did. As a result, I have come to be more and more confident, like Jesus was on the cross, that my Father is always with me (Med.#41).

Are you in a time of pruning? If so, are your choices reflecting your trust in your Father's love? Are you ‘dwelling’ in Jesus?