Bear Much Fruit

The Characteristics of a Disciple:
Attribute #3: Bear Much Fruit

Does your life have purpose? It is supposed to! For instance, both the Old and New Testaments have imagery of God planting a vineyard and expecting a harvest of fruit. One example is found in Isaiah 5:1-7. This passage begins as a love song in which a vineyard is planted and cared for in numerous ways. Fertile soil on a hillside was chosen; the ground was dug up and stones were removed; choice vines were chosen to provide a good crop; a wall and tower were built to protect the crop; and then a wine press was built for once the crop was harvested. However, the song quickly changes tone. Instead of yielding a crop of good grapes, it only produces bad fruit! God’s response was to remove His protection and care. He was looking for a harvest of righteousness and justice, but that is not what He found. The rest of the chapter goes on to explain why there was no fruit—6 “Woe Oracles” were pronounced showing areas that needed to be pruned (or cleaned up) before the vine would be able to produce.

Interestingly, John uses the same imagery as he teaches about the third attribute of a disciple in John 15:8: Bear Much Fruit. He begins in V. 1 by referring to Himself as the true vine and then teaches about the pruning (or cleansing) the branches (us) need to go through in order to produce fruit. What is different about this picture is that Jesus is the VINE and His followers are branches that come from the vine. In other words, the fruit is guaranteed to be a good crop as long as we abide in the vine!!! God created us to produce fruit for His kingdom but we are not responsible for making the fruit happen—only for staying true to the VINE and allowing the VINEDRESSER (GOD) to prune away the tangles and other areas where we will hinder our growth.

Perhaps, that is the struggle with this third attribute—letting God prune us! However, no vine will produce great fruit without pruning. Otherwise, the nutrients and energy are used producing branches and leaves, instead of fruit. The vine might get big, but its produce will be small. (Unfortunately, this sounds like a description of some people’s lives and even of some church work.) Abiding in the Word (who also happens to be the Vine) and loving one another is not our purpose—bearing fruit is! However, it is through abiding in the Word and loving one another that we are pruned by God and become productive. The bottom line is: God wants you to produce fruit!

Consider one last story to see how serious this is to Him: Why do you suppose Jesus reacted to the barren fig tree He encountered on His way into Jerusalem at the end of His ministry the way He did? Do you know the story I am referring to in Mark 11:12-14? He was hungry as He traveled from Bethany to Jerusalem and came upon a fig tree that was green with leaves but had no fruit on it. He cursed it saying, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again!” and it withered and died. What is astounding is that Mark also happens to mention that it was not the season for figs! That’s right!—Jesus killed a fig tree for not having figs on it when it was not the season for figs! Why would He do such a thing? He was making a point! We are supposed to produce fruit in season and out of season. We cannot look like we are healthy and green but have no fruit. That tree is worthless and Jesus will wind up cursing it!

So, how are we doing, Church? Would Jesus be pleased and would He call us His disciples?

-Scott