ONE shall praise the Lord in the assembly, just as all the earth shall bow before Him, because of the deliverance He has brought (Psalm 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32). Like branches on the vine that bear much fruit, those who remain in Christ and in whom His words remain bear much fruit and whatever they ask for will be done for them (John 15:1-8).
To Him my soul shall live
Psalm 22 is famous because Jesus on the cross uttered its opening words: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” The original psalmist has been pleading with God, promising to thank God and to proclaim His response of mercy and compassion in the public assembly of those who fear and worship God: “I will praise You, Lord, in the assembly of Your people.” His prayer answered, the psalmist bursts into a hymn of praise. And he fulfills his vow in the midst of the believing community: a charitable feeding of the poor so that the lowly shall eat their fill. Thus, those who seek God in His mercy shall praise Him; they shall always be of good cheer! As for the psalmist, he knows that it is to God that his soul shall live.
God’s blessings are not limited to only a few but extend to all the ends of the earth, to all the families of nations. Therefore, all shall remember His goodness and turn to Him and bow down before Him. “All the nations you have made shall come and bow down before You, Lord, and shall glorify Your name” (Psalm 86:9). In fact, God’s reign extends beyond the entire land of the living into the realm of the dead, those “who sleep in the earth” and “go down into the dust.” All the living and the dead have known of God’s goodness, and all bow down to Him alone. Truly, even the future generations shall be told of the Lord and descendants still to be born shall also praise and give thanks to Him. For all shall know of the righteousness of God shown in His care and blessings.
The Father is glorified by your bearing much fruit
The allegory of the vine presents Jesus as the true vine that faithfully produces good fruit pleasing to the Father, the vine grower. This is in contrast to the vine representing the house of Israel and the people of Judah in Isaiah’s (5:1-7) song of the vineyard condemned for its infidelity, and so as it brings forth wild grapes it will not be pruned and hoed but allowed to fall into destruction. Unproductive branches that do not bear fruit are cut and taken away to be burned, while branches that bear fruit God trims so that they bear more fruit.
In a divine self-revelation, Jesus makes the claim that as the true vine He brings forth good crop. For the branches to be productive, they have to remain in Him as He remains in them. Jesus is the unique conduit between God and His creation; in God’s vineyard, Jesus is the mediator of life and grace between the Father and those who believe in Him. On their own the branches cannot bear fruit. Away from Him His followers cannot bear fruit. They need to abide in Him as He abides in them. And it is the Father who directs the flow of life from Jesus to His disciples, the vine grower whose ultimate goal is to produce vintage wine. He cuts away fruitless branches and prunes fruitful one to produce more. In the abundant yield the Father is glorified.
Remain in Me and My Words in you
The metaphor of the vine and the branches illustrate the intimate union between Jesus and His followers. The branches live on the vine; the life of the vine flows in the branches. Through the branches the vine bears fruit; they bear the fruit of the vine. The vine is not vine if there are no branches; the branches are nothing separated from the vine. Separation from the vine is fatal. It is in their mutual and reciprocal indwelling that life and abundant fruits are guaranteed.
The flow of life in and the productivity by His followers depend on the Word of Jesus. The vitality of the branches is fostered by the “pruning” and cleansing effect of Jesus’ Word. It strips away whatever blocks the flow of life between them and Jesus and his Father. Allegiance to the Words of Jesus, His gospel and teaching, shapes the identity of His followers. This bond of faith closely joins one to the life-giving vine and to the other branches; without it one faces withering and dying. And linked intimately with the vine, one is entitled to access God’s blessings, the prayers of the branches become the prayers of the vine.
Alálaong bagá, the Risen Lord is the life-giving vine in whom the branches must abide in order to bear fruit that glorifies the Father. The community of faith, shaped by the Word of Jesus, lives and is productive only with the life of Jesus.
Join me in meditating on the Word of God every Sunday, 5 to 6 a.m. on DWIZ 882, or by audio-streaming on www.dwiz882.com.