PRUNING OUR BRANCHES II

Still processing some thoughts from yesterday’s Journal entry on Pruning Branches.

It appears that the Vine wants any and every thing pruned ‘that does bear fruit.’ (John 15:2) Our branches will be pruned and cut back to the nub until they look and function in a productive way. It reminds me of the Parable of the Withered Fig Tree that Jesus cursed in Matthew 21:18ff. (see The Dead Fig Tree, 15 July 2025 RMJ Archives) It had leaves and gave shade but did not have fruit to eat. This comparison is for any person, organization or group. Just because something exists and is sustained does not mean it is fruitful and is perhaps barely alive.

I think that is the Vine message of John 15… the branches will be pruned so they will bear fruit or “for a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.” (15:4)

It might be easy here to be distracted and start thinking of fruitfulness as only ‘getting more people to a church meeting,’ or ‘evangelism’ or a’ food pantry’ or some other good work. As important as these might be for some, I believe the Vine is being pruned so it might produce these fruits in us as individual branches: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23) When our branches are pruned for this kind of fruit what buds is produce for the Kingdom person …instead of religious tradition and religious shade.

“When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” Jesus