Every Branch Needs the Life-giving Vine
Daily Scripture
Matthew 26:26-30, John 14:15-21, 15:1-5, 13-14
FYI–
The Final Week series has focused on how Matthew’s gospel told the events of the final week. As we turn to Holy (or Maundy) Thursday, however, John and to a lesser extent Luke added such important material to our understanding of that day that we cannot totally omit them from the GPS readings.
Matthew 26
26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take and eat. This is my body.” 27 He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from this, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many so that their sins may be forgiven. 29 I tell you, I won’t drink wine again until that day when I drink it in a new way with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30 Then, after singing songs of praise, they went to the Mount of Olives.
John 14
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will send another Companion [or Advocate], who will be with you forever. 17 This Companion is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be with you.
18 “I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you. 19 Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father, you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”
John 15
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything.
13 No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Jesus and the disciples likely sang Psalm 118, the usual hymn at the end of Passover. John said Jesus promised not to leave the disciples as orphans. He would come to them in the person of the “paraclete” (a Greek word with meanings like companion or advocate)—the Holy Spirit. Israelites often saw themselves as God’s vineyard (cf. Psalm 80:8-18, Isaiah 5:1-7). Jesus adapted that image. Pastor Hamilton wrote, “The measure of spiritual maturity is love…. Whenever you’re trying to decide the right thing to do, you will never go wrong by asking, ‘What is the most loving thing I can do?’” *
- Jesus described the highest form of love: “No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). That was exactly what he did the next day on the cross. But what does it mean, in practical, day-to-day terms, for you to love others as sacrificially as Jesus loved us, while practicing healthy self-care to equip yourself to love sacrificially?
- Passover worshippers sang, “The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can human beings do to me?” (Psalm 118:6) and “I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done” (Psalm 118:17). How could those words have held special meaning for Jesus as he sang them hours before his crucifixion? How do they speak to any fear you carry? What can you proclaim about what the Lord has done for you?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, today I renew my commitment to be a branch through which your divine love can flow freely to guide my life and enable me to bless the lives of other people around me. Amen.
GPS Insights
Jennifer Creagar
Jennifer Creagar, who serves as the Community Assistance Coordination Director in Resurrection's Congregational Care Ministry, wrote today's Insights. She is married and loves spending time with her family, and she enjoys writing and photography.
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Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Adam Hamilton, John: The Gospel of Light and Life. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015, pp. 103-104.)
