July 25, 2025 – A Love that Restores
(John 15:1-11) John 15:9-10: 9As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
Scripture Reading – Psalm 80
The writer of Psalm 80 is asking God to restore the nation of Israel, His people (vv. 3, 7, 19). Asaph uses imagery to recount their history and present situation, including that of a vine planted by God himself (vv. 8, 9, 14).
The Gospel of John also gives us similar imagery portraying Jesus as the true vine, his Father as the vinedresser, and the disciples as the branches. The emphasis is on the necessity of branches abiding in the vine and bearing fruit. But here’s a curious question: Is verse 2 talking about a warning and judgement or a loving restoration? Interestingly, verse 2 specifically says that both branches are “in” the vine, and verse 6 is definitely a warning that all that don’t abide in the vine and produce fruit will be cut off, thrown in the fire and burned. Are both verses 2 and 6 offering a warning? Looking at the original Greek and the process of a vinedresser might offer some helpful insight.
The Greek word translated as takes away is airō which primarily means “to lift up” or “to raise,” but can also imply “to take up,” “to carry,” or “to remove.” When vines trail along the ground, becoming dusty, muddy or wet from heavy rains, the vinedresser lifts the branch so that it doesn’t mold or rot. Before trellis’s, the vine would be placed on a rock or tree to keep it off of the ground. The Greek word translated as prune is kathairō which generally means “to clean.” Another way to think of it, to refine (Malachi 3:2-3, 1 Peter 1:6-7). (See also John 15:3.)
Vinedressers don’t immediately cut branches off and throw them away when they aren’t bearing fruit, but care for them over time. In the Spring they put them on a support and offer an initial trimming, with further pruning occurring throughout the Summer and Fall. Fruitless branches are removed in Winter. The vinedresser is patient, desiring all the branches in his care to be fruitful.
John 15 gives us an image of a righteous and just vinedresser (v. 6), but also a gentle, loving and gracious one (vv. 2, 9, 10). When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, when we abide in the eternal vine, then the eternal vinedresser reaches down and picks us up out of the muck of this world and sets us on the Rock. What a beautiful image to have in mind when we sing together this Sunday of the “love of God” and that we are “completely known, completely loved.”
Further reading: Isaiah 5:1-7; Ezekiel 17:5-6; Luke 20:9-18; Romans 11:16-20
Reflection Questions:
1. How does interpreting John 15:2 as judgement vs. restoration affect the narrative?
2. What worldly muck has the vinedresser lifted you from? What is your response?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for lifting me out of the muck of this world and allowing me to abide in you as the life-giving vine. Continue to prune me so that I bear much fruit. Amen.
A playlist of the morning worship songs can be listened to here.
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