4-28-24 “Abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ”

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“Abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ”

I want to start with something funny that I found on an internet site: Peter the Apostle is at Jesus’ crucifixion when he hears Jesus call his name. He rushes to the cross and says, “Yes, Master?” Immediately two Roman soldiers grab Peter and march him away from the cross.

Jesus once again calls, “Peter!” Again, Peter comes to the foot of the cross, and once again the soldiers grab him and drag him roughing Peter up a little in the process. For a third time Jesus calls out, “Peter!” and Peter approaches the cross, this time with a little trepidation, but the soldiers let him through. He looks up at Jesus and says, “Yes, Master, what is it?”
Jesus says, “I can see your house from here.”

I grew up in a farming family. My grandfather’s hometown was in North Korea, and he came to South Korea with his four brothers before the Korean War. His first job was washing dishes at a restaurant, and after saving some money, he bought a one-acre rice field. That was the beginning of our family’s farming history. He bought more and more fields for rice and vegetables every year. Finally, he became wealthy from investing in his property. Even though he became rich, I never saw him become lazy. He woke up early every morning, went out to check on his rice and veggies, and checked them again every afternoon and before sunset. Even during the winter when we couldn’t farm, he still went out to make sure his fields were okay. In the last stage of his life, when he had dementia, he would always look out of the window and say, ‘Look! They’re growing so well!’ I couldn’t fully understand how much my grandfather loved his fields, but I remember that whenever he talked about them, his face would light up with joy.

A few weeks ago, during my vacation, I visited one of my friends who lives in Chicago. She has been a pastor serving Anglican congregations for over 30 years, and she has been my mentor since 2011. She invited me to stay in her parsonage after I moved out of campus housing. She is a wise mother to her daughter and a sincere pastor to her congregation. Once I moved into her parsonage, I started gardening in her yard. While I enjoyed gardening, neither she nor her daughter ever got involved. However, during this visit, I noticed seedling plants at the corner of her garage ready for planting in her garden. I said, “I didn’t know you were gardening. Do you enjoy it?” She answered, “Yes, I enjoy it. Now I understand why you wake up early every morning and go out to see the veggies in the garden. It’s because you love to see how they are growing. I do the same every morning and evening, as if I’ve fallen in love with my garden.” I hadn’t realized that I was doing the same thing as my grandfather did. I love seeing my garden and watching how it grows every morning and evening, even though I am here in Wisconsin.

Today’s scripture introduces God as “the Vinegrower.” In the New International Version of the Bible, it translates to “Gardener,” stating, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.” When I read this scripture, I recall my grandfather and how he cared for his field. He removed wild weeds between rice plants and checked if there was enough water or too much water every morning and evening. If the rice plants were too dense in one area, he would pull them out, ensuring the remaining plants received more nutrition and bore more fruit.

I didn’t have this kind of wisdom. When I had more than enough seedling plants, I didn’t thin them out. Instead, I kept them, hoping for more fruit, but they ended up producing less. I believe you understand this process better than I do. Perhaps you’ll gain a better understanding of this parable. In Jesus’ time, many wealthy Israelites were farmers, raising livestock such as cows, oxen, and sheep, as well as tending vineyards. This is why Jesus used many parables about farming or gardening to teach people. Jesus compares God to the gardener, himself to the vine, and his disciples to the branches. As we know, branches should be connected to the vine, or else they wither and die. Even if the branches remain on the vine, if they don’t bear fruit, the gardener cuts them off. This may sound alarming, but it’s a reminder that even as Christians, if we don’t live fruitful lives, God may judge us, cutting us away from Jesus.

However, let’s not focus solely on judgment! Instead, let’s consider why Jesus gives us a parable comparing God to a gardener. If God is the gardener, what is His greatest wish? As a small gardener myself, my greatest wish is to harvest an abundant yield from my garden by planting veggies and flowers on time and caring for them well, ensuring they are protected from wild animals. I plant them and shield them from wildlife in order to maximize the harvest. When I see them flourishing, I feel full of joy. Similarly, God the Father, as the gardener, might wish to yield a bountiful harvest through His vine, Jesus Christ. This transcends mere matters of salvation; it’s a profound event. Yes, we are saved by faith through Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, but that’s not the end. It’s not sufficient for God. As Christians, we move beyond salvation; we call it Sanctifying grace. Christians are those who, through Jesus, deserve salvation. However, if you’re content with just that, it’s like giving birth to children and not caring how they grow.

Our God the Father deeply loves us and cares about us and those who are born again through Jesus. In other words, God still cares for those who are saved by faith in Jesus, nurturing them to grow through to a joyful life. This joyful life can be achieved through loving one another. Jesus says, “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” (John 15:10-12).

The fruits God expects us to bear in everyday life are the fruits of love because we remain in Jesus, who is love. To bear the fruits of love we should abide in Jesus. You might say, “I do volunteer work every week to help our neighbors, and donate to those in need.” Yes, you’ve done great. That is one way to love our neighbors. But, you know that non-Christians also do similar acts of kindness in many ways. What sets Christians apart from Non-Christians? We can find the answer in verse 3, which says, “You have been already cleansed by the word that I have spoked to you.” The difference lies in whether we remain in Jesus. The Word of God gives us strength to resist temptation when we face trials. Jesus also said during his trial, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

God never forces us to bear fruits but God cares for us and wants us to bear the fruits. Just as you don’t command plants in your garden to bear fruits but instead provide care and nourishment, God provides us with the Word of God as nourishment to bear more fruit. If you love the words of God and remain in Jesus, you may bear the fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, which is the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Look at each other and see if their faces shine with joy. Let us be true Christians who bear the fruits of the Holy Spirit in everyday life! That’s the will of God in Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God. Amen!