1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.I love this chapter, and this truth; I am struck all anew as I read it this morning at the beauty and building up - line upon line, precept upon precept - that Jesus exemplifies of the Wisdom of God in this mighty truth-telling! All things begin in Jesus Christ; from Him we who are and remain "attached" as to a Vine, receive and bear and grow, and the fruit-producing life-flow of this clinging-remaining is love, friendship, joy...and with these, persecution...resulting in testimony, amen.
5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
". . . to make you a minister and a witness . . . ."