NOTES for Joh 15:1-8

We are called to remain on the vine because, separated from it, the branches fall away from the source of life and quickly wither. The branches are free to break off, but they themselves gain nothing from doing so. None of the branches grafted onto this vine can remain fruitless. The Gardener calls us to bear fruit precisely because He constantly prunes the branches and enables them to bear fruit, each branch according to its own measure; we need not be troubled that each has a different measure. But if we refuse to bear fruit and intend to settle comfortably on the vine without making any effort, we will fall away from it. We have been warned that in this case we will be cast out and wither, although we will begin to wither even before our visible separation from the vine. A branch that has not yet broken off completely but is inwardly separating from the vine deprives itself of its life-giving sap.

It is no accident that fallen vine branches are used as a symbol of spiritual fruitlessness. Once cut off, their brittleness when dry prevents them from being used as material for such things as baskets or fences. Even as fuel they are inferior to other branches: they burn quickly and give little heat...