The Vine and The Branches

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also 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.” John 15:1-4

This past Sunday, I taught the lesson of Martha and Mary. As a child, I didn't understand why Martha would choose chores over spending time with Jesus—I was never a particularly tidy child. But as I revisited the story, I realized I resonate deeply with Martha. Between lesson planning, grading, part-time ministry work, and wedding planning, I tend to focus on what I deem needs to get done rather than what God is calling me to do. It's easy to justify that ministry work or lesson planning must take precedence over my own personal time with God. Yet the more I do this, the more I realize how desperately I need to be Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus.

In John 15, Jesus instructs His disciples to "remain in him." But He doesn't stop there: "Remain in me, as I also 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.” (John 15:4) He's talking about a relationship—a constant connection between the branch and the vine. The branches depend on the vine to bear fruit. Christ shares this conversation with his disciples as preparation for the cross, knowing He is about to leave them to die for the sins of the world. Our Savior not only dies for us but also instructs us, prunes us, and desires a relationship with us.

So what do we as busy educators do when grades are due, lesson plans are behind, and we feel like we're drowning? We must intentionally put Christ first. That means choosing to spend time in His Word, allowing it to prune and shape us. We slow down to hear His voice and remain in constant prayer, understanding that we are dependent upon Him. When we aren't intentional about our time with God, it's easy to let it slip away, and soon we're like Martha—going through the motions of serving but not truly producing fruit.

I encourage you to take advantage of this Lent season and be intentional about scheduling time with God. Attach to the vine this season and allow Christ to use you to bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.

Kat Barlett, Christ the Cornerstone Academy, San Diego