I used to stuff little arms into sleeves like a turkey at Thanksgiving. But somewhere between the years of babies and grand babies, the art went south. I’m all thumbs, trying to capture stiff limbs without breaking them, and pinpointing them into a tiny coat sleeve. It’s like threading an eye of a needle or taming wild vines.
In the Old Testament, God’s vine was Israel.
He offered Himself as its caretaker, trimming, protecting and nourishing it. But Israel rejected God.
Jesus came to bring redemption, to establish Himself as a new vine, and offer abundant life.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser,” He claims in John. (15:1; ESV).Without Christ we are like unruly branches, limbs gone wild. Rebellious and disconnected, we have no life pulse.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” Jn. 15:9.
The wonder of God incarnate is the love of the Father pulsating spiritual life to meet forgiveness of sin, the demonstration of vitality to an unreceptive broken world.
The Vine connected with His Father, an umbilical cord linked the Son to our redemption.
Reply