“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

After the Passover meal, Jesus led his disciples out to the garden of Gethsemane. On their way, they likely passed one of the many vineyards of Israel and Jesus took the opportunity to give the disciples a very powerful picture of their relationship to himself.

God is the vinedresser, and he loves his branches. He wants us to bear much fruit. To do that, though, we require tending. Lifting up. Pruning. It is the branches that are tended that bear fruit.