Category: The Vine

The Road to Rest

Posted on by Michael Wine

Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Jeremiah 6:16

Even in it’s darkest hour, when God was declaring His judgment on the nation, Israel could have found the way back. The path was there, an ancient road. They knew it was there, but they refused to walk down it. The path led to rest for the soul, but they wanted rest for their bodies. The ancient road led to spiritual comfort, by they were more interested in the comfort and ease of this physical life.

What was this ancient path? And what was it’s destination?

I remember, LORD, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them. Indignation grips me because of the wicked, who have forsaken your law. Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. In the night, LORD, I remember your name, that I may keep your law. This has been my practice: I obey your precepts. You are my portion, LORD; I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. Psalm 119:52-58

The ‘ancient path’ is the ‘ancient law’ of God. All throughout the Psalms, especially Psalm 119, the law and commands of God are spoken of as a road or a way. To walk on the old road means to obey God’s commands – to do what He says.

But why? Is it to merely have a better life? To somehow earn or prove our own righteousness? Obviously not. If you read the Old Testament law, you will see that it was founded on the assumption that humans are sinners and cannot obey God. The sacrificial system was designed to cover sin, to atone for sin, so that the people could have access to a Holy God even though they were sinners.

The point of the law, the ancient way, is to bring sinners to God. This is reflected in the Psalm 119 reference above. Notice how many times the writer says that he desired God. He remembers God in the night. He calls God his ‘portion’ and seeks the face of God with all his heart.

The psalmist finds rest and comfort in the law of God because through the law, he was able to go to God.

Now, I am going to skip to the New Testament, to show an amazing connection between what Jesus said and the words of Jeremiah and the psalmist.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

The same two concepts are use by Jesus to refer to Himself. First, there is the concept of the way. In the Old Testament it was the law. Keepings its sacrifices and following its rules was able to give sinners access to God. Now, Jesus says He is the only way to God.

The law has not been thrown away. Instead, it has been fulfilled in Jesus, for he kept the law perfectly, and became the true sacrifice for sinners once and for all. (Hebrews 7:27)

Second, there is the concept of rest for the soul. Notice how rest for our souls is always connected with the idea of going back to God. There is no rest for our weary souls without the presence of God. We can live our entire lives chasing money, and comfort and pleasure and power, but there will be no rest for the soul without God.

And the way to God is Jesus, who walked the ancient road of the law, obeying God’s word, who Himself is the Word (John 1:1), and gives access to the Father to all who put their trust in Him.

Sick Souls Need Better Diets

Posted on by Michael Wine

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.” Isaiah 55:1-3

Where is your soul getting it’s food? Today may we set aside the sawdust cakes that fill us up but provide no sustenance. Let’s go to God, who alone can fill our souls with what they really need.

Around the Wicket Gate by Charles Spurgeon

Posted on by Michael Wine

If you would like a solid dose of pure gospel, I highly recommend Around the Wicket Gate by Charles Spurgeon. Find for free as an eBook here at Project Gutenberg.

To give you a taste of it, here is a quote:

To suppose that the Lord Jesus has only half saved men, and that there is needed some work or feeling of their own to finish his work, is wicked. What is there of ours that could be added to his blood and righteousness? “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Can these be patched on to the costly fabric of his divine righteousness? Rags and fine white linen! Our dross and his pure gold! It is an insult to the Saviour to dream of such a thing. We have sinned enough, without adding this to all our other offences.

Even if we had any righteousness in which we could boast; if our fig leaves were broader than usual, and were not so utterly fading, it would be wisdom to put them away, and accept that righteousness which must be far more pleasing to God than anything of our own. The Lord must see more that is acceptable in his Son than in the best of us. The best of us! The words seem satirical, though they were not so intended. What best is there about any of us? “There is none that deoth good; no, not one.” I who write these lines, would most freely confess that I have not a thread of goodness of my own. I could not make up so much as a rag, or a piece of a rag. I am utterly destitute. But if I had the fairest suit of good works which even pride can imagine, I would tear it up that I might put on nothing but the garment of salvation, which are freely given by the Lord Jesus, out of the heavenly wardrobe of his own merits.

It is most glorifying to our Lord Jesus Christ that we should hope for every good thing from him alone. This is to treat him as he deserves to be treated; for as he is God, and beside him there is none else, we are bound to look unto him and be saved.

Around the Wicket Gate, C.H. Spurgeon

I’ve never been more encouraged by someone telling me I have no shred of goodness in me!

The vine dresser.

Posted on by Michael Wine

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine dresser. John 15:1

When last we looked at this verse, we considered how Jesus called Himself the True Vine.

Jesus goes on to call His Father, the ‘vine dresser.’

Vine dressers tend to the vine. They prune it, care for it, train it. They are the ones who have a plan for the vine. While the work of life and fruit production are done by the vine directly, the vinedresser is alway there. Without him, there would be no vine.

It is fascinating to ponder the relationship between Jesus and God the Father in terms of the relationship between a plant, and its gardener.

Like any analogy or metaphor, there is a point to the comparison. So what is the point here?

First of all, the point of having a garden, or a vine to tend, is to produce fruit. The method for producing fruit is the vine. The vine, then, is the point. Without the vine, there is no garden at all. Jesus, then, is the main thing. He is key, the master plan. Everything focuses on Him.

The vinedresser, or gardener, is the one who plans the garden, plants the vine, desires the fruit, works to make it happen. The gardener wills the garden to be.

Jesus is the plan. The Father is the planner. Jesus is the work. The Father is the will. Jesus is the Word spoken. The Father is the Word speaker.

For me, as I consider this dynamic, I suddenly realize that I am breathing. I’m alive today. And so are you. Which means, we are somehow part of the plan.

If God the Father did not want us to be here we would not. He is in control, always tending the Vine, always bringing about His master plan. And we are included, for better or worse.

Come to Jesus

Posted on by Michael Wine

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28, 29

I don’t know about you, but I find myself a little tired this Monday morning. Even after 2.5 cups of coffee! It’s just one of those slow start mornings, I guess.

Weary. Yes, that would describe the feeling. Perhaps I need to sleep more, go to bed earlier, or something. The stay at home mandate we have been living with for a year really does mess with the schedule.

Burdened. There are a lot of things to do. Work, parenting, house management, writing, exercise, keeping in touch with family and friends, and making sure I find time to relax. Even relaxing can be part of checklist it seems.

It looks like I qualify as someone who can come to Jesus this morning. He invites us over, gives us a chance to hand over our burdens and troubles, and rest with Him.

I’ve wondered what that means. Because it isn’t like all my obligations vanish. My to-do list remains. But at the same time, I find it a little less intimidating knowing He is with me.

I imagine it is something like me helping my kids clean their room. At first, when they start on their own, they complain, and moan, and can’t seem to do anything. They beg me to come help them. And the moment I enter the room and start helping, they are filled with energy, and start cleaning up the mess themselves.

When we try to live our lives without Jesus, it is hard. But when we come to Him, we find rest from the weight of feeling like we need to do everything ourselves.

Our souls are energized by His presence. Come along with me to Jesus this morning, and have a great start to the workweek.

Jesus is the True Vine

Posted on by Michael Wine

I am the true vine. John 15:1

These are the words of Christ. He calls himself ‘the true vine.’

What could this mean? Sometimes it helps to pause on a single phrase and ponder.

First, it is a metaphor. Jesus is not saying that He is a literal vine. He is comparing Himself to a vine. Actually, looking closer, Jesus is saying that He is the true vine.

The word for ‘true’ in Greek is alethinos. It means: that which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature corresponding to the name, in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name, real, true genuine.

It is like Jesus is using a metaphor in reverse. He is more saying that the vine is like Himself (the true vine, the real one), than that He is like the vine. Something about what a vine is, then, reflects the nature of Jesus, and was designed specifically to point us back to Him.

What exactly is that nature? What about vines should point us back to Jesus? Well, I am hoping Jesus will elaborate on that in the next verses! But we are not done with this verse yet.

Because vines are a super common picture throughout the old testament.

It was a symbol of the physical prosperity of the land of Israel. When God would judge the nation, would speak of the destruction of their vines (Is 32:12).

Even more than that, however, the nation of Israel was symbolized as a vine, planted by God. In the book of Ezekiel chapter 17, God tells a “riddle” about the nation of Israel. In this riddle, he uses the metaphor of the vine to show how he planted the nation and cared for it like a master gardener.

One of the points of this metaphor was to show that Israel’s purpose was to be a good vine, produced good fruit to serve God’s purposes. But instead of doing this, they disobeyed God and produced bad fruit.

And this is very significant, because God’s plan for Israel is connected to His entire plan of redemption!

How? Simply put, because of Abraham. Genesis 12:2-3 is where God tells Abraham about His plan to bless the whole world through him: And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.

You see, it all starts here. His plan for Israel, His vine, was to be the nation, descended from Abraham, that would bless the entire world. This is His master plan.

But, Israel failed, didn’t they? That’s the whole point of Ezekiel chapter 17, which shows how they failed to be the vine that God intended.

And here is Jesus, saying “I am the true vine.” Just like the physical vine points to Jesus, so does the whole nation of Israel. Jesus is saying in effect, “I am the key to everything. I am the linchpin of God’s entire plan to redeem and bless the world. I am the center.”

Most of us know that this verse (John 15:1) is the start to the famous “abide in Christ” passage. I personally love this passage. But sometimes it is easy to have a shallow view of it.

When we abide in Christ, it isn’t just about our own little lives here (it is about that, but not merely that). It is much bigger. It is of cosmic, epic, mind blowing significance! It means we are connected to the One who is the center of God’s master plan. We are part of it. Here and now.

Today matters. Your life matters. What you do matters. Not because of you, but because and as you live connected to the true vine who is Christ, who is making all things new.