Implications of John 15:1-11, part 1

Tonight was a good night. A bit different. But great at the same time. Lot of stuff that I took in simply from the text that we read; more, in fact, than from the message spoken thereon. I think I'll take several posts and dissect some of the things I got from it. But, without further ado, here's the whole chunk of text:

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 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. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments, you will abide in my love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full."

The best place to start, I guess, is at the beginning. So, we'll do just that.

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the vindresser. Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit."

I must confess that this is the part of the passage that is most mysterious to me. The first sentence has significance, of course, but is more obvious that the rest. Jesus is the true vine. This would imply that there are false vines. We can see those at every corner. A church down the street is based totally on false vines, so to speak, being a Universalist Unitarian Church. They exclude all religions by trying to accept them all. The whole point of a religion is to have a set doctrine of beliefs separate from all others. I'm falling away from the text, however, so let's get back to it.

The next portion is what leaves me wondering. "Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away..." The branches are claimed by Christ ("Every branch of mine..."), yet are "[taken] away" by the vinedresser, the Father. Why would Christ claim such a branch? I really want to grasp what the text is saying here. I'll post as soon as I do.

The other part, however, makes sense and is apparent in Christians' lives. God prunes us. We get disciplined. Cut back a little bit. Why? So we can grow more, and, ultimately, glorify God by the fruit grown as a result.

The small chunk of text I pulled out tonight had more questions left with me than implications, but, I'll move forward to the stuff that hit me hard in the next day or two.