Acts 8:26-40, 1 John 4:7-21, John 15:1-8, Psalm 22:24-30

Jesus said, “Abide in me as I abide in you.  Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.” [John 15:4 NRSV]

These are some of the last words that Jesus spoke to his disciples before he went to the cross.  He and the eleven remaining disciples are gathered in the darkness of the night preceding the crucifixion.  Judas has made his departure to carry out his plans for betrayal that will lead to Jesus’ arrest.  Jesus seeks one last time to console his followers and prepare them for the hardships to come.  He wants to reassure them that their hopes will come, not from fleeing the volatile environment surrounding Jesus in Jerusalem on that fateful night, but from drawing even closer to Jesus – abiding in him, trusting in him, moving more profoundly into relationship with him.

Our Gospel lesson for today includes the last of Jesus’ “I AM” statements that are so characteristic of John’s Gospel. These “I AM” statements tie us to the ancient biblical exchange between God and Moses in the Wilderness. In Exodus, chapter 3, we read that God says to Moses, “I am who I am.”

For us, Jesus completes the “I AM” statements. Just as he came to show us the way to God, he uses the “I am” statements to provide us with familiar metaphors that help us understand our relationship with God through Jesus.  In these words spoken on the eve of the Crucifixion, Jesus tells us, “I am the true vine” – Jesus is the true vine, the real and authentic source of the Father who is the vinegrower.

And, we are to abide in the vine that is Jesus Christ. As the branches of this real and authentic vine, we know that abiding in the vine means pruning is necessary in order for us to bear the best and most bountiful fruit.  Abiding in the vine means: discipline, protection, sustenance, guidance, continuous seeking of the way to the Father who is our salvation and eternal life.

We realize the importance of clipping back a shrub or a vine during these early weeks of spring.  As hard as it is sometimes to snip off those first signs of new growth, we know that this pruning is necessary in order to have healthy and sturdy growth in the months to come.  Climbing roses allowed to grow unchecked will put out leggy crisscrossing unproductive spirals with sparse unhealthy blooms. Vinegrowers know well that the branches closest to the vine will produce the most bountiful and desirable fruit.  Pruning is necessary if we are to abide in the vine and bear more abundant fruit.

Thus, Jesus’ metaphor of the vine and the branches clarifies for us how we are to abide in Jesus and Jesus in us.  Eugene Peterson’s Bible in contemporary language entitled The Message explains these words of Jesus in this way:  “Live in me.  Make your home in me just as I do in you.  In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me.” [John 15:4 The Message]  It is in the state of mutuality of love and abiding that the best of our fruit in service to Christ is produced.

In our lesson from Acts, Philip, an apostle of the Good News, is abiding mutually in the vine of Christ.  This encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch occurs in the years following the Resurrection and Ascension.  Abiding in Christ, Philip hears and follows the instructions of the Holy Spirit to go south to the wilderness road and there to approach the chariot of the Ethiopian.  We can assume much about this exotic stranger from these few verses.  He is obviously well-placed, lacking few luxuries as he travels by the queen’s chariot.  He is a powerful person in charge of the entire Ethiopian treasury.  And, as he had come to Jerusalem to worship, we assume he is a convert to Judaism.

We might also assume that some of his characteristics would have labeled him somewhat of an outcast.  As an Ethiopian, he would be dark-skinned, an exotic anomaly at best and obviously not of Jewish ethnicity.  And, as a eunuch – castrated as a young boy, some would say that Jewish law forbade his inclusion in worship in the temple.

All things considered, the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit leads Philip to see beyond the earthly being of the Ethiopian eunuch to find the place where Christ abides.  Our lesson tells us that Philip proclaims to the Ethiopian the good news about Jesus and baptizes him into the body of Christ.  Philip abided in Jesus as Jesus abided in Philip.  Philip made his home in Jesus as Jesus made his home in Philip.  Philip came to understand that outward and intimidating earthly appearances and circumstances are no obstacle for the working of the Holy Spirit through those who abide in Jesus Christ and in whom Jesus Christ abides. And, Jesus abides in all of us.

Jesus said, “Abide in me as I abide in you.  Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me.”