Unexpected Relationships

Acts 8:26-40; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8

In our lesson from the Gospel of John Jesus tells his disciples, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower." Now, we shouldn't assume here that Jesus was really saying anything totally new to his audience. In fact, Jesus was especially good at reminding his disciples and those who heard his words of things that they already had learned. For the Old Testament is full of illustrations of how Israel was the vine and how God was the vinedresser. All Jesus did to these stories from the Old Testament was put a new twist on them. In fact, that was probably one of the special things that made Jesus so ingenious and fascinating to his hearers. And the little twist he put on this Old Testament image of Israel being the vine and God being the vinedresser was this: Now, instead of Israel being the vine, Jesus is the vine. And those who follow Jesus are the branches on the vine. But, the one thing that doesn't change is this: God is still the vinedresser, the one who ultimately gives life and expects good fruit from the vine.

Of course, many of us living in the 20th century may have a little trouble with this language about vines and branches and vinedressers, and so forth. So, perhaps we should consider, for a moment, the importance of what Jesus was talking about. As Christians we need to remember how important our connection to Christ is. If there is any joy, if there is any power, if there is any blessing or strength or salvation from being a follower of Christ, it all flows through Him. Jesus is the one name under heaven by which we may be saved. Thus, the community of Christians is a network through which flows the power of God; and that network, itself, is Jesus Christ. And, if we are going to receive the benefits of God's power, we must be part of the network, part of the vine.

Or, to put it another way, the vine is like an electric power company. There is, for instance, the story about a native from a remote mountain village of South America. For the first time in his life he had the opportunity to visit a large modern city. And, of course, as he visited that city he was amazed at all the wonderful things he saw around him. And, perhaps most of all, he was amazed at the electric lights that he saw almost everywhere.

Well, when it was time for the man to go back home, he realized that he didn't have much money to buy things to bring back with him to show his family and friends. And, most of all, he wanted to take things back to his village that would show them what life was like in the big, modern city. So, he bought a sack full of electric light bulbs and sockets with switches so he could turn them on and off.

Arriving home he hung the light bulbs in front of his home and on his and his neighbor's trees. Everyone watched him with curiosity and asked him what he was doing, but he just smiled and said, "Just wait until dark -- you'll see."

When night time came he turned on the switches, but of course nothing happened.

No one had told him about electricity. He did not know the light bulbs were useless unless they were connected to the source of their power.

And, the same is true of our spiritual life. There can be no power in it, there can be no salvation from it, there can be no satisfaction because of it, unless we are connected to Christ, the vine.

Of course, one of the wonderful things about being branches on the vine is the nourishment that we receive as a result. If we should ever feel lost, or sick, or bereaved Christians can feel assured that they are never alone; for they are connected to a power supply that can never run out. And they are also connected to a network full of other Christians who care for one another. There is fellowship in the vine.

I am reminded of how two strangers attended the same church for several Sundays. Now, evidently, it was one of those churches where people kind of bashful and didn't do well at welcoming new people. So, after several Sundays the two strangers got a little upset. The first one said to himself, "I will give this church one more chance. If nobody speaks to me next Sunday, I'll never go there again." But, the other stranger said, "I don't like this no-speaking in church. If no one speaks to me next Sunday, I'll speak to someone."

Well, sure enough, next Sunday came, and the head usher just happened to seat both of these persons, one in front of the other. And, as usual, after the service, no one greeted the other. The first visitor got out of his seat determined to walk out forever. But, just in time, the second man turned towards the other and said, "Good morning, sir, I'm glad to see you. Fine sermon, wasn't it?"

Both were pleased at having made a friend, and continued to come. And that's the fellowship of the vine! And it's great to be connected.

Our lesson from the book of Acts tells us a little more about the vine. In fact, the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch reminds us of how inclusive and far-reaching the vine of Jesus can be. In this case, Philip, one of Jesus' twelve disciples just happens to have been prodded by an angel of the Lord to go south out of Jerusalem, to the wilderness road that leads to Egypt. Now, surely, Philip had to have wondered what the Lord had in store for him along that road. But, being one who was by then accustomed to the Lord prodding him and being obedient to the prodding, Philip did as the Lord told him to do. And as he walked that road toward Egypt, he met an Jewish Ethiopian Eunuch who just happened to be on his way to Jerusalem to worship. Now, in order to fully appreciate this story, we need to understand that in those days the Jewish people of Israel didn't fully accept Ethiopian Jews as being full members of the people of God, mainly because Ethiopian Jews were black while Israeli Jews were Semitic. And, besides that, Ethiopian Jew's didn't observe all of the Jewish holidays in the same way as the rest of Judaism. Even today, Ethiopian Jews aren't fully accepted by the rest of conservative Judaism as being full members of the fold.

So, what happens as Philip and that Ethiopian Eunuch talk to each other is truly amazing. For as they travel together, they begin to discuss a verse of scripture from the book of Isaiah about the Suffering Servant. And the Ethiopian Eunuch asks Philip who he thinks the Suffering Servant is. And Philip begins to explain about Jesus and what had happened to him on the cross.

Hearing this, the Ethiopian is immediately converted and asks to be baptized. So, there, in the wilderness leading to the Sinai, Philip baptized a Jewish Ethiopian Eunuch, thereby bringing him online into God's network, now a full member of the vine of Christ. And the message in this is clear: God's family, the vine of Christ, is not limited to a few and to the familiar, but is open to strangers and to those who may even come from the far reaches of the world.

But, then vines are that way, I guess. I remember a vine that used to grow in my parent's backyard. It was a huge trumpet vine that grew up a large walnut tree. I mean that vine seemed to go everywhere up that old tree, perhaps twenty five feet, or more. Then where it got near our garage the vine reached out and grew along the garage until it got to another tree on the other side, whereupon it started growing up that one, as well. Likewise, the vine of Christ is determined to go everywhere, into the nooks and crannies of the world. And, we, like Philip need only be alert to the proddings of our Lord, sharing the message of God's love. For we are the branches, we are the tendrils of that vine, whose purpose it is to bring forth fruit for the Lord.

But, there is something about that vine that we need to remember. In John 15 Jesus warns his disciples that the Father "removes every branch that bears no fruit. . . that whoever does not abide in me," says Christ, "is thrown away like a branch and withers; then gathered and thrown into the fire, and burned."

Now, for those of us who have grown comfortable and content with the notion of a pudgy, jolly, Santa Claus-like God of eternal love and everlasting forgiveness, such language about throwing non-productive branches into the fire may seem disturbing. But, I believe that we Christians need to be reminded now and then that God is not an overly tolerant parent who puts up with endless childish behavior and egocentricity on the part of his children. Rather, God is a creator who expects creativity from us. Some have called this the dark side of God. This dark side of God endeavors to destroy everything in us that is not fit to exist or that might hinder us from serving God faithfully. But don't be confused by this. The dark side of God is not evil, for it serves what is ultimately a creative purpose. While the dark side of God seeks to destroy what is not fit to exist, evil seeks to destroy what is sound and whole. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:10 calls this dark side of God "The Destroyer". And, those who have really explored the mystical nature of God know that God is to be feared with a holy fear, but that we should fear evil more. God destroys only that which does not properly belong to the soul.

Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower." And how important it is for us to be a part of that vine. There is a story out of Africa of how earnest and regular the earliest African converts to Christianity were in their private devotions. Each one reportedly had separate spots in the high grass where he or she would spend time in prayer to God. The several paths through the grass to these little private chapels became distinctly marked, because, of course, grass doesn't grow very well on a path that is frequently used. So, these early African converts quickly knew when any one of them began to decline in his or her devotions. And they would kindly remind him or her, saying, "Brother, sister, the grass grows on your path yonder."

How firmly connected to the vine are you? Does the grass grow high upon your pathway to God?

Let us pray:

O God, destroy that within us that would lead us away from you. Destroy in us that which would cause us to be destructive of your creation and of the beauty which you have put in others. Heal us for service. Re-create us for love. Re-unite us for fellowship. In Christ's name. Amen.