Greatest Love
John 15. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me 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 over 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.”
In these past few seasons of my life, God has been so kind to reveal His love through symbols of nature. One of these ways is from John 15, when Jesus talks about how He is the true vine. Jesus tells us to abide in him, and he will abide in us. If we are not connected to him, the true vine, we will not bear any good fruit. Jesus also tells us that we are pruned for our own benefit, which is a whole other word in itself. But, within this passage Jesus foreshadows his own death. He tells us “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13.
This scripture is so good, and has marked my life in so many ways. But for some reason, it hit different today. When Jesus is on the cross in John 19, he cries out for something to quench his thirst. He was given sour win on a hyssop branch before he cried out “It is finished.” Most people reading this text fixate on Jesus’ final words, which I believe are very important. However, the details right before proclaim the merciful way Jesus loves us.
Back in Exodus, the Israelites marked the thresholds of their doors with blood of a lamb by way of a hyssop branch, to protect their family and honor God at passover. In Psalms 69, the psalmist cries out to God because the people have poisoned him, and given him sour wine to drink. He goes on to say, This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek the Lord let your hearts revive. For the Lord hears the needs and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and the people shall dwell there and possess it, the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.”
On the cross, Jesus is quoting both of these scriptures by drinking this sour wine on a hyssop branch. Jesus fulfills the prophesy of who the savior of Zion and Judah will be. He is receiving the final soured sacrifice man could offer him. The fruits we have born, soured because of our sin, Jesus drinks before he dies. Yes, this fulfills prophesy, but it also proves his love for us. Jesus knows my sin, he knows your sin. He knew when he drank that sour wine that we would forsake him time and time again, yet he still drank so he could cry out “It is finished.”
The good news is that today is only Friday, and Sunday is coming. Our fruits may be soured from sin, but Jesus is coming back so that we can abide in him, and him in us. When we abide in the true vine, our branches will be pruned so that we may produce good fruit. He is the only way to heaven. He is the threshold. We sin, we forsake him, we forget him, yet he still dies for us. He still loves us unconditionally that he would die on a cross and die a gruesome death that I deserved. That we deserved. Should we feel guilt for making him suffer this death? No, we shouldn’t. We should be joyful that he died a painful death so that we would know how much he loved us, and that he rose again when he conquered death.
Jesus loves you unconditionally. He is the greatest love. No husband, no wife, no mother, no father, no sister, no brother, no friend, no pet, no money, no amount of likes, no drug, could ever match the love and comfort Christ provides us. He stooped down to our dirty prison, and he shattered the steel doors that locked us in. Are you still standing inside the cell? Why? He has freed you by his love. He has drank your soured wine. It is finished. Death is finished. Your debt is paid. It’s time to trust his love. To trust him. Take a step of faith. He will reward you tenfold.