John 15:5 Now Available feat. Steph Andrews

Mar 3

John 15:5 is now available on all streaming platforms!

THE VERSE

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. (John 15:5 ESV)

Jesus spoke these famous words about the vine and branches to His disciples in what’s known as the Upper Room or Farewell Discourse. He was giving them a vivid agrarian metaphor in an attempt to help them picture how their relationship with Him plays out practically.

When Jesus said, “I am the vine,” He was telling His disciples that He was the true source of life, nutrients, and health.

When Jesus said, “I am the vine,” He was telling His disciples that He was the true source of life, nutrients, and health. By saying, “...you are the branches” He was reminding them that they were dependent on Him for life and fruitfulness. Like Adam and Eve relying on God in the garden for life, so we too must re-learn what this reliance looks like. Imagine for a moment branches without a vine… Limbs without a trunk… It doesn’t make sense! We as branches were created to abide in Someone greater. This is why the invitation of discipleship is one of mutual abiding! Us in Him, and Him in us. The result, not the cause of this abiding, is much fruit! It’s life to the full. What is a branch fully flourishing? One that is fruitful because it abides in the vine, dependent and fruitful.

A sad reality present in our current age is that many offer a similar metaphor for spirituality like Jesus did, but flip the script. In our narrative, we are the Vine and Jesus is one branch amongst many in our garden. We see ourselves as primary and Him secondary more akin to an accessory in our lives than life blood we rely on. Brothers and sisters, this should not be so! While things might generally seem like they’re going well for a season with this approach to life, ultimately we will come to realize that we will run dry without our true Vine.

Consider these questions for a moment: What are some ways you abide in Jesus? Individually but also corporately with others? What things lure you away from reliance on Him and push you toward independence or “apart from Him” living? Are there any ways in your own life that you’ve tried to flip the script with Jesus and treat Him like He’s a branch in your life? What might it look like in this current season to make steps towards daily abiding? This verse ends with the statement, “apart from me you can do nothing.” What might the opposite truth of this verse be? “In relationship with me, you can do all things!” Remember you were created for this with God life in which you live from a place of dependency and deep connection with Your Creator!

Remember you were created for this with God life in which you live from a place of dependency and deep connection with Your Creator!

Try rehearsing this reality in your life first thing in the morning and throughout your day… Consider practicing a simple breath prayer where when you inhale, say, “You are the Vine, Jesus” and as you exhale, declare that “I am your branch.” Repeat this a few times as you slow down and don’t rush to the next thing. Perhaps set a timer for later on in your day to do the same around 10:30am or noon! You can also take different parts of this verse and make your own breath prayers and say them to God as you settle into this life of abiding in Him.

The Song & The Artist

Steph Andrews is a writer, worship leader, and songwriter based in Pittsburgh, PA. Her words— whether sung or written— are rooted in 2 Corinthians 3:16-18, a passage that emphasizes the freedom, intimacy, and transformation that is only possible through a relationship with Jesus. Set against a landscape of cinematic strings, she views her songs as melodic conversations with God that invite others to ask questions, gather close, and discover afresh the One who holds all things together.

We asked Steph to share a bit about the process of working on this song, and here were her thoughts:

Ironically enough, when I first sat down to put a melody to this verse, my initial version definitely sounded like I was trying too hard. It had a swanky, bluesy vibe that made the words sound like they were jumbled together. Essentially, the song was the antithesis of the verse's meaning: to be present and abide with the Lord. What we ended up with is an invitational song from Jesus to come and remain in Him, to rest and remember that He is the one who holds everything together.