PARTICIPATING IN THE TREE OF LIFE SERIES: WE ARE THE BRANCHES

 This is the 4th post in the Tree of Life series.  Here are links to the first, second, and third posts.

The third post attempted to describe the means by which water flows through a plant, from the soil around a plant, up through the roots, stems, branches, and leaves, and either back out into the environment through pores in leaves, or being used by the plant for structural support or in the process of photosynthesis, which makes food for the plant in the form of sugar.  This water flow process is triggered by exposure to sunlight, and it happens automatically – it is part of a plant’s design.  If there is light, and there is sufficient water in the soil around the plant, water flow up through the plant will happen naturally.

As a reminder, the foundational Bible passage for this series on the Tree of Life is from the Book of Revelation, chapter 22, verses 1-3: 

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.  No longer will there be any curse.

Now with a more detailed understanding of water movement through a plant, I hope the reader can appreciate the application to the Tree of Life.  This is a tree that clearly has a tremendous capacity to move water from the river of the water of life (Holy Spirit) through its own body, and return it to the environment around itself via the pores in its leaves.  I’ve heard people explain that the reference to leaves being for the healing of the nations, hints at the many medicinal uses of plant parts.  I would suggest this passage indicates a much more profound and impactful sort of healing – spiritual healing.  Before we get there, I feel it is important to address our own participation in the Tree of Life, and that’s what I hope to do in this post, and the next.

There’s a familiar passage to most Christians in John 15, known as The Vine and the Branches (John 15: 1-17)  Here are the first eight verses:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

https://www.evineyardapp.com/blog/2017/05/30/overview-of-grapevine-structure-and-function/

No doubt Jesus is referring to grape vines, given the numerous Bible references to vineyards, wine, etc.  Much like a tree, grape vines are woody plants, and they simply grow in a different manner than trees do.  The key principle from this passage is Jesus’ declaration that He is the vine and His believers are the branches.  You, as a believer in Jesus Christ, are a branch connected to Jesus, and by virtue of that connection, what flows through Jesus, flows through you.  Your access to water – spiritual water – the Holy Spirit, begins with your belief in Jesus.  Your spiritual life depends on your connection to Jesus.  Being separated from Jesus cuts off your access to water, and you shrivel up and die (spiritually speaking).

It’s critical for a Christian to understand their position in this imagery Jesus conveys.  Branches are supported by the stem of a plant.  Branches are dependent on the water flow up through the stem of a plant.  Water flow happens naturally, and there’s nothing that the branches “do” to make the water flow up to them.  It just happens.  This means there is nothing you need to do beyond faith in Jesus to have the Holy Spirit flowing through you –you don’t have to beg God for this to happen, and there’s nothing ceremonial about it.  It’s our natural spiritual condition when we are connected to Jesus.

Do you believe in Jesus?  That means you are a branch connected to Him.  It means Jesus is sustaining you through the flow of the Holy Spirit through you.  Nothing can separate you from this flow of the Holy Spirit, unless you choose to separate yourself from Him.

In this passage of scripture, Jesus declares something else about you – that you are a fruit bearer.  Indeed – and that is where we will go in the next post (and I suspect the Christian reader will know precisely what we’ll be talking about).