The Great Harvest

"The Great Harvest"
Rev. Robert Woodruff
May 3, 2015
John 15:1-8

Part of Jesus’ pedagogy involved using common images of his contemporary Mediterranean world as metaphors.  In the gospel according to John, Jesus uses seven different “I am” statements in which he identifies himself metaphorically as various types of images.  I am the bread of life.  I am the light of the world.  I am the door.  I am the good shepherd.  I am the resurrection and the life.  I am the way, the truth, and the life.  And today, as Jeannie and I read: “I am the true vine, and my father is the vine grower…[and] you are the branches.”  And identifying us with the branch metaphor, Jesus gives us a specific task.  We are called to bear fruit.  According to the New Interpreters Bible Commentary, “‘bearing fruit’ emerges as another way to speak about the works of love that are required as Jesus’ followers,” (Pg. 757).  

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