“Jesus is the language the Father is speaking. We can only understand the written word rightly by seeing the Living Word clearly. The veil is only removed when we see through the lens of Jesus Christ.”

–Chuck Ammons, author of Reconstructing Dad

One of my husband’s favorite hobbies involves keeping a fresh water aquarium. The 75 gallon aquarium we own was badly in need of care after a year of challenging health issues he was facing, so seeing him move back into this space has been a tremendous blessing. His focus has been “all things fish” for the last several weeks.

Have you ever seen a fish out of water? They are very lively! They jump and flip flop around in all manner of hyperactivity in a desperate attempt to get back to an environment where they can thrive and not die.

The 15th chapter of John reminds me somewhat of this. Jesus has been teaching His disciples about unity throughout the book of John, with strong emphasis in chapters 13 – 17. With each chapter taking on a slightly different take, the unity focus from John 15 circles the wagons around abiding, drawing special attention to the difference between busyness and fruitfulness.

I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

A fish out of water is extremely busy with the notion of surviving, wouldn’t you say? It may look lively, occupied with survival in dire perseverance. But short of falling back into the water, would you describe its efforts outside of the water as fruitful?

Jesus is telling us the same thing in verse 5, drawing attention to the fact that when we abide in Him, then we are fruitful – but anything outside of Him, although it may have the appearance of busyness, is nothing. We can only truly live in Him. Not only live, but in Him we thrive! Acts 17:28 says in Him we live and move and have our being. It’s outside of Him when we struggle to even breath.

What kind of fruit are we talking? Money? Power? Control? A long, comfortable life? Fruit is what His life IN ME (that abiding part) produces. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that fruit includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. There is another aspect to fruit. Not only is there the fruit of the Holy Spirit, there is also the fruit of our labors (see John 4:36 and 2 John 1:8).

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
John 15:7-8

Anyone who abides – remains, stays within, continues… Anyone who abides in Christ not only bears the fruit needed to thrive in this life, not only is there nothing He will not provide, but they will also bring glory to God.

One important thing abiding also tells us is that unity is organic. That means it’s not something we have to strive for. We are in unity with one another in the same manner as fingers are a part of the hand, and a hand is part of the arm, and so on. Organically we are part of the body of Christ. Our life and our unity is derived from Him. It is only apart from Him that we can do no-thing.