March 14: “Abide in Me”
♫ Music:
Friday, March 14—Day 10
“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 bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. f you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”
John 15: 1-11
“Abide in Me”
On the night before he died, Jesus celebrated Passover with his disciples in an upper room of a home in Jerusalem. These men, pictured in Angelos Akotantos’ 15th century Icon of Christ the True Vine (you might also notice Mary, Matthias and Paul), would soon watch Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion. John spends almost 25% of his Gospel describing these final poignant hours, in which Jesus prepares his disciples for the coming tumultuous days and his subsequent ascension into heaven. That night, after washing their feet and presiding over the Passover meal, Jesus promises that the Father would provide the Spirit of truth to “dwell with them and be in them” (John 14:17) — a source of comfort, counsel and encouragement in his absence.
On their after-dinner walk to Gethsemane, they pass a vineyard, and Jesus says, “I am the true vine.” For the disciples and John’s Jewish readers, this familiar Old Testament image was reserved for Israel, God’s choice vine. Jesus’ words would have been surprising, if not shocking: “I am the true vine. I am God’s chosen one.” And then, building on the image of the promised indwelling Spirit, Jesus offers the disciples an invitation into deeper life with Him. “Abide in me,” he urges, “Abide in my words… Abide in my love.”
In John’s theology, the word abide has strong relational overtones. It points to the possibility of union with Jesus that is initiated by and founded in the permanent, enduring love of the Father for the Son. Jesus’ love is just as large for those who love Him — for us. Obedience to Jesus’ exhortation to abide does not come from our own efforts or strength; obedience happens in response to the depths of his love for us. Talbot’s song reminds us that obeying this command to abide is an easy yoke, a light burden that brings life.
Lent is a season of preparation, where we ready ourselves to more fully receive the miraculous redemption of Easter. During this time, we give ourselves to the loving pruning of Jesus, that we might bear more fruit. Lenten self-reflection before our Holy God brings us anew to our brokenness and need for his redeeming love.
Orthodox tradition dictates this same humble approach to viewing icons such as the one pictured. Icons utilize image and color to depict Biblical truths and are meant to usher the viewer into prayer. Jesus, the True Vine, dominates the center of this scene. His red garment reminds us of his sacrifice and the life-giving energy of his resurrection; his celestial blue robe symbolizes his place with the Father in heaven. Jesus’ hand-gestures form the four-letter Greek abbreviation for “Jesus Christ” (ICIX), and the three upheld fingers in each hand signify the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Jesus’ open book contains portions of John 15, an open invitation to “Abide in me.”
It really is incredible: Our Lord Jesus, revealed by John in his Gospel and symbolized by the artist Angelos Akotantos in imagery and color to be full of the enduring love of the Father, invites us to abide in him, in his words and in his love.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, in response to your loving invitation may we be brought to our knees, may our hearts open to your loving pruning, and may we be empowered by your love to bear good fruit as we live united with you. Amen.
Lisa Igram,
Associate Dean of Spiritual Development
Day 10—Friday, March 14
Icon of Christ the True Vine
Angelos Akotantos
First half of 15th c.
Tempera on gold and gesso on wood
About the Artist and Art
Icon of Christ the True Vine
The Vine is an allegory or parable given by Jesus in the New Testament (John 15:1-17). This image was a common orthodox icon in the 15th and 16th centuries, painted over and over by often-anonymous artists for use in cathedrals and churches. This particular icon of Christ the True Vine was painted by Angelos Akotantos, a 15th-century icon painter and hagiographer who lived and worked in Crete. He is considered the most important Greek painter of the first half of the 15th century, when the center of Byzantine art was transferred from the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, Constantinople, to Heraklion, the capital of Crete, as a result of the fall of Constantinople in 1453.
About the Music
I Am the Vine lyrics:
I am the vine
and you are the branches
Live in me
and you will never die
I am the vine
And My father is the keeper
Come to me
Let the spirit bring you life
Come to me all ye heavy laden
My burden is light
I will raise you up
on the wings of an eagle
About the Performers
John Michael Talbot is a major figure in the Christian music scene. His songs were the first by a Catholic artist to cross well-defined boundaries and gain acceptance by Protestant listeners. Due to his expansive popularity, he was the recipient of several prestigious awards. He has won the Dove Award for Worship Album of the Year, Light Eternal with producer and longtime friend, Phil Perkins and he became one of only nine artists to receive the President's Merit Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. In 1988 he was named the No.1 Christian Artist by Billboard magazine. Today, John Michael Talbot is one of the most active monk/ministers traveling over nine months per year throughout the world inspiring and renewing the faith of Christians of all denominations through sacred music, teaching and motivational speaking.
Website: http://www.johnmichaeltalbot.com/