Jesus so often did not speak literally, but figuratively. He spoke in parables and images. He painted word pictures. Instead of literally coming out and saying what he meant, he so often would tell a story and let people draw their own conclusion. Indeed, these hidden messages of Jesus frequently frustrated his disciples. They wished that he would speak literally and not be quite so subtle.
Jesus said: Owau no ke Kumuwaina/I am the true vine. Now, one has to agree that when Jesus spoke these words he was not speaking literally. Obviously, if we are to understand what Jesus was getting at here, we must look beyond the surface and do some exploring. We have to go beyond the actual words and discover Jesus' meaning.

When Jesus spoke about vineyards, the people of Judea knew what he was talking about. It was an industry that had been carefully cultivated throughout the country for centuries. It was crucial because it was a cash crop as opposed to grain, which was raised purely for consumption. In early Hawaii the essential crop was kalo/taro, but the cash crop became ko/sugar or pineapple. It was, therefore, vital to the economy of the land.

Quite frankly I must admit that I know very little about the particulars of the wine industry. I did some reading in this area and it was really quite fascinating. The vines are a very rugged crop in a way and in another sense it is a very delicate fruit and requires being treated with kid gloves. A young vine is not permitted to bear fruit for the first three years. It is therefore drastically pruned in December and January to preserve its energy. The particular branches that do not bear fruit are cut out to further conserve the energy of the plant. If this constant cutting back was not done, the result would be a crop that was not up to its full potential.
So when Jesus spoke about vineyards certainly the people could identify with that metaphor, even as a person in our islands would know about pineapple or sugar cane, or in Kona about coffee. It didn't make any difference whether or not you were in that business. You had grown up around it enough that you would still be familiar with it.

But there is something else that these listeners would most certainly know. A vineyard was the symbol of the nation. It was a kind of national identity. Over and over again in the Old Testament, Israel is pictured as the vine or the vineyard of God.

In Jesus analogy, he likened himself to a vine, while the fruit bearing branches here are the disciples. God the farmer is depicted as the one who cultivates the vineyard. God waters and tends the soil, so that the vine is properly nourished. God takes pride in his crop. But this means that God also prunes the vines and removes the dead wood. The grapes hang on to the branches. What Jesus is saying is clear. The disciples should receive their strength from Jesus. He is the true vine. If they break away from him, they will be like unproductive branches and die and bear no fruit. They then will have to be pruned out.

What can we make of this analogy in terms of our daily life? What does it mean to be God's vineyard?

First, I think that it raises a question that we must all answer: Are we bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God. How can you tell a mango tree? By the fruit that it bears. How can you tell an mountain apple tree? By the fruit that it bears. How can you tell a Christian. By the fruit that he/she bears? It is just as simple as that. The fruits of the vine are not church attendance, or Biblical knowledge, or your individual stewardship. Even though all of those things are important, the true fruit of the vine is a loving and compassionate life. Folks, it all comes down to this--how do you treat other people? That is as simple and as direct as I can put it.

The issue is not how much knowledge you have or even necessarily how sincere you are. The issue is--how do you treat people? If you are in Christ, people will be able to see the fruits of your life in terms of your compassion and love and attitude.

Secondly, there is such a thing as an unproductive life. Branches that do not remain in the vine produce no fruit. No branch, said Jesus, can bear fruit by itself. We must ever be mindful of the source of our fruitfulness. Many years ago at the Tournament of Roses parade the Standard Oil Company, now known as Chevron, had a beautiful float. In the middle of the parade the oil company's float came to a grinding halt and the rest of the parade with it. What had happened? It had run out of gas.

The directors of the Chevron float had done everything well but they neglected to avail themselves of their companies vast resources of oil. The parade waited while someone ran to get a gallon of gas.

Too often, I see this happen among Christians. Churches break down right in the middle of the parade. And, while I know it's impossible for the entire Kingdom of God to be held up while some deacon goes to fetch a gallon of gospel, I fear sometimes it's possible and I wonder what God must think when we neglect the source of our strength and power. When we fail to abide in Christ, we render ourselves ineffective.

Third, we must cultivate a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus said: "You must abide in me and my words in you." That word "abide." He is talking here about a relationship. As the fruit receives its nourishment from the vine, so too do we turn to Christ for our daily nourishment and growth. How tragic it is that so many today see their strength as being financial security, or peer respect, or their own creative ingenuity, or a host of other things. These things may feed us for a day or even for a season, but there comes a time when they will not bring the deep nourishment that we seek. For that we need God.

I am the true vine he said. As the father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now! Now, Jesus said, remain in my love. Amen.

Aloha oukou,

Kahu Richard Kamanu,

Kahu Mua (Senior Pastor)

To contact us:

Phone: 808-845-0908

Fax: 808-843-0711

Kaumakapili Church

766 N. King Street

Honolulu, Hawaii 96817