Fruit That Will Last: The Vineyard of Your Life

Bob Loudermilk

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John 15:1–17

It was the final night before the cross. The city of Jerusalem simmered with tension, Passover celebrations echoing in the streets, but behind the closed doors of an upper room, Jesus sat with His closest friends. He had washed their feet. He had shared the bread and cup. He had warned of betrayal, of denial, of suffering to come. The weight of the moment pressed in like storm clouds before the rain.

And yet, in this darkest hour, Jesus chose to speak of something unexpected: fruitfulness.

They left the upper room and walked into the night, likely passing through the Kidron Valley, where vineyards climbed the hillsides under the moonlight. The disciples, anxious and confused, followed closely as Jesus paused—perhaps beside the gnarled vines of an ancient vineyard—and began to teach with piercing clarity.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener” (John 15:1). He wasn’t giving them a lecture on horticulture. He was opening their eyes to the very heart of life with Him.

The Urgency of the Vine

Jesus knew His time was short. Within hours, He would be arrested, tried, and crucified. His disciples would be scattered, afraid, tempted to believe that all was lost. But Jesus wanted them to understand: His departure was not the end. It was the beginning of something far greater.

Life in Christ was not about clinging to Him physically—it was about abiding in Him spiritually.

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you” (John 15:4). The word “remain” (or “abide”) becomes a heartbeat through this passage. Jesus repeats it over and over, as if to anchor their souls for the storm ahead. Apart from Him, they could do nothing. But united with Him, they would bear fruit—much fruit, more fruit, fruit that would last.

The Progression of Fruitfulness

What’s striking in John 15 is the beautiful progression Jesus lays out:

1. Fruit (v.2): “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.”

   
   

2. More Fruit (v.2): The pruning process isn’t punishment—it’s preparation. God is shaping us, refining us, removing what hinders growth.

   
   

3. Much Fruit (v.5): “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” The promise grows larger. God’s intention is abundance, not scarcity.

   
   

4. Fruit That Will Last (v.16): “I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”

   
   

This is no ordinary harvest. Jesus speaks of eternal fruit—lives changed, character transformed, a legacy of faith that endures beyond our years. And all of it, He makes clear, is for the Father’s glory: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8). Our fruitfulness is not for our fame. It is not even for our fulfillment alone. It is for the glory of God—a living testimony to the world that we belong to Him.

What Does This Mean for Us?

Two thousand years later, the lesson still sings through the branches of our lives. We all want our lives to matter. We long to see our efforts yield something meaningful. Jesus shows us the way: it’s not about striving harder but abiding deeper. Our job is not to manufacture fruit—it is to stay connected to the Vine.

When we abide in Him, when His words remain in us, His life flows through us naturally. The fruit comes in all shapes and seasons: 

• Love in difficult relationships.

• Joy in the midst of trials.

• Peace when the world feels chaotic.

• Patience with those who test us.

• Kindness that surprises and softens hearts.

• Faithfulness in our daily calling.

• Self-control in moments of temptation.

This is the fruit of the Spirit at work (Galatians 5:22–23), and it grows as we abide.

A Final Word from the Vineyard

As you read this, consider: where are you in the progression? Are you in a season of pruning? Don’t despair—it’s preparation for more fruit. Are you seeing some fruit? Celebrate and stay connected to the Vine for much fruit.

Are you longing for a legacy that outlives you? Fix your eyes on Christ. Abide deeply, love sacrificially, and trust Him to produce fruit that will last. 

And remember: all of this is for His glory. The Father is glorified when His children thrive in Him. Your life, fully yielded, is a living branch in the vineyard of God—bearing fruit that echoes into eternity. So stay rooted. Stay close to the Vine. And watch as the Gardener does what only He can do.

Reflection for This Week:

Where might God be pruning you right now?

How can you more deeply abide in Christ this week?