The New Identity
Apr 24th, 2009 by ljkim
There’s a part in John’s Gospel where Jesus says he’s like the vine, and we are like branches. To people in a more agrarian society the metaphor is deep and rich: like living branches our lives are a process of dying. Every minute we spend living is a minute closer to death… Such is the life of a branch or a plucked flower. But unlike a flower, whose fate is sealed, living branches can be grafted into a living vine to get new life. Not only does the branch get to extend its life, but it actually becomes a conduit for life bearing new fruit.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” – John 15:5
So how do we connect? First the word “abide” (or “remain” NIV) is present progressive. It’s not a one time thing, but constant: “abide, and keep abiding” is what it means. But what are we to abide in?
The Christian Gospel is an offer of a new identity. We trade in our old identity to take up Jesus’ identity. Our sins and failings fall on Him; His righteousness and fullness are placed on us. Our lives are no longer the result of what we’ve done; but our lives are the result of what He has done. We’re taking up Jesus’ identity. “I have been crucified with Christ” the Paul says, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” This is the heart of the Christian life and Gospel and belief. Any version of Christianity apart from this is missing the point.
The problem with this new ID is that we wake up every morning thinking we’re ourselves instead of Him. In fact when we walk into work people treat us as though we are ourselves. And Jesus is saying: “But you’re not yourself – you are me now.” When a branch is grafted onto a vine it loses its former identity and becomes a part of something other than itself. A Cabernet branch on any other vine will no longer bear the same fruit. In the same way we are branches.
[I wanted to do a little video with slideshow, but my computer was just taking too long to process video - I decided to write a boring post instead. If you weren't there, this is a summary of last Sunday's lesson.]
Related posts: