Wow, What Life! – May 3, 2024

Read: John 15:1-8

[Jesus said] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5

Wow, What Life!

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Imagine eating a huge meal and then saying, “I’m so stuffed, I don’t need to eat ever again.” You probably wouldn’t feel too bad the next day, but how would you feel after three or four days without any food? Do you think you could make it a whole week without any food? Probably not. It’s important to stay connected to food in life.

Or imagine drinking a big glass of water and then saying, “I’m not thirsty at all anymore; I don’t think I’m going to drink anything ever again.” Even by the next day, you would probably start feeling pretty awful. It would be silly for someone to think they could stop drinking. It’s important to stay connected to water in life.

Do you know what a grapevine looks like? Imagine one thick vine with lots of little branches sticking out from it. Those branches get food and water through the vine they’re connected to. If a branch is connected to the vine, it gets lots of food and water, and it has the energy it needs to make lots of grapes.

But what happens if a branch falls off the vine? It doesn’t get the food and water it needs. It stops making grapes. It dries up and shrivels and isn’t good for anything.

It would be pretty silly for that sort of branch to say, “I used to be connected to the vine. I used to get food and water so I could still make good grapes!”

In our Bible reading today, Jesus tells us that he is like a grapevine, and we’re like the branches connected to the vine. When we remain connected to him, we get everything our faith needs to keep living, growing, and making good fruits.

Did you know that you make fruit? You don’t make grapes; you make good works. Obeying your parents, listening to your teachers, being kind to your siblings and friends—these are all good works, good fruits that we make when we’re connected to Jesus.

Wow, right! When we stay connected to Jesus by hearing his Word, Jesus gives us everything we need. He gives us the life, strength, and energy we need to serve him every day.

It would be silly for us to think that we can hear Jesus’ Word just once and then try to live without him. Let’s stay connected to Jesus and his Word for our entire lives!

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, you are the vine, and we are the branches. Help us stay connected to you so we can live lives full of good fruits for you. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What does it mean that Jesus is like a vine, and we are like his branches?
• What does Jesus promise will happen when we stay connected to him?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What might cause someone to become disconnected from Jesus and his Word? Why is that so scary?
• List two ways that we can make sure to stay connected to Jesus.

Questions for Middle School and Above

• In what ways are the good works done by believers different than the good things done by unbelievers?
• Evaluate: there are certain times in a person’s life when it is easy for them to become disconnected from God and his Word.