“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 NIV)
The vine is the source of life for the branches. It provides the water and nutrients by which the grapes are produced. Without the vine, no fruit could ever result. Branches are utterly dependent upon the vine. Jesus, of course, is the vine, and we are the branches.
Jesus wanted us to know that, even though we cannot see Him, we are as closely connected to Him as the branches of a vine are related to its stem. Our desire to know and love Him and the energy to serve Him will keep flowing into and through us as long as we “abide” in Him.
The fruit we produce is that of the Holy Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). Our source of life and spiritual fruit is not in ourselves but outside us and in Christ Jesus. We can live rightly and serve Him effectively only if we are connected to Him in a faith/love relationship.
“Abiding in the Vine then comes to be nothing more or less than the restful surrender of the soul to let Christ have all and work all.” ― Andrew Murray