Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 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.
The fruit producing life and vitality of the branch comes from the vine. A branch disconnected from the vine is merely dead wood. It cannot of itself bear fruit. The same is true for us. We cannot bear fruit by ourselves.
Therefore Jesus commands His disciples to abide in Him. He does not want us to try to find some power within ourselves. There is none! The life and vitality to bear fruit can only come through vital union with Jesus. Any attempt to bear fruit which does not recognise our absolute inability is fundamentally wrong-headed. When we abide in Jesus, He also abides in us and brings forth fruit in our lives. Abide in Him.
