The Vine: Feb. 17, 2025

“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just 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. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

“He came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea, Jerusalem, and the coast of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all in the crowd were trying to touch him, for power came out from him and healed all of them.
Then he looked up at his disciples and said:
‘Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
‘Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
‘Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
‘Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you[a] on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice on that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets.
‘But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
‘Woe to you who are full now,
for you will be hungry.
‘Woe to you who are laughing now,
for you will mourn and weep.
‘Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.”

— Luke 6:17-26

Last week I read a devotional written by Bishop Ruben Saenz Jr. He is our bishop in the Horizon Texas Conference and his devotional was written about the same scripture for our Vine reflection today (Luke 6:17-26). I thought I would share it with you today as our Vine for this week.

In Luke 6:17, Jesus, the Son of God, teaches "on level ground,” standing on equal footing with those He's teaching. This physical positioning points to a vision of a world with no hierarchy.

Jesus' sermon that follows isn't just about reversing fortunes—the poor becoming rich or the hungry becoming full. Instead, it's about leveling the playing field of human worth entirely. Jesus is inviting us to see ourselves and our neighbors through God's eyes, where earthly status doesn't matter.

We often think of blessings in terms of security, status, and self-sufficiency. We chase these things, believing they'll make us happy, fulfilled, and successful. But Jesus challenges this view. He suggests that these very things we consider blessings can become barriers to dependence and trust in God.

How? When we feel secure in our wealth, respected for our status, or proud of our self-sufficiency, we might forget our need for God. We might start to trust in ourselves rather than in God. This self-reliance can prevent us from experiencing the transformative power and joy of trusting God completely.

Jesus invites us to embrace a different kind of vulnerability. It's not about seeking poverty or hardship for their own sake. Rather, it's about recognizing our constant need for God, regardless of our circumstances. When we do this, we open ourselves to a deeper, more interdependent, and richer relationship with God.

Prayer:

Gracious God, we give you thanks today for becoming one of us in Jesus Christ and offering us new life in a spirit of forgiveness and grace. Help us to remember that you remain with us on the level ground of our daily lives. Amen.

Questions for Reflection:

Read Philippians 2:1-11 – In this passage Paul addressed Jesus Christ humbling himself to become one of us. What does it mean to you that God became one of us and has continued to stand with us on “level ground”?

This passage is often referred to as the “Sermon on the Plain”. Compare Luke 6:20-26 with the Beatitudes listed in the “Sermon on the Mount” in Matthew 5:1-11. What are some similarities? Differences?

Recognizing our complete dependence on God in this life and the next is a turning point in our faith. We realize that we are not gods unto ourselves and that we are sustained by God’s grace. What experiences in your life have led you to depending and trusting in God?

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