I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. – John 15:5

In the book of Malachi 3:3 it stated: “He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver…Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness.”

When the Bible was written, silver ore was cooked in a big pot over a very hot fire. As the metal’s temperature went up, the impurities that were stuck in it came out and floated to the top. The refiner would stand by the pot and skim the top to get rid of the impurities. People say that the refiner wouldn’t stop getting rid of the messes, or “dross,” until he could see himself in the silver metal in the pot. The process of polishing was done then and only then. God wants His character to shine through us. That means that other people should be able to see Him in how we talk and act. In the middle of our problems, He is quietly removing our faults and making us more like Him. That is what He wants, for His people to show what He is like.

There was one time in the Bible in the book of St Mark 11:12-25, Jesus was walking and saw a fig tree, He cursed because it has no fruit. Kung titingnan mo ang scenario, parang hindi ito ang Diyos na mabait at mahabagin na kilala ko. Idinagdag pa ni St Mark that it wasn’t time for figs. Kilala natin ang Panginoong Hesus na nagpapagaling ng mga may sakit, nagpapakain ng mga nagugutom at bumubuhay ng mga patay. What’s going on?

Minsan nagpunta ang pinsan ko sa bahay at may nakita siyang isang box na may picture ng masarap na “panettoni” which a delicious Italian soft bread. Marahil sa gutom nya, Marahil gutom sya kaya binuksan nya ang box para kumuha ng kapirasong tinapay, pero ang laking gulat nya dahil wala palang laman ang box.

May dalawang klase ng pagbubunga ang fig tree (puno ng Igos sa Tagalog). As the leaves came in, the fig tree would grow little nubs, also known as “pre-figs” or yong mga bubot or maliliit na bunga kumbaga. May mga tao na kumakain ng bubot na mangga at syempre yong mga bubot na yon ay lalaki at mahihinog. Bagamat hindi pa nga talaga season ng figs, pero yong mga dahon nya at dapat maglabas na ng mga bubot man lang, pero kahit yon ay wala din. The fig tree Jesus saw was okay from a distance but upon close inspection this tree was dead.

Sa Old Testament, the fig tree held a spiritual value as a symbol for Israel, it represented their standing with God. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve used the fig tree leaves to cover their nakedness.

We will notice that this fig tree cursing happened when Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem kung saan ay nagalit Siya dahil maraming mga tindero at tindera sa loob mismo ng templo.

It is significant because when Jesus entered the temple, it looked alive, maraming tao but it is not alive for God. People are not there to worship and meet God. Parang kagaya ng fig tree – full of leaves but without fruit. Parang yong na fake na pinsan ko ng masarap na panettoni, pero picture lang pala at wala naman palang laman talaga yong box.

We always have this faith to expect from God to do good things and bestow us His favor. But likewise, He has the right of expectation from us too. Umaasa din ang Lord. That’s why may mga pagkakataon na nagtatanong si Hesus: “Nasaan ang inyong pananampalataya? Hanggan kelan ako makikisama sa inyo…” Jesus seems to be looking for something, some growth, some changes, some fruit.

May mga pagkakataon na what appeared to be full of life was actually dead. Ang kelangan ng Lord sa atin ay the real thing, the fruit, the life and not just a fancy, void kind of relationship. Why? Because it is possible to be religious outwardly but inwardly lifeless. Ang totoong Kristyano ay hindi lang panlabas, but we are expected to bear fruit, not just leaves to mere show-off.

I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. – John 15:5

The Bible also confirm na: “nakilala ang puno sa pamamagitan ng bunga…” Sinsabi pa na: “whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.” Ibig sabihin ang ating mga ginagawa at ang ating mga bunga ay kelangan nagbibigay ng karangalan sa Diyos.

Why don’t cows drink their own milk and chicken don’t eat their own eggs? Bakit ang mga Baka (cows) hindi humihingi ng gatas galing sa kanila? Bakit ang mga Manok (chickens) hindi sila humihingi ng itlog na galing mismo sa kanila. Because they know that they need to produce for somebody else. If you’ve got a gift, talents and skills, that’s not for you – that’s for other people.

But, and there’s a big but. For you to have fruit, you have to be connected with me, because I am the Vine, Jesus said. Without Me you cannot bear fruit. You have to be joined to Me in order for you to flourish and thrive. Branches cannot boast in and of themselves.

In Galatians 5 it said: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” And then Jesus said in the book of St John 13:35 (AMP) “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.”

You see, fruit is the glory of the vine. It tells the world that you are connected to something higher, something sublime.