Fifth Sunday of Easter 2nd May 2021

Acts 8: 26 - 40                                     

Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ (This is a wilderness road.) So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship  and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’  So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ 31 He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 
Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:
‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
     and like a lamb silent before its shearer,
     so he does not open his mouth.   In his humiliation justice was denied him.
     Who can describe his generation?  For his life is taken away from the earth.’ 
The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus.  As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’  He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

 John 15: 1 - 8

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 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. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples. 

Reflection: ‘As I abide in you.’

I always get a little excited when I read this gospel that we have before us today although in many ways it is hard to hear- that we might be pruned so that we can bear much fruit- is that a blessing or a warning?

I remember many years ago, I had a neighbour who was not walking with the Lord. We didn’t even know if he ever had. Once a week we would have a fellowship Cursillo group at our home and we’d always begin with a few songs. Especially in Summer our neighbour could hear our choruses flowing out into the evening air and unbeknown to us, God was drawing our friend to God himself. Then one day our neighbour went to get a jumper out from the top of his wardrobe and as he put his hand amongst his jumpers he came upon a book. It wasn’t just any book- it was a Bible, a Bible that his own brother had once given him and it had been shoved into the cupboard and not looked at till that fateful day. As he took the Bible and opened it- if fell open at John 15 and his eyes fell on a verse that had been highlighted- Abide in me as I abide in you… 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…. Would you believe that in this almost new Bible, these were the only words that had been highlighted? Powerfully- they spoke to the heart of our friend and before we knew it he had asked to join our group and the rest is history…

God’s Word has power to transform and draw people into relationship with God Almighty.

Perhaps to you, much of what Jesus says feels like a threat. Do you know what I mean? Abide in me or else – be pruned, wither, be thrown into the fire, and die! All voiced as a warning to push people into staying loyal and faithful.

But note, Jesus doesn’t just say ‘Abide in me.’ Rather, he says, ‘Abide in me, as I abide in you.’ And that to me changes everything. It makes me think that the other statements about pruning and withering etc are not threats of intimidation but rather statements of fact, descriptions of what happens when we do not abide in Jesus, when we are separated from his love and acceptance, we run or hide or think we can do it on our own or decide to stand alone or whatever. Branches don’t do that well when separated from the vine. At best they, like cut flowers, have a burst of colour and bloom but then fade and wither. I remember many a time when doing youth sermons, cutting a plant the day before and then bringing the plant/ and detached bit of branch beside- compare- unlinked to the vine we wither away, loose our juice as it were.

Now let’s step back for a moment and consider the context of this passage. Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure and wants to assure them of his presence, even when life gets tough (and it’s about to get quite difficult for them). Historically, the community for which John writes has likely been thrown out, rejected by friends and family, and therefore the followers feel pretty isolated and bereaved. They are, quite literally, feeling like they are being cut down. And John, through his retelling of Jesus’ words of farewell and comfort, is offering a different frame of reference by which to look at their experience. It’s about being pruned- pruning is for the benefit of the plant to keep it healthy and growing well. At the same time, John is making a promise, reminding them that: Jesus is with you, for you, abiding in you, and will not let you go. Important words for people who feel cut down by circumstances.

And, of course, it isn’t just Jesus’ disciples two thousand years ago who need to hear these words for I suggest that it aptly describes the feelings felt by many of Jesus’ disciples today. Life is tough and it comes with many ups and downs, being pruned is a part of living. Especially those in our society who have broken relationships and perhaps single parents doing it tough on their own, or the unemployed, or the children/ people who are a little different who feel overly sensitive perhaps because of race or other difference.  The recently and unexpectedly bereaved or perhaps the carer who feels the heavy burden they carry. There are, of course, countless examples of persons who feel cut down by life and by circumstances, and so John offers comfort with a different way of being…. Reminding us that Jesus is with you, abiding in you, holding onto you, loving you, and he will not let you go.

Which means there is new growth ahead, that new life will come. even when all hope seems to fade new life will follow. There is a rose vine on the side of our church that was accidentally pruned too hard recently- luckily I was not too quick to dig it out as you should see it now…. new life has certainly come and it is looking green, fresh and incredibly healthy again.

For me these verse today are therefore assuring, as life makes me sometimes feel pushed and pulled and pruned.. Jesus’ words of comfort and presence are for all of us, as we remember that he is with you and for you.

‘Abide in me, as I abide in you….’ These are gracious words of presence and relationship. It is a two way deal. As we abide in Christ- he abides in us. We invite him to live with us as we live with him. God’s word has power to transform and draw people into relationship with God himself. 

‘Abide in me and I in you- the works that Jesus did we can do also, not just these but greater works by God the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the story from Acts, the eunuch asked Philip to expound the word before him and by the power of the Holy Spirit, Philip began to speak, not only was the eunuch converted, he was baptised! Baptised into new life in Christ. The power of God, abiding in Philip as Philip abided in God had power …. power flowing out to bless. Abiding in God, means he lives and works in us and through us. So, our invitation today is to relationship, with the Lord most High. And as we walk with him may he continue to reveal his power as his life flows through us.