Wenesday. 5th Week of Easter

 Apart from me you can do nothing.     

Independent, self sufficient, pull yourself up by your own bootstraps;

This is the American Way and the way of many other cultures as well. 

We prefer to rely on ourselves and our own resources. 

To do otherwise is a sign of weakness. 

Yet Jesus tells us that apart from Him we can do nothing!

He is the Vine and we are the branches and apart from Him we will writher and die and be good for nothing but to be thrown into the fire and burned. 

But with Him.  We will bear much fruit.

There is no in between here. 

Maybe I can rely on Jesus when I am in trouble over my head and rely on myself all the other times.

Jesus tells us that apart from Him we can do NOTHING!

Nada! Zero! Nothing! 

Jesus uses many images of nature to reinforce and show this to us. 

He is the Bread of Life. Jn. 6:35

How long can we live without food?

He will give us life giving water.  Jn. 4:14

How long can we live without water?

He is the vine. Jn. 15:1

How long can a branch live apart from the vine?

The next time you eat a piece of bread, or drink a glass of water or see a tree with all of its branches;

Think of Jesus. 

And know that apart from Him we can do nothing

But with Him all things are possible and we will bear abundant fruit.