Tenderly Gardened

I wonder if, like me, you’ve come across these verses before. Sometimes that’s been through reading John’s gospel, but often they’ve been parachuted in, via a one off talk.

This time, I’m coming to them having been slowly walking through the previous two chapters. Two chapters that have invited me into an intimate dialogue between Jesus and his disciples. Two chapters that have shown me, again and again, Jesus’ tender, servant-hearted love for his friends. 

It’s with this Jesus in mind that I read these verses, and I realise that they are intended to reassure and to comfort. There is a challenge as we see branches thrown into a fire, but, overwhelmingly, these are words that encourage. 

I’m encouraged that to be in Jesus is exactly where I need to be.

I’m encouraged that I am loved. 

I’m encouraged that as one who is loved, I will be tended to as a gardener tends to their roses. 

I’m encouraged that even when that tending comes through the pruning of a trial, it is still with the hand of my tender, compassionate, wise God.

I’m encouraged that, through Jesus, I bear fruit that reflects God’s own glory. 

And so I want to remain in Jesus. I want to keep looking to him, keep trusting him, keep hearing his words, keep knowing his love, keep obeying his commands. I want to keep bearing that fruit, as it is described here. By God’s grace.