In John, Chapter 15, employing a well known symbol—the grape vine—Jesus took a complex, abstract topic and made it practical.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” Verses 4, 5.
“Satan is that wild vine, and we must somehow be transferred—grafted—from Satan to Jesus. “
But we have a serious problem—getting connected. By nature we are branches of an evil, “wild vine.” Satan is that wild vine, and we must somehow be transferred—grafted—from Satan to Jesus. Paul helps us to understand the grafting process in Romans, Chapter 11. He points out that we need to be cut away from our old connections and grafted into Christ.
As a plastic surgeon and an amateur horticulturist, I have done quite a bit of human tissue grafting and much plant grafting. There are several principles common to both fields. First, the graft must be fully severed from its original area. Next, the recipient site must be “wounded” (cut into) so that deeper tissues can be exposed and the appropriate layers of graft and host be permitted to make vital contact. Then, the graft must be held in the exact position to prevent further movement, while the graft cells grow into the stock and the stock cells grow into the substance of the graft.
As connection takes place, the graft is nourished and union and healing take place. Over time, as the tissues are fully joined, the graft grows and expands and takes its place as a functioning part of the host.
Joining with Jesus
In the spiritual sphere, we must consent to be severed from all connections with Satan and the world. Then we allow ourselves to be joined in a close and loving relationship to Jesus, to follow Him in all things. He has already been “wounded for our transgressions” at His death on Calvary. From the earliest stages of being grafted into Christ the young Christian needs to be carefully kept from being bruised and torn away from Jesus. Human spiritual helpers and heavenly angels play a part in this as they watch over the “new born” Christian who in due time will grow up into a firmer union with Christ and thus bear much spiritual fruit to the glory of his heavenly Father.
Grapevine grafting: changing vineyard varietals with low-impact farming
Sometimes human and plant grafts fail to “take.” There may be many reasons for this, but a common one is that the graft tissue may have moved out of position. In the spiritual realm, the graft may fail because of worldly temptations that overcome the new Christian, interrupting his tender connection with Christ. Without immediate intervention, the graft then dies and does not “take.”
Judas was a graft that did not take. He was tempted through his greed and pride, which eventually led him to “sell” his Lord for thirty pieces of silver. He died by suicide as a lost man.
In the natural world, a graft retains its character qualities and does not gain the characteristics of the root stock. For example, a red apple graft placed on a yellow root stock will still produce red apples. But in the spiritual experience, a sinner saved by grace and grafted into Christ will in time lose his natural character and gradually take on the character of the root stock—even Christ.
As long as we grafted Christians “abide” in Christ, He will abide in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. Study carefully John, Chapter 15 and Romans, Chapter 11. Here you will find knowledge to help you become connected and abide in Christ.
Lloyd Rosenvold MD has written books on health and has also written the book The Battle for the Mind: Spiritual Warfare–False and True.