Bible Discussion Thread

The Greek word here in verse 2 for "taketh away" is "airo" which would have better been translated as "lifted up". When a vine grows, it grows vigorously, through barriers of all sorts, even dirt. When a good "husbandman" observes that a branch has been smothered under dirt, he will "lift it up" out of dirt because he realizes that it is dirt that causes it not to bear fruits. How many of us should be grateful that our Husbandman, after recognizing our fruitlessness, also recognized the dirt we were emerged under, that was causing that fruitlessness. And instead of cutting us away, like the world does, He "lifted us up" out of the dirt we were in! So this text teaches us that when Christ is our True Vine, or Lord of our life, we go from "Lifted up"(verse 2), to "Letting go"(verse 2), to "Leaning on"(verses 3-5). But it's all by his grace, not by our strength! -Apostle Mardia Scott Jr.