Our lives express our relationship with Christ as the vine for which we are the branches. Jesus’ promise to us is that he will stick with us, abide with us. He asks that we make the same promise to him and bear fruit for his loving kingdom.
In lifting us, as branches, up – God puts us in relationship with other believers – sisters and brothers in Christ-In the Vine. Jesus is saying, we need each other. None of us can make it alone. This is the single most important thing that God does for us. Through salvation, God puts us in the Body – that is the Vine – and the Body is the Church – he puts us in loving relationship with other Christians – and then we grow – we produce fruit.