By Rick Cowan
*Today I’m devoting this space to a young photographer who partners with Ray Majoran to spread God’s Word and work through their beautiful photographs. Rick Cowan has shown a particular sensitivity to the Spirit’s leading in his writing today, so, I wanted to share it with you. Blessings, Ed 😊
“Every Friday, I (Ray Majoran) feature another person who is using their artistic talents to glorify God (1 Thessalonians 5:11). I ask them to provide me with an image, along with a paired title and Scripture verse. This week, I’d like to highlight the work of Rick Cowan, who I’ve featured several times before. He writes”:
In John 15, Jesus uses the vivid imagery of a vine and its branches to teach His disciples the kind of relationship He wants with them (John 15:1–5). This picture was not new, however. Jesus deliberately drew on a familiar Old Testament symbol to declare that everything was changing: with His coming, a new spiritual reality had arrived – one that His disciples (and every true believer since) are called to live in every day.
Throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly described Israel as His vineyard or vine (Psalm 80:8–16; Isaiah 5:1–7; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:1–8; 17:5–10; 19:10–14; Hosea 10:1). Through the prophets He grieved Israel’s constant rebellion. He had acted as the perfect vinedresser: rescuing them from Egypt, planting them in a rich land, giving them His law, prophets, priesthood, and kings. He did everything possible to make them flourish. Yet the vine only produced wild, sour, worthless grapes (idolatry, injustice, and unfaithfulness), instead of faithfulness born out of love for him (Isaiah 5:2, 7; Jeremiah 2:21).
When Jesus stepped onto the scene, He came not only to die as the perfect sacrifice but to live as the perfect Israelite, the perfect Son, and the perfect worshipper (Matthew 5:17; Romans 5:19). Where national Israel failed again and again, Jesus obeyed perfectly. Where the old vine degenerated and was finally cut down and burned, Jesus, the true vine, bears abundant, lasting fruit in complete submission to His Father (John 15:1–2, 8).
Here is the staggering wonder of the new covenant: everyone who trusts Jesus is grafted into Him, the true vine (Romans 11:17–24; John 15:4–5). Old-covenant Israel stumbled because they tried to produce fruit in their own strength and repeatedly failed. New-covenant believers, however, are united to the One who never failed. His perfect obedience is credited to us; His life flows into us (Romans 8:3–4; Galatians 2:20). We do not strive to become the vine – Jesus already is. We simply remain in Him.
That is why our spiritual lives are now entirely the fruit of union with Christ. He has fulfilled the law for us (Matthew 5:17). He has pleased the Father perfectly on our behalf (John 8:29). He has defeated sin, death, and Satan where we never could (Colossians 2:15). His death atones for our sin; His obedient life now sustains our faith (Romans 5:19; Philippians 1:6). So His gentle command to every branch is the same: “Abide in Me” (John 15:4). Rest in Me. Draw every breath of spiritual life from Me. Stay connected, trust Me, obey Me, love through Me, and you will bear much fruit, the Father will be glorified, and your joy will be full (John 15:5, 8, 11).
Today, hear the voice of the true Vine: you don’t have to manufacture a perfect record – He already has one for you. Simply remain in Him. Abide. Rest. And watch His life produce in you what you could never produce on your own.
Rick Cowan
Walking With Jesus 