“Prunes” is the word used in the ESV and other English Bible translations for a word in Jesus’ discourse in John 15:
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit (John 15:1–2 ESV).
The meaning of this passage commonly understood to refer to life’s trials that God sends our way to refine us (like in James 1:2).
But I have to wonder if something more might being also hinted at.
The Two Harvests in Revelation
When I posted earlier about the winepress of God’s wrath, I only covered one of the harvests in Revelation 14:
Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the Land is fully ripe.” So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the Land, and the Land was reaped. Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe” (Revelation 14:14–18).
So here are two harvests that represent a an event producing many martyrs. As Jim Jordan has taught, in the set up of the heavenly court in Revelation 4 & 5, one can see most of the elements which correspond to the Tabernacle/Temple furniture. The missing item is the table of shewbread with the twelve loaves representing the twelve tribes of Israel.
So the grain offering provides for a vacancy–human souls being invited and permitted into God’s presence. And the pattern here is grain then grapes.
The Pattern in John
So what does this have to do with John 15? Because, Jesus, before the vine discourse gave a grain discourse that was also about bearing fruit:
Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him (John 12:24–26 ESV).
So one gives up one’s life, like Jesus did, in order to “bear much fruit.” That is how we are disciples who resemble our master. Obviously, not every Christian is called to that kind of sacrifice. John 15:1ff has a “more normal” reading and the principle in John 12:24-26 applies to lest fatal. paths.
But in the Biblical context, John 15 is calling us to take up our cross.