What does it mean to abide in Christ? Through scripture, prayer, and P. Solomon Raj’s The Vine & the Branches, we reflect on the deep connection between the vine and its branches. This connection grounds us, nourishes us, and helps us bear fruit in God’s time.

John 15:1-5

The Vine & the Branches P. Solomon Raj Jn 3 - The Vine & the Branches © 2025 P Solomon Raj | Eyekons

In this episode of Art and Prayer, we explore one of Jesus’ most powerful metaphors: “I am the vine, you are the branches.” Drawing on John 15 and the woodcut The Vine & the Branches by Indian artist and theologian P. Solomon Raj, we are invited into a time of prayer and reflection on what it means to be deeply connected to Christ. Just as branches cannot survive apart from the vine, so too our lives and our faith are nourished and sustained through Christ.

The simplicity of Raj’s image opens a doorway into contemplation. Jesus appears as the strong vine, rooted and steady, while the branches extend upward, bearing fruit and carrying the faces of those who belong to him. The likeness between Christ’s face and the faces in the branches brings to mind C.S. Lewis’ thought that Christians are to become “little Christs,” shaped by their connection to him. The image gently reminds us of our unity of being and purpose, a holy interdependence that brings both peace and fruitfulness.

Through scripture and prayer, we are invited not just to admire the metaphor but to inhabit it. As Hudson Taylor once reflected, the branch does not toil anxiously for sun or rain; it simply abides in the vine. So too, in our relationship with Christ, we are called to rest in him and allow God’s Spirit to bear fruit in us at the right time and in the right way. This abiding is not about striving harder, but about remaining present, rooted, and open to God’s life flowing through us.

Raj’s words accompany his woodcut: “Unless we abide in you, we cannot bear fruit. Let us abide in You and bear fruit in plenty.” His prayerful vision encourages us to move beyond fleeting emotions of closeness or distance, reminding us that connection to Christ is constant—even when it does not feel strong. By remaining attentive to this truth, our lives gradually bear the fruit of God’s love, compassion, and grace.

This contemplative practice closes with a simple but profound reminder: stay connected, stay grounded, and give thanks for the life that flows through Christ into each of us. In doing so, we live abundantly, and we share that abundance with others.