Periapsis and the Vine
Remaining in the Closest Orbit to Jesus
In John 15, Jesus gives us a powerful image: “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.” This passage is packed with truth about intimacy, identity, and the necessity of remaining in Him. But to grasp its weight, let’s consider a concept from astronomy: periapsis.
Periapsis is the point in the orbit of a celestial body where it is closest to the object it revolves around. It’s the place of greatest proximity, where gravitational pull is strongest, and where the orbiting body moves the fastest. When we apply this to John 15, we see the call to remain—the call to abide—is a call to live at the periapsis of our relationship with Jesus.
Remaining in Him isn’t about maintaining a religious routine or clinging to a superficial connection. It’s about living at that closest point of orbit where nothing comes between us and the Vine. It’s a posture of beloved identity—knowing that we belong, that we are loved, that we are wanted. It’s staying so near to His heart that His life flows freely into us, producing fruit we could never manufacture on our own.
The Pull of the Vine
When we live at the periapsis of Jesus, the gravitational pull of His love keeps us steady. Our identity isn’t defined by performance, ministry metrics, or the approval of others. It’s defined by our proximity to Him. At this place, pruning isn’t punishment—it’s permission. It’s permission to bear more fruit, to walk in greater authority, to shine with a brighter reflection of who He is.
Too often, we live at the apoapsis—the farthest point in orbit. We allow distractions, offenses, and self-reliance to pull us away. The further we drift, the weaker the pull of His presence feels, and the slower our spiritual momentum becomes. When we find ourselves there, the answer isn’t to strive back into closeness; it’s to surrender to His pull, to allow His Spirit to draw us back into alignment.
Fruit That Remains
Jesus didn’t call us to produce fruit through effort. He called us to bear fruit through connection. A branch doesn’t force fruit out—it remains in the vine, and fruit is the natural result. The fruit that Jesus desires—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—isn’t manufactured in isolation. It’s birthed in intimacy.
When we live at the periapsis of our relationship with Him, fruit isn’t seasonal—it’s perpetual. Our lives become an extension of His life, our actions a manifestation of His heart. We don’t just produce fruit; we produce fruit that remains. Legacy fruit. Fruit that outlasts us because it is rooted in Him.
Returning to the Closest Orbit
If you find yourself distant, today is the day to return to the closest orbit. Jesus isn’t looking for your productivity—He’s looking for your proximity. He doesn’t need your works—He wants your heart. The command to remain in Him is an invitation to the fullness of life, to the safety of His love, to the joy of belonging.
Abiding is not passive—it is active surrender. It is choosing, moment by moment, to remain in the pull of His love. It is rejecting the drift and pressing into the gravity of grace. It is saying yes to pruning because we trust the vinedresser’s hands.
Jesus is the vine, and you are the branch. Your identity is not up for negotiation. Your place in Him is not a reward for good behavior—it is the reality of beloved identity. Stay close. Stay connected. Remain in Him, and let your life bear the kind of fruit that only comes from living at the periapsis of His presence.
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