Bear Fruit (Part 4 Of 4) Series

As we look at John 15, we must remember the context. Jesus was talking with His disciples. It was the end of the Last Supper, right before they walked to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus would be arrested.

Jesus had just told them that one of them would betray Him. He had talked of how He was leaving and where He was going, they could not come. He informed them that king of this world, satan, was coming. He told them how the Father would send a Helper, the Holy Spirit to be with them. He talked of how by faith they greater things than even would do He had done and that they were to love one another as He had loved them. That is how the world would know that they are His disciples.

Now as His words sunk in and the impossible weight of the burden pressed down on their shoulders Jesus spoke these words.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 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. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”

Jesus was taking a very common idea that the disciples would have been familiar with and using it to illustrate a timeless truth. Jesus is the True Vine. In the Old Testament the imagery of the vine was used to represent the people of Israel, but on almost every occasion it is used to describe them in a negative light. Jeremiah talks of how they had become a corrupt and wild vine. Isaiah described Israel as a vineyard that had run wild. Many of the Jews believed that they had God´s favor because they were Abraham´s physical descendants. In their mind they were the favored ones because they were part of the “vine of Israel,” but Jesus is declaring a new truth. He is the true vine and salvation is found, through faith, in Him alone. Just as Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness, those who have faith in Christ, the True Vine, it would be counted to them as righteousness. They are the true sons of Abraham who are in the vine (Galatians 3:6-7).

In verse 5 Jesus states that “He is the vine, and we are the branches.” All who abide in Him will bear much fruit, but apart from Him we can do nothing. That was His message to His disciples who were now about to face an impossible situation on their own. Jesus was reminding them that in Him they would have everything they would need to make the impossible, possible. Even in the midst of the coming storm, in Christ they would be able to join with the words of the Apostle Paul, “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9) “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) “When I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)

In this simple illustration of the vine Jesus explains to His disciples that like a vine and its branches, if they will stay connected to Him, they will bear much fruit. Most of us do not grow grapevines so it is helpful if we take a moment to get a better understanding.

Grapevines were very common in their day. For the greatest harvest grapevines demand a lot of attention. Frequent and detailed pruning is necessary. The vinedresser continually observes the vine. The vine grows two kinds of branches. Branches that bear fruit and branches that don´t. Some branches may have nice leaves and look good, but they don´t bear fruit. They rob the fruit-bearing branches of much needed nutrients and moisture. Because of this, if the vinedresser found a branch that was not bearing fruit he would cut it off. Something similar was done with a fruit bearing branch. If it had sprouts that were not the kind that would eventually bear fruit the vinedresser would prune off the sprouts, even if they were growing on a fruit-bearing branch.