GREAT “I AM” DECLARATIONS OF JESUS
Who was Jesus? You will recall that He himself asked that question of His closest followers. First, He asked them, “Who do folks say I am?” Then He asked them a pointed question, “Who do YOU say I am?”
As we look back upon that encounter with His disciples, we soon realize that, just as it was wise for them to answer that very important personal question, it is wise for us to do likewise. It’s one thing to say that we are followers of Christ; it is quite another to know who He is.
As you know, it was the Apostle Peter who seized upon the question and blurted out the answer that all Christians ought to be able to give, “You are the Christ, Son of the living God.”
In this series of devotional messages, our focus is not on the question of who Jesus was based on public opinion; nor do we focus on Peter’s declaration of who Jesus was. Rather, we shall focus on who Jesus himself said He was – and hopefully still is in the hearts and lives of each one of His followers.
GREAT "I AM" DECLARATIONS OF JESUS - SERMON III: “TRUE VINE”
JOHN 15:1 . . .
The best time of year to visit Palestine is the season when fig trees, olive trees, and grape vines are at the height of their new growth. In the entire region, and everywhere you go, there are beautiful landscapes of orchards in valleys and greenery along hillsides.
You see flocks of sheep grazing along the way; you see farmers cultivating their crops. These “oasis” regions are quite a contrast to the deserts and rocky slopes that you see in the barren parts of the country.
Today, the roads, for the most part, are paved; but in the days when Jesus walked from village to village, the roads were little more than path ways that had been trodden under foot by folks traveling from one point to another. Yet, as they walked along these pathways, the sight of fruit-bearing vineyards and grazing sheep was a sight to behold.
As was often the case when Jesus taught His disciples, He used that with which His listeners were familiar to teach profound lessons.
The great “I am” declarations of Jesus reflect His reliance on the familiar as He went about teaching. On one occasion, He declared that He was “the bread of life” - on another occasion, “the Light of the world.”
Our focus in this current devotional message is His declaration that He was “the true vine” – and how fitting that He would use the metaphor of a “vine” – when, all around Him and those who listened to Him, there were vast orchards of vines with branches spreading all over the place.
From a tourist’s viewpoint, there is no scene more picturesque than that of a beautifully landscaped orchard, with miles of well-tended vines, growing in a well-designed pattern, and divided by precisely irrigated rows of cultivated earth in between the long rows of vines.
In season, the aroma of luscious bunches of grapes fills the air, and the anticipation of sampling freshly made juice or wine makes one thirsty. Indeed, a visit to Palestine is incomplete without tasting the fruit of the vine.
So, when using the analogy of a vine to teach a lesson, Jesus did not have to paint folks a picture; just the use of the word itself conjured up in their imagination the image upon which Jesus would base His teaching.
To better understand what Jesus meant by saying, “I am the true vine,” we recall a couple of scriptures from the Old Testament, in which the analogy of a vine was used to represent Israel as the chosen people of God.
The prophets spoke of Israel as the vine or the vineyard of God. Isaiah says, “The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.” What he meant was that the nation of Israel was the vineyard in God’s garden. The vine had become a symbol of the nation of Israel – and it was not unusual to see a vine with bunches of grapes engraved on the front of the Jewish temple.
When Israel began to get away from God, and eventually fell out of favor with God, the prophet Hosea made the comment that “Israel is an empty vine.” Not a very pretty picture! Who wants an empty vine? What a contrast - a vine full of bunches of luscious grapes versus a vine that is barren - with no fruit! Israel, because of their sinful ways, had become like an empty vine, producing no fruit for the glory of God.
Jesus called Himself the true vine – the real vine – saying, in effect: “You think that because you belong to the nation of Israel you are a branch in the vine that belongs to God. You think that just because you are a Jew, and as such, one of the chosen ones, you are automatically a branch of the vine of God. You must understand that your nation has become a degenerate vine. I have come to be the true vine. It is not the fact that you are a Jew which will save you. The only thing that can save you is for you to believe in me . . . accept me as your Lord and Savior . . . connect yourself to Me . . . to do so will make you a branch of the true vine.”
Folks, there are far too many people in our nation who have gotten the notion that just because they were born in America, or that just because they have family members who are Christians, or that just because they belong to a certain church, that they are, therefore, Christians. No one can say that he or she is a Christian “just because.” There’s more to it than that. There’s a right relationship to God- which can only be entered only by being “grafted” into the true vine which is Jesus Christ. I did not say “drafted” in the sense that one raises his right hand and is inducted into an Army. I said “grafted” in the sense that a person must be joined to Christ.
All who believes Christ is Son of God, died for their sins, God raised Him from the dead, shall be saved and thereby joined to Him; the totality of those who have been joined to Christ comprise an army of brothers and sisters in Christ.
Like a mighty army indeed! But, we are “grafted” – not “drafted” – into the army of Christ. To become a part of the vast army of believers in Christ is a voluntary, not mandatory, act on your part and mine. God did His part when He sent His only begotten Son into the world so that the world through Him might be saved. Your part and mine is to believe in Him who was sent by God and to become attached to Him in such a way that we heed what He says and do what He wills.
Jesus likened His “salvation army” to the branches of a vine in the garden of God. He sees Himself as the true vine and He sees His followers as the branches. What does He expect of His branches? Listen to His words:
“If a person remains in me (attached to me), he or she will bear much fruit; but apart from me, you can do nothing of real value; but with Me as the source of your spiritual sustenance, with Me as the supplier of your needs, with Me as the satisfier of your innermost desires, you can and will bear fruit; and, by your fruit, others will know that you are my disciples.”
What happened in the lives of those who rejected Jesus? They became like withered branches that had no connection to the vine. What happens to so many people today who turn a deaf ear to the word of God and give little or no thought to their spiritual lives? They become like withered branches that are rather useless to the kingdom of God.
Friends, God wants His people to stay connected to His Son Jesus Christ - the true vine - so that we may continue to grow in His likeness and become spiritually mature; as we grow in Him, our lives produce fruit that is pleasing to Him – just as a gardener is pleased when his orchard bears fruit.
Jesus challenges us to “abide” in Him. What that means is that He wants us to stay in contact with Him - stay close to Him.
You know, one of the great things we learn about Jesus is that He stayed in touch with God the Father. There was never a time in His life when He allowed Himself to go it alone. He was in constant communion with God and He always found time to be alone with the heavenly Father.
To me, what it means to “abide in Christ” is this: Never a day goes by that I do not have a little talk with Him . . . think of Him and all that He has meant to me and done for me. I never allow myself to forget Him - even for a day. I see every morning as a blessing from God . . . a chance for me to live another day in His presence; each new day gives me an opportunity to know Him a little better . . . to grow a little closer to Him.
A wonderful thing about being a branch of the true vine is that this connection enriches my life; another wonderful thing is that my connection to Christ enables me to enrich someone else’s life; yet another wonderful thing is that being a branch of the true vine brings glory to God; and, you know what? There is no greater joy in life than to bring glory to God.
As branches of the true vine, may it be our goal in life to bring glory to God as we bear fruit that is pleasing unto Him! Amen.
