The True Vine Series

Message

John 15:1

I Am The True Vine

There are seven “I am” passages of Jesus … the last of which is found in John 15:1-6 (read)

I suspect there are plenty of us who remember the “I am the vine; you are the branches” part. I wonder how many also remembered the “I am the vine, and my Father is the Gardener” part? We need to remember both parts to properly understand the application of these words.

The Father has established a garden. In that garden Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. The Father is the Gardener … the Vine-dresser.

Jesus, the Vine, gives the capacity to bear fruit, as the Father keeps pruning. However if the branches refuse to rely on the Vine they are useless and the Father then cuts off the dead branches.

It is a very powerful picture, but it is not a new picture. Using the imagery of a vine to depict the relationship between God and His people is common in the Old Testament.

8 You (God Almighty) transplanted a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. 11 Its branches reached as far as the Sea, its shoots as far as the River.

Psalm 80:8-11

Israel is like a vine that God established. The problem with this Vine is that it kept failing.

1 Israel was a spreading vine; he brought forth fruit for himself. As his fruit increased, he built more altars; as his land prospered, he adorned his sacred stones. 2 Their heart is deceitful.

Hosea 10:1-2

21 I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?

Jeremiah 2:21

Israel is the vine that failed. So, God sent Jesus, the True Vine.

Not true as opposed to false.

But true in the sense of being the superior.

In all the places where Israel failed, Jesus will overcome. In all the places where Israel sinned, Jesus will be obedient. In all the places where Israel took their eyes of the path, Jesus will endure

Jesus is the Faithful … True … Vine.

That makes Jesus central to our salvation.

Apart from me you can do nothing

That doesn’t mean those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus are totally incapacitated. Indeed there are plenty of unbelievers who have achieved, and are lauded for, their humanitarian accomplishments.

But achievement and “bearing fruit” are two separate outcomes.

Achievement points to me. To my succuss. To my fulfilment. For my satisfaction and glory. Even if no-one else actually recognises it. Achievement is what I do, in my own strength, as an accomplishment which I have put in place. Achievement leads to self-congratulation.

Bearing fruit is what I do for God’s glory and God’s honour.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 1:9-11

5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe – as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.

1 Corinthians 3:5-7

Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

That is what bearing fruit looks like – and it can only happen when we are connected to the Vine. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. Apart from Me you can do nothing.

You are not going to do anything of spiritual significance unless you are connected to the Vine. When you are connected to the Vine you will produce fruit.

Producing fruit.

That sounds like a wonderful spiritual achievement, doesn’t it. But there is an important aspect of the imagery here that is worthy of reflection. Vines … particularly grape vines … need constant pruning so that the vine can be more effective and produce more fruit

It is not just a matter of pruning whenever you like – pruning is done at very specific times so that the pruned branches are not weakened in the long-term.