The True Vine

1“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:1-5 New Living Translation

This week we’re going to take a look at the portion of scripture where Jesus refers to himself as “the True Vine”. It is located in the first 5 verses of chapter 15 in the gospel of John. We will start off, of course, with verse 1: “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.”

Very often in the Old Testament Israel is referred to as the vine or the vineyard. God is the gardener. Though Israel has been chosen by God as His own people, they had been consistently unfaithful. This left the door open for gentiles (which is all non-Jews) to be grafted into the vine ^{(Romans 11:17)}. We’ve already discussed the meaning of “I AM”. This is the final of 7 claims Jesus made to deity in these “I AM” statements that we’ve looked at over the last week. It should be pointed out that because Almighty God is the gardener, the branches can have every confidence in His ability to protect and sustain them, along with a sense of security. Obedience is the key. We are to obey our God, not in an ‘or else’ fashion, though there are definitive reasons to trust the Lord, for what He does is always for our benefit and not to harm us in any way.

When Jesus expresses that He is the “true grapevine” He is stating that He is the genuine article. He is real, not an imitation. As the grapevine, Israel had failed to be fruitful and obedient. Essentially, they had slapped God in the face by their disobedient arrogance. Giving lip service to God is very much like a lot of people today who are Christians in name only, but do not live a proper lifestyle emblematic of Christ. Tomorrow we will look at verse 2. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

Richard Keller 

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Orthodox Study Bible; NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible; John MacArthur Study Bible; The Reformation Study Bible.