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“I Am The True Vine”

by Micky Galloway

In John 15:1 Jesus said, I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” In verse 5 he continues, I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.” If there were any people that should recognize this figure, it should have been the Jews to whom Jesus spoke. This figure is a repeated Old Testament symbol of Israel (Ezekiel 15:1-8; 19:10-14; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21; Hosea 10:1-2; Psalms 80:8-13). It must be noted that in all of these references the picture of Israel as the vine is repeatedly used in connection with the degeneracy of Israel. Israel is spoken of as: the vine gone bad, planted pure but grown wild, never fulfilling the purposes of Him who planted it and cared for it. In contrast, Jesus claims that He is the “true vine.” There were many “false” vines. The point of the comparison or the meaning of the figure is simple: A vine yields proper juice (sap) and nourishment to all the branches, whether large or small. All the nourishment of each branch passes through the main stalk, or the vine, that springs from the earth. So Jesus is the source of all real strength to His disciples. He is their leader and teacher, and imparts to them, as they need, grace and strength to bear the fruits of holiness. Jesus then emphasizes the necessity of abiding in Him to be productive. His people are united with Him. These constitute the real Israel, the real people of God. How can one tell if he is in the true vine? Obviously, by the fruit he produces. Matthew 7:20 says, “Therefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

What are some possible reasons why Jesus used this figure? The vine and the branches was a familiar figure to the disciples. John 13-16 is one setting during the last week of the life of Jesus. It was during the feast of the Passover that Jesus had just instituted the Lord’s Supper (cf. Matthew 26:26-30). The fruit of the vine was an important part of the of this memorial feast, representing the blood of Jesus, shed for the remission of sins. If, as is commonly thought, Jesus spoke of the vine and the branches on the way to Gethsemane, then they probably passed through a vineyard on the way. Also, Jesus said, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned (John 15:4-6). To abide in the vine is to produce fruit (cf. verse 8). Jesus speaks of the useless branches being burned! This teaches the possibility of apostasy. Vine wood and prunings, which were useless, were thrown away to be destroyed. The vine was a symbol of Israel, like the Eagle is to the United States. It was on Jewish coins as a national emblem. It was carved over main doors of the synagogues along with the sacrificial Passover lamb or the pot of manna and Aaron’s rod. Above all, this symbol was in the temple at Jerusalem. Josephus said, “Under the crownwork was spread out a golden vine, with its branches hanging down from a great height, the largeness and the workmanship of which were an astonishing sight to the spectators” (Antiquities of the Jews, 15, 11:3). So there were many possible reasons for Jesus to use this figure for His great claim.

This symbol is fitting for our time, therefore we must make the proper application of the vine and the branches. On the one hand it sets forth the nature of the individual’s contact with Christ (note that each branch is an individual, not a separate church). He that abideth in me, and I in him … If a man abide not in me.” On the other hand, it shows our vital contact with others as we reach out to the lost. One of the perils of today is that a materialistic and secularized world demands so much of the Christian that he can become starved spiritually and has nothing to offer to the lost. The child of God must be renewed daily (Romans 12:1-2) and without such renewal then the Christian life is put in reverse, that instead of becoming transformed, he becomes conformed to the world.

This is where we can see the importance of “abiding” in the “true vine.” We can see its importance in relationship of obedience (verses 4, 7-8, 10), of love (verses 9-10, 12-13), of joy (verse 11), and of friendship (verses 13-16). We also see the need to abide in the “true vine” so that: (1) we will bear much fruit; (2) without abiding there can be no fruit; (3) abiding leads to God’s glory; and (4) if one does not abide he withers, he is bundled, and he is cast forth into the fire and burned. The thought of being “cast forth” is real.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine.” In that claim, He claims to be the chosen one of God in whom the new, the real and the true Israel finds life. Only in Jesus can we find the true life in fellowship with Him, as the branch draws its life from the vine. Jesus warns that separation from Him means uselessness and eternal death.

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