May 12

Part 60: The Vine and the Branches

Todd Pruitt |Series: The Gospel of John |John 15:1-11


In the previous section of his Farewell Discourse Jesus’ interest was in the role of the Holy Spirit. He promised the disciples that he would come to them by way of the Spirit’s own presence. Now Jesus focuses in greater detail upon the spiritual union between God and his people. It is what the church has historically referred to as “union with Christ.” It is another way of saying that one is a Christian. Fundamentally, Christians are “in Christ,” and Christ is in them. Jesus compares this intimate bond to a vine that gives life and fruitfulness to its branches.

The chapter begins with Jesus’ seventh and final “I Am,” statement: “I am the true vine.” The seven statements point to the Lord’s divine nature and identify him as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Through the seven “I Am,” statements we are given a detailed picture of the Person and work of Jesus. In referring to himself as “the true vine,” Jesus is drawing upon Old Testament language and categories which often depicted Israel as a vine. By referring to himself as “the true vine” (especially in the form of a formal I Am statement) Jesus is declaring himself to be the fulfillment of national Israel. It is through the True Vine, Jesus Christ, that the Father fulfills the promise he made to Abraham. “Thus, Jesus is true Israel. All the old covenant places and people have been fulfilled by one person, Jesus Christ” (Klink, 659).

God’s people – his church – are the branches of the True Vine. Fundamental to branches on a vine is the bearing of fruit: “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” (vs. 5). Being a Christian is far more than acknowledging the truth concerning Jesus (though that is a must!). Followers of Jesus are united to him by faith and living in daily dependence upon him. Like the branch of a vine, the disciple draws daily nourishment from Jesus, the true vine, and bears fruit as a result. As Paul writes, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10).


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