Jesus said in John 15: 1, I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Jesus was saying there are two types of vines, the true vine and the fake vine. Jesus says he is the true vine sent by God to save the world by his life and word. John 15: 37; 8: 18; 12: 49 say the words I speak are not mine but from the Father who sent me… John 17:17 says thy word is truth.
Why is Jesus the true vine?
The true vine means he is the unadulterated truth of God. He alone came from the Father. John 1: 18 say no one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. Only Christ Jesus can give the true account of God the Father. John 8: 18 says I bear witness to myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness to me. Truth comes from pure knowledge and for this reason, Matthew 17:5 says this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.
We therefore have no basis to doubt what Jesus said in John 5: 24, truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. Jesus is not the branch nor the root nor the stem nor the fruit but the vine. True life therefore begins and ends with Christ Jesus and those who denounce the same do so at their peril.
Of what relevance is the true vine?
Jesus gives eternal life so that all who believe so we would escape judgment. Jesus used “the” to mean he does not share his authority with any one. He used similar references such as I am the bread of life (John 6: 35, 48); I am the living bread (John 6: 51); I am the light of the world (John 9: 5); I am the good shepherd, (John 10: 11, 14); I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14: 6); etc. to distinguish himself from the others. In order to bear fruit, we must be inseparable from the true vine.
Can we separate from the true vine?
Jesus said in John 15:5, for apart from me you can do nothing. Also, John 6: 58 says this is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever. If we separate from the true vine, we will face spiritual helplessness; failure; and death. No branch can separate from the vine and yet remain alive or bear fruit of the true vine.
Jesus said in John 11: 25, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this? Many of us still doubt the words of Christ Jesus though his word is truth. If the true vine feeds the branch or if the branch feeds from the true vine, it will live and not die. This is our fate in Christ Jesus the Saviour.
Why Jesus described himself as the true vine?
Jesus described himself as the true vine so his message would resonate with his audience. The vine was mentioned in Hosea 10: 1 saying, Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased the more alter he built; as his country improved he improved his pillars. This reference was to portray a relationship with God that flourishes by divine luxury, true worship, and economic growth.
Jesus used the vine in a similar circumstance to affirm the nature of his relationship with those who love and obey him. The vine is a plant that is unique for drawing water to nourish its branches even in dry circumstances because it has larger vessels than others. In affirmation, the Psalmist said in Psalms 80: 8, thou didst bring a vine out of Egypt; thou didst drive out the nations and plant it. This was in reference to the prosperity which God gave to Israel when he brought them out of Egypt and established them as his thriving nation. Jesus meant that he is our unfailing hope in all times and seasons including despair.
Is Christ Jesus the true vine?
Jesus in saying he is the true vine was therefore illustrating the fact that he is our provider in and out of season because he is different from others who obviously have limitations in delivering faithfulness and reliability in relationship contrary to what the Jewish leaders portrayed. This explains Jesus’ parable of the vineyard in Mark 12: 1-11, hence his name Emmanuel (God with us).
The world lacks effective connectivity with the true vine so we are fast withering away as non-fruit bearing branches of the true vine. We are gravitating towards spiritual extinction and will soon be severed from the true vine as Jesus said. Matthew 5: 13 says you are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.
God recognizes only fruit bearing branches which draw their water from the true vine. Galatians 6: 7-8 say do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. At the harvest, all fake vines and their branches will be exposed. Are we one of them?
Christ Jesus is calling us. We must not harden our hearts. He wants us to connect with him. He wants us to draw the living water for our sustenance from him. He wants to wash us clean in his blood and to save our souls. He wants to preserve us for eternity. He is not interested in the death of a sinner but our eternal life. Let us accept his call and have a personal relationship with him.
Prayer
Our dear Lord Jesus Christ, we are so fast withering away without fruits from the true vine. We have failed to draw our feed from you. We desire to bear fruits from you again. Mercifully heal our drought and nourish us with your living water of life. Connect us back to you so we may live and not die contrary to your plan of welfare for us. Save and prune us in your blood for we pray in your holy name, Amen!!
