John 15:1-11

The True Vine (1-3)

Jesus begins this parable with His last of His seven great “I am” statements in John. He says that He is the true vine. He is the true Israel. By saying this, Jesus is declaring that one’s standing in the people of God depends no longer on that genealogical descent from Abraham, but on the connection to Jesus Himself

Now like I said, this is a parable. Jesus does not literally mean that He is a vine or that we are actually branches, or that God is literally the gardener. If we were actually branches, that would be a little frightening.

But what we see here is a beautiful picture of Jesus, the true vine that is being nurtured, taken care of, and pruned by the Father. To be a part of the vine, one must be connected to Jesus. If you are not connected to the true vine you will not get that same nurturing and love from the Father. Israel was formerly tended to by the Father as being a part of His vine but now the Father tends to those who are united to Christ by faith.

Continuing on with that beautiful picture that I just mentioned, in verse two Jesus says that the Father removes the branches that do not bear fruit and prunes the ones that do so that they might bear more fruit. If you are connected to the vine, the gardener will do whatever to help you bear fruit.

I don’t garden but I have family members that do and friends that do. You don’t see gardeners that just let one of their plants bear small fruits or just have dead flowers. Most are not content with that. God is not content with letting the branches connected to the vine bear little fruit. He will do whatever He can to shape you into something better and more beautiful than you are right now or were before.

God is determined to make you more like His son Jesus and that will happen by Him cutting away the dying parts so you can grow more healthy. God’s commitment to your fruit bearing is greater than your comfort. He desires for you to bear fruit and succeed in your walk with Him. To grow and bear fruit, a vine needs sunlight, the right soil, pollination, and water. God orchestrates the universe so that the vine can grow and bear fruit.

Abide in the Vine (4-7)

Glorification of the Vine & Joy in the Vine (8-11)