Jesus is the true vine, the source of life

By Dean Collins

Sometimes when we read scripture, we forget that the prophets, priests, apostles, and Jesus did not speak or write with chapter breaks. Over time, scholars organized scripture into chapters. This is important to remember because in our daily reading we usually stop and start our reading based on our time limitations or schedules, and we sometimes miss the continuation of thought in sections of scripture. Chapters 14-17 of John is a good example of how chapter breaks can interfere with the flow of what Jesus was teaching his disciples.

Jesus was in the upper room with his disciples during John 14. He spent some time discussing his upcoming departure by way of his death, burial, and resurrection, and he explained that he would return but things would be different. He would not be physically remaining around them all the time, but they did not need to worry because he was asking his Father to send the Holy Spirit to be with them.

To understand what Jesus explained in John 15, it is helpful to remember what he said at the end of John 14. Here is the last verse of John 14: “But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.”

Jesus was indicating that he would be following the will of his Father so that we might comprehend the extent of his love for his Father. There is a connection between saying we love something and our actions. When Jesus finished this thought, he told the disciples to get up because they were leaving. They began their walk to the Garden of Gethsemane.

The first verse of John 15 says, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser…” It seems a logical implication that as they walked they passed vineyards. Maybe Jesus even took hold of a vine as he described the relationship that his followers are to have with him. 

The disciples would have been familiar with the language of Isaiah and others who spoke of Israel as the vineyard of the Lord. In Isaiah 5, the prophet described his disappointment that his vineyard was not producing the expected fruit of justice and righteousness and would therefore experience pruning, even destruction. When Jesus declared that he was the true vine, he was indicating that from now on he was creating the new community of God’s kingdom. This is another way of understanding the transition from the old covenant to the new covenant. Just as God expected Israel to follow his ways, Jesus was describing that in the new covenant we are to replicate the life of Jesus by our actions.

Jesus described himself as the vine, the source of life, and his followers as the branches. If we abide in him as he abides and lives in us, then we will bear fruit. Branches can’t bear fruit apart from the vine. Of course, we can be busy and do all kinds of things. We can make plans. We can work. We can make money. We can even do some good things. But to produce kingdom fruit requires us to live like Jesus, not simply stay busy.

As Jesus left the upper room, he had told the disciples he was doing the will of his Father and explained that they were to do his will by staying connected to him. Our problem is that we often do not do our part of abiding. We tend to habitually wander off and try to do things our way. But when we do as Jesus teaches in this passage, then we will see that he produces his life in us and therefore the things we do are in line with his will. We will never produce spiritual fruit on our own.

We must spend time in prayer, in the word, and in community with God’s people. This is one aspect of our abiding in Christ. But we must also be active in practicing the life of Christ in how we serve and help others. Jesus is trying to help his disciples understand that when they stay connected to him as their source of life, they will do more and greater things than they ever could imagine. What God will do through us as we stay dependent on him is much greater than anything we can do on our own.

Father, thank you for the gift of life that flows through Jesus! Today as we spend time with you in prayer and in your word, we ask that you fill us with your life that we might fully share it with those around us. Produce in us your love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control so that the world will see Jesus in us today. Amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
John 14:31; John 15:1-17; Isaiah 5:7 ESV

Photo by Jonathan Farber on Unsplash
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