During the earthly ministry of Jesus, he provided his followers with many analogies to help them comprehend who he was – what he was. Sometimes an illustration enlightens people more than straight information. It’s why he used parables as a favorite way to share godly truths.
Throughout the gospels, Jesus uses many illustrations to try to drive his point home:
· I am the Bread of life (John 6:35)
· I am the Light of the World (John 8:12)
· I am the Door (John 10:7)
· I am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11)
· I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
· I am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
· I am the True Vine (John 15:1)
Today we’ll look deeper into this last one, and I will share insights gained from a Bible Study I took last summer led by the talented and knowledgeable Van Weston of Pawleys Island, South Carolina. First let’s read:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 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.” (John 15: 1-5, English Standard Version)
Like the other analogies Jesus used, vines and vineyards were items very familiar to people in that region and timeframe. Wine and grape juice were common drinks, so almost everyone would be knowledgeable about how grapes were grown. Just like an eagle is a symbol of national identity to Americans, a vineyard was then a symbol to designate Israel. The nation of Israel had long been known as a vineyard connected to God who makes them fruitful.
By calling himself the true vine, Jesus was using a parable full of meaningful imagery. The Old Testament contains numerous references to God being a vine dresser, vital in the people of Israel becoming fruitful. Let’s take a look at a few:
(Isaiah 5:1-2) I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: my loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.
(Jeremiah 2:21) I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?
Hmmm. It’s looking like when God used the vineyard/vine image to the people of Israel before Jesus’s coming, it was usually to illustrate how they had disappointed him; how they hadn’t lived up to his expectations and failed him. Now, Jesus uses the True Vine image, and his Father is the vinedresser.
At the time Jesus shares this analogy, what else is going on? Here’s a short timeline: He has already washed his disciples’ feet. The Last Supper is completed. Judas has already left the gathering to contact the officials about Jesus’ whereabouts, and Jesus has already predicted Peter’s denial.
This is one of the last lessons Jesus shares with his most devoted before his arrest. He knows how short his time is now – this lesson had to have been a huge priority in his mind. He shares that the vine is the source of fruit-bearing ability in the plant. The plant is completely dependent on the vine to live. The branch without the vine is dead. And no branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.
Jesus is urging us to abide in him – it’s the only way we can remain alive and continue to bear fruit. This message of abiding in him was very important to Jesus – it must’ve been. He used the term ABIDE seven times in nine verses. By pure repetition alone, not to mention the timing of his lesson, we know this message was urgently important to Jesus that his followers understand.
Abide is the verb used in this passage by Bible translations such as the King James Version, the American Standard Version and the English Standard Version. Other translations use the word Remain (the New International Version, for example). And others use the words Stay Joined (Contemporary English Bible) and others say Live in Me (the Living Bible).
They’re all synonyms to express Jesus’s intention. Which one speaks to you the most? Which imagery drives home Jesus’s point that he wants us to abide in him, remain in him, stay joined with him and live in him? They all mean that he wants us to know that he is our home. We are ever present with him and that’s how branches and fruit remain strong.
Artist Angel Ambrose of the Angel Ambrose Fine Art Studio in Bloomington, Illinois has created this evocative painting, inspired by her love of John 15.
Angel and I had a very inspiring conversation recently and here are some of her thoughts that poured into her creation of this amazing piece of art:
“Probably my favorite book in the Bible, John gives a perfect word picture of what it means to abide in Christ. This word picture from John 15 speaks of being grafted into The True Vine (Jesus) by The Good Gardener (Father), and remaining there to produce fruit, more fruit, and much fruit (by the Holy Spirit’s direction).
When a plant is grafted into a host, it must lose its roots (as we are to lose our life) and then it is grafted into a stronger “host” plant. The stronger plant must be cut, in order to make a place for the graft. Jesus The Perfect Vine had to be cut to make a place for us. Once the cut was made in the Vine and the graft, the two become one. This is a beautiful picture of union, oneness, marriage, Jesus and the Bride, etc. One!
The Gardener binds up the wound. When a plant is grafted, the host and graft are bound together to meld. The white cloth signifies the eternal covenant (Genesis 17:7). He binds up our wounds and we become one (John 17:23). The white cloth is the covenantal token of the transaction that takes place.
This is the Great Exchange! Jesus took our sin. We became just. He took our filthy garments and gave us robes of righteousness. He died a criminal’s death, we became prophets, priests, and kings. He gave His all, so we could have it all.
We are His Heirs and He is our great reward.”
My hearty thanks go to both Van Weston and Angel Ambrose for all the input into this inspiring topic!
Let’s pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for the invitation – the directive – to abide in you. Thank you for coming up with so many ways to teach us who you are. Thank you for never giving up on getting through to us. Thank you for persevering till the final moments of your time on earth to continue to teach us. And thank you for holding tight to that promise, thousands of years later. Help us to abide in you and to teach others as well. Amen.
Comments