Sermon Notes from our Pastors

 
 
I AM THE (TRUE) VINE (John 15:1-8)
Jesus’ Seven “I Am” Statements in John

March 24, 2024

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful…5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing… 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. (John 15:1-2,5,8)
 
When Jesus said, “I am the vine…” he once again used an image to describe himself that was familiar to his Jewish hearers. And here too he showed a self-understanding of his identity and his calling that was either delusional…or crucially important.
 
There are many references in the Old Testament to Israel being God’s vine (Psalm 80:8-13; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15; Hosea 10:1). Unfortunately Israel was not the vine (or vineyard) that God had wanted them to be. They were degenerative and unfruitful, which was why they were exiled because of God’s judgement. The Israelites themselves embraced the image of the Vine and therefore it appeared on their coinage as a national emblem, as well as a symbol in the Temple of Jerusalem.
 
Jesus himself used vineyards in his parables because he knew that his Jewish listeners would immediately identify themselves with the context. But here he does something more radical – he identifies himself as the Vine – and his followers as the branches. The image of the branches and the Vine is more than just about belonging, it is about being attached, being connected, becoming an organic part of something bigger, so that the life of the Vine can flow into the branches.
 
l. The Vine and its Fruitfulness
 
A. Intentionally becoming an organic part of the Vine to be fruitful
Jesus doesn’t say how the branches become part of the Vine, just that they are. However there is an intentionality involved in remaining a branch of the Vine. It is only by making a choice to have a continuing living relationship with Jesus can he be a part of that individual follower. This is crucial because only in this “living relationship” – taking the time and effort to live in his Presence so that he can live in you – can the evidence of the fruit be seen (v.4). There is no other way that real fruit can show up!
 
B. The fruit of the Vine – Christly character; Christly relationships; Christly productivity
Again Jesus does not give details as to the kind of fruit that will be displayed. But the Gospels and other parts of the New Testament show the kind of fruit that Jesus manifests in the Disciple that has been intentional in their relationship with him.
 
  • Christly character – the more the person remains / “abides” in Jesus, the more Jesus shows through that person’s life. Paul talks about it as the “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23. [It should be noted that “fruit of the Spirit” show more about a person’s proximity to Jesus than the “gifts of the Spirit” mentioned in Romans 12:6-8]. Does Jesus show through us?
  • Christly relationships – those who are in an ever deepening relationship with Christ relate with everyone around them as Jesus did, in love, mercy, humility and without judgment (Micah 6:8). Jesus was always looking for ways to make God, his Father, known to those he met. Do we?
  • Christly productivity – God makes everything he does through his disciple to be fruitful / productive. That’s his will; that is why he said, “Ask.” He sees us doing even “greater things” (John 14:12). It doesn’t matter if we see it or not; it just happens. How assured are you of your lasting “Jesus-fruit”?
But how does God develop fruitfulness in the branches that are attached to him? Jesus seems to imply that our fruitfulness can and should never remain static, but constantly growing, developing.
 
ll. The Vine and its Development
 
A. Fruitlessness that shows lifelessness and disconnection to the Vine that leads to the cutting away of the dead branch
There are only two outcomes to a branch that is attached to the Vine. One is fruitlessness. Obviously the “life” of the Vine is not flowing into the branch which is why it does not bring forth fruit. It does not “remain in Jesus” (v.6). Jesus says that such a branch is “cut off” (the Greek for this is airei = to take away), the implication being that it is dead. It is then destroyed. Jesus is not being threatening – he just states the reality of what is, and what will happen, however sad it is. How “vibrant” a follower of Jesus are you?
 
B. Fruitfulness that shows life and relationship to the Vine that also leads to cutting, but in order to develop it fruitfulness
The second outcome of the Vine branch is that it brings forth fruit. This is a sure sign that that branch is fully integrated into the Vine, and depends on it completely. The Vine, Jesus, obliges and flows through it causing fruit to emerge. However in order to develop the Vine and its branches and grow its fruitfulness savage cutting is involved here too. Pruning which is painful and seemingly unnecessary is what is needed in order to grow the Vine and increase its fruitfulness. Interestingly the Greek word used (athairei = to prune, or cleanse) is very similar to the previous one – it has the same “root.” Fred Craddock writes in his Commentary, “The play on words stirs the readers to realize how similar and yet how different are the two experiences…” But the great characteristic of the vine is that the branches will grow again. Have you been through such “pruning experiences” in which you were cut away, seemingly even from God, and you were hurt, angry, confused? Did that experience eventually grow / develop your relationship with him, and your fruitfulness? In what way(s)?
 
Jesus the true Vine wants every branch that is a part of him to “be even more fruitful… bear much fruit…This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit..” And that happens only when we live and grow in our relationship with him.