The True Vine

April 3 The True Vine John 15:1-17

“When He calls Himself the true vine, it is as if He were saying, ‘I am truly the vine; and therefore men toil in vain when seeking strength elsewhere. Useful fruit will proceed from none but the branches produced by Me.’” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:94

As Jesus and the disciples walked, down the Kidron valley then across to the Mount of Olives, they would have had the Temple in plain sight. On the front of the Temple was a great golden vine, the national symbol of Israel. Could this have been the illustration that led Jesus to speak of Himself as the True Vine?

Over the preceding months, Jesus had made repeated use of a linguistic device in order to claim divinity. “I AM,” He said, echoing the name-that-should-never-be-uttered from the Old Testament. He had claimed, for example, to be the Resurrection and the Life, the Good Shepherd, the Way, Truth, and Life. Now, for one last time, He repeated the form. “I am the True Vine,” He said. Jesus was claiming to be the true Israel, the recipient of His Father’s blessing and care. His body, the Church, would become the focus of the New Covenant. Jesus’ words were a plea for His disciples to stay connected to the vine, and to bear fruit. Any branch that did not bear fruit would be subject to God’s pruning.

We need not to push the extended metaphor too far. It is not important for us to argue about whether the branches that are removed represent faithful, if fruitless, Christians. The details of the metaphor should not be the source of doctrine. Neither should we waste our time using these words to debate whether or not Christians can lose their salvation. Jesus’ main point remains clear – Christians are to remain connected to Him, and they are to bear fruit. And the greatest fruit any Christian can produce for a weary world is love.

Jesus commanded His disciples to love one another as He had loved them. They were not to pursue power or prestige, they were to serve one another, and they were to love one another. The supreme example of love, for Jesus, is when we are willing to lay down our life for our friends. Of course, this is precisely what He was about to do. To emphasize His intentions, Jesus assured the disciples that they were no longer to think of themselves as servants of a master, or as followers of a teacher, but as friends.

Five elements of Christian love are outlined in this passage: it is sacrificial; it is lived out in willing obedience to Christ; it always communicates the truth; it is anxious to meet the needs of others; and it bears fruit. Clearly, we can distinguish each of these elements in the life and ministry of Jesus. We are also expected to demonstrate them in our lives. Our motivation in doing so is not that we are followers of a divine rule, or even that we are members of a fellowship of believers. We are to love as Jesus loved because we are His friends. The God of the Ages does not treat us disdainfully as rebellious creatures; He comforts us in our sorrows and calls us His friends. If we live in line with His will, we are no longer servants; we are friends of the living God.

For further reading: Psalm 27