The True Vine (John 15:1-17)

The Gospel of John: The True Vine

John 15:1-17

The True Vine (v. 1-6)

• Jesus uses an agricultural analogy to describe His relationships both with His Father and His disciples

– Another “I Am” statement

• He is the vine which His disciples must stay connected to in order to bear fruit

– To bear fruit = To live a life of obedience to God

• Only possible through a growing connection to Jesus

• Apart from Jesus, we can do nothing! (v. 5)

• His Father is the Gradener

– Pruning away the branches that are fruitless

• Those which are not drawing from the Vine

• Not a reference to losing salvation

• Possibly a reference to fruitless Israel

• Possibly a reference to false ‘disciples' like Judas

• Being near the Vine is not the same as being connected to it

Abiding in the Vine (v. 7-11)

• Abide: To live in, be intricately connected to

– To be defined by our love relationship with Jesus

• When we find our life in Christ, we can ask for what we desire

– Because He will be aligning our desires with His

– God is glorified because the fruit we bear is His fruit in us

• The end result of which is our joy as well

Greater Love (v. 12-17)

• Jesus repeats His new commandment (13:34)

• The greatest act of love is to ‘lay down one’s life for his friends’ (v. 13)

– An allusion back to Peter’s claim (13:37-38)

• Jesus calls His disciples ‘friends’

– Defined by:

• Those who obey Him (v. 14)

• Those who are involved in His mission (v. 15)

• Those who are called by Him (v. 16)

• And thus bear fruit through Him

• The primary fruit that we are to bear is love for one another (v. 17)

So What?

• Are we connected to the True Vine; drawing life from Him; being obedient to Him; bearing the fruit of love for one another?

Meditation Verse: John 15:5