I AM the True Vine
John 15:1-8
The seven I AM statements of Jesus:
- John 6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I AM the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”
- John 8:12 “I AM the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
- John 10:9 “Most assuredly, I say to you, I AM the door of the sheep. If anyone enters by Me, he will be SAVED.”
- John 10:11, 27-28 “I AM the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep…My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life.“
- John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
- John 14:6 Jesus said “I AM the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
- John 15:1 “I AM the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”
By claiming to be the true vine, Jesus is claiming to be the true source of life. You’re never going to find true life until you come to Jesus!
“My Father is the vinedresser” – in other words, the Father is the keeper of the vineyard, or the gardener.
John 15:2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away.
“In Me” speaks of Jesus’ followers. In reading this verse we learn not all of Jesus’ followers are true followers (e.g., Judas).
Are you a TRUE follower of Jesus?
Branch – the root word means “tender” and “flexible.” As followers of Jesus we want to remain tender and flexible.
Is your life bearing fruit?
“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away.” – this is sobering! Some branches in Jesus look just like the fruit-bearing branches, but the PROBLEM is there is NO fruit!
John 15:2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
Isn’t that encouraging? – It actually is encouraging!
The Greek word prunes (v.2) and the word clean (v.3) are the same Greek word. How does the Father prune and cleanse His church?
John 15:3 You are already (clean/pruned) because of the word which I have spoken to you.
The words of Jesus prune and clean our lives so that we might bear more fruit.
Ephesians 5:25-26 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and (cleanse/prune) her with the washing of water by the Word.
The Word of God sanctifies us and cleanses/prunes us.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete…
Either you will hear it in the EAR or you will hear it in the REAR.
Sometimes pruning involves CHASTENING (see Hebrews 12 and Revelation 3).
Sometimes pruning involves ADVERSITY! God lets ADVERSITY touch our lives that we might bear more fruit!
John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
Abide occurs seven times in our eight verses this morning.
Abide – To be vitally connected to. (Continue in, dwell in, live in, remain in, stay in, persevere, stand firm).
To illustrate using the branch of a fruit tree: the life giving sap flows from the tree to the branch, supplying it with water, minerals, and nutrients that make the branch fruitful!
John 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Which describes you?
- No fruit
- Fruit
- More fruit
- Much fruit
“…for without Me you can do nothing.” You may be able to run a business, earn a degree, get a job, get married, and raise children but none of these things will bear eternal fruit apart from Jesus.
John 15:6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
Anyone – that’s a broad sweeping word!
Abide – To be vitally connected to. (Continue in, dwell in, live in, remain in, stay in, persevere, stand firm).
Withered – if you’re NOT abiding in Jesus, in contrast to a fruitful life your life will ultimately be a withered life! Not only withered but worthless because grape branches are only good for ONE thing: bearing fruit! Our text teaches that dead, withered, grape branches aren’t good for building anything other than building fires!
Q. So what are the implications here DOCTRINALLY?
A. I don’t know! And I don’t EVER plan on finding out the hard way, because I intend on ABIDING in Jesus!
Abide – To be vitally connected to. (Continue in, dwell in, live in, remain in, stay in, persevere, stand firm).
John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
The TRUE believer that is abiding in Jesus bears fruit! More fruit! Much fruit! He’s fruitful and then here we read he is prayerful!
John 15:8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Our fruitfulness doesn’t draw attention to US. Our fruitfulness PROVES that we are a TRUE branch! A TRUE disciple!
Am I a FRUITFUL branch?
- Fruit of Spirit (Galatians 5:22)
- Good works (Colossians 1:10)
- Financial giving (Philippians 4:17)
- Leading others to Jesus (John 4:36)
- Holiness (Romans 6:22)
- Praise, the fruit of our lips (Hebrews 13:15)
Our society is focused on accumulating as much money as possible. In a hundred years, the amount of money you made on earth won’t matter to you at all. What will be meaningful is the fruit you bore for Christ.
John 15:5 “I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”