Lesson on Jesus statement that He is The True Vine    

John 15:1-5  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

Remember the Lord’s statement to the disciples at the Supper as recorded in –

John 13:10  Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

Eleven of the twelve were abiding in Him.  One of them simply claimed to be abiding in Him, but eventually the fruit of his actions revealed the condition of his heart.

 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The introduction to the statement by Jesus in John 15:1 is in –

John 14:12-14  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also…”

The Lord laid the foundation for what He would say to the disciples in chapter 14, “…Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you…”, that He was going away, and they would continue His work, not of themselves, from their own genius and labour, but because they were in Him and, even though not with them physically, He was with them spiritually.  They would seek His will, and His will would become their will. 

1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Whatever work they would do would be through Him, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and for the Glory of God, not themselves.  Jesus illustrated this truth using a vine and its branches, helping them understand their need to rely on Him always!

Is this warning necessary?  Yes!  We, even believers, have the tendency to boast about what we have done –

Luke 10:17-20  And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name………Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Or what words we have believed –

Galatians 1:6-8  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

We need to reminded, even as the disciples needed to be reminded, that we must live in Him and that He will work through us for God’s honour and glory.

Jesus’ lesson using the Vine, Branches, and Fruit would be relevant to the moment, being as they had not only partaken of the fruit of the vine at the supper, but also had a discussion about it.  Now, coming out from the supper, Jesus said –

John 15:1-5  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

We will examine four topics from these verses:  The Husbandman, The True Vine, The Branches, and the Results.  We begin with –

I.  The Purpose of the Husbandman – God the Father

  A.  Purity – He set forth the Pure Vine in His Vineyard.

May have reminded the disciples of the words of Isaiah –

Isaiah 5:1-2  Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes….

  B.  Production – He set forth His plan for pure fruit.

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

Note from vineyard care –  “Effective pruning ensures that the vines will only focus their resources on producing the best grapes possible.”

II.  The Perfection of the True Vine  – Jesus gives life to the branches

  A.  He is holy from before the creation of the world –

John 1:1-4  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

  B.  He was holy while He was in the world –

Hebrews 4:14-15  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

  C.  He is holy throughout all eternity –

Revelation 1:12-18  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

III.  The Position of the Branches – Disciples receive life from the Vine

“…As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

IV.  The Product – Produced through the Branches from the life of the Vine

The Result is that we have –

  A.  The Righteousness of God inwardly –

2 Corinthians 5:17-21  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

  B.  The Responsibility from God outwardly –

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

  C.  The Rectitude through God, inwardly and outwardly –

Galatians 5:22-23  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Conclusion:

Are you connected to the True Vine today?  Are you saved?

Are you growing through the nourishment of the Vine and producing fruit?

Are you aware that the Husbandman is working in your life to keep you healthy and producing fruit for Him?  Are you thankful?