DEVOTIONAL FOR SUNDAY MAY 18, 2025

I AM THE TRUE VINE

(MY FATHER IS THE GARDENER)

(YOU ARE THE BRANCHES)

John 15:1-8, 9-17, Galatians 5:19-26

This morning we are going to have a look at the portion of Scripture in which Jesus claim he is the true vine. But first, I wonder if you remember a time in the Scriptures when some people questioned Jesus being legitimately able to say something he had stated, because they said, “You aren’t even 50 years old.”? “You can’t say that!”

There are several ‘I am’ statements of Jesus found in the book of John. I am not certain if you are aware that these claims of Jesus are related to the declaration he made in John 8:58. Jesus states clearly an important truth. “Very truly I tell you before Abraham was born, I am!” Of course, you are probably aware that when God called Moses to go and free Israel, that God identified himself as “I am.” God told him to tell the Israelites that the God named ‘I am” had sent him to free them. So when Jesus claimed to be “I am’ he laid claim to being the one true God. The Jews understood this and at that point they picked up stones to stone him because he made himself equal with God. In many ways their response was a legitimate response to his statement. But Jesus can say what no one else could say, even if he wasn’t yet 50 years old.

Jesus used the name, “I am” to declare himself “the bread of life” (John 6:33), “The light of the world” (8:12, & 9:5), “the gate, (10:7), “the good shepherd” (10:11), “the resurrection and the life” (11:25), “the way, the truth, and the life” (14:6), and “the vine” (15:1).

We should also be aware that when Jesus made the claim to be the vine, it was in reference to what was a very familiar Old Testament theme. And the Old Testament vine was Israel, the chosen people of God. However, it is clear, that in many cases, God was not pleased with the way the vine he had planted was growing. It had become a wild vine bearing little or no fruit and generally fruit that was unacceptable to God. What a disappointment Israel was to God. Isaiah 5:1-2, says, “I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a wine-press as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad grapes.”

Regarding this portion of Isaiah, Matthew Henry writes, “We must be fruitful. From a vine we look for grapes (Isa 5:1-2), and from a Christian we look for Christianity; this is fruit, a Christian temper and disposition, a Christian life and conversation, Christian devotions and Christian designs. We must honour God, and do good, and exemplify the purity and power of the religion we profess; and this is bearing fruit. The disciples here must be fruitful, as Christians, in all the fruits of righteousness, and as apostles, in diffusing the savIour of the knowledge of Christ.”

Jesus declared that he was the true vine. That makes the Jewish leaders aware that he is claiming to replace the failed vine. That is a huge insult, and they are very angry with him. That was not unusual. Every time he has made one of these ‘I Am’ claims they are upset with him. In all of the ‘I am’ claims we are the recipients of many wonderful benefits. That is also true in this case. However, Jesus makes some real strong demands of us to obey the will of the Father to accomplish the good things that are promised. And some of what we see in these commands will bring pain into our lives.

Listen to what Jesus says. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

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. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Now, a question arises here. Can a branch that is in Christ be cut off for not producing fruit? And what do we mean by fruit? Unfortunately, a poor translation is the reason for one question. The word translated ‘cuts off’ really doesn’t mean that. The Greek word ‘airo’ is only translated this way in this verse and no where else. It is the same word used when the disciples ‘picked up’ 12 basketsful of broken bread and fish after the feeding of the 5000. It is the word when Simon was forced to ‘bear’ Christ’s cross on the way to the crucifixion. John the Baptist said that Jesus would ‘airo’ or ‘take away’ the sins of the world.

So, the verse should probably say, “He ‘lifts up’ every branch in me that bears no fruit.” Here is the picture. When a vine branch grows it just grows, hangs down and along the ground. The gardener lifts it out of the mud, cleans the mud off it, and fastens it to the fence, or trellis where it can begin to bear fruit.

And what do we mean by fruit? One suggestion might be that we reproduce ourselves. We bring people to Christ by evangelizing them. We are supposed to do that. But that is not what is meant here. It means bearing the same character as Jesus.  The quote from Matthew Henry has already provided an answer to this question. As well, Paul in Galatians five gives a list of the fruit of the sinful nature and then compares it to a list of the fruit of the Spirit of God in us. we are to live a godly life – bearing the fruit of righteous living.

Elsewhere we are told to live in such a way that others can see our good works and praise God. We often read similar challenges in the scriptures, we’re told to do good works, to be holy, to live with the fruit of the Spirit. To put off the old ways and adopt the new ways of a Christian life.

Listen to what Paul wrote to the church in Galatia; “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Paul continues, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Now it may seem demeaning the Holy Spirit by suggesting he is like sap in this story of the vine. After all, Jesus who created all things that were created says of himself that he is the vine. And putting that together with what Paul has just told us, it is like the Holy Spirit plays the role of the sap – the nourishment – gushing through the vine, into the branches, and producing the grapes. Regardless of such allegory, we must always remember that the gardener, the vine, and the sap are real persons, the three persons of the trinity.

And Jesus tells us there are those who will bear fruit. Then there are those who will bear more fruit. Others will bear much fruit. And one of the things that makes a difference is pruning. Jesus makes this clear. “… every branch that does bear fruit he (the Gardener) prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” The good news in this statement is that if God is doing some painful pruning in your life, it is because you are already bearing fruit, but God wants to improve your fruitfulness. Pruning means cleaning. Pruning happens by cutting out things that hinder growth. Cutting out our non-Christian character can be painful. The pain happens, but then there is more fruit. More godly character. As I just said, pruning means cleaning. And cleaning takes place in us through the Word of God active in our lives.

I was watching the news one night, and the reporter was interviewing a vineyard and winery owner in France. During the interview, the owner seems almost with abandon to keep chopping off branches as he walks along doing the interview. One after another, after another. I probably wouldn’t have noticed it if I weren’t thinking of this portion of scripture.

You may remember when Jesus was washing the feet of the disciples at the last supper Peter objected. “You shall never wash my feet.” But when Jesus told him “Unless I wash you, you have no part in me.” Peter quickly changed his mind and wanted him to wash him all over, including his head and hands, all the exposed parts of his body. Jesus reminded Peter and the others that someone who has had a bath was clean and only needed his dusty feet washed. Then he said something incredibly important. “And you are clean, though not everyone of you.” We realize he meant Judas, the traitor, was not clean. But the other disciples were already clean.

Now here in John 15, Jesus builds on that idea while talking about pruning, “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.” It is through the word that we are cleansed, that we are pruned from doing wrong. We need to be studying the Scriptures and living out what it says every day of our lives. Develop Christian character. Display fruit.

The other major thing that increases our fruit production; from some fruit, to much fruit, and to more fruit, is remaining in the vine. No branch can produce fruit without being connected to the vine. “Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” said Jesus. We will bear much fruit if we remain in him. But if we don’t bear fruit at all, we are like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Not a good prognosis. Want a good prognosis? Jesus gives this promise. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourself to be my disciples.” How do we show we are Jesus’ disciples? By living like him. Bearing fruit. Jesus puts the outcome, to a large degree, in our hands. What happens is really up to us. And its all about abiding.

What do you think this verse we just read means? What does Jesus expect of us when he says, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you”? He has already warned us that if we do not remain in him, “we are like branches that bear no fruit and are thrown away.” What is the issue?

This may be one of the most important issues in our spiritual lives. Abiding, remaining in Jesus. Having his words remaining in us and being actively transforming our lives. Allowing the Holy Spirit to apply his word to us and going deeper into the will of God for each of us.

During the time I have been preparing this message I have also been rereading the booklet by Bruce Wilkinson, “The Secret of the Vine”. About half of the book is about maintaining and strengthening the bond of the branch to the vine. Living out our lives in the sustenance that flows from Christ to us, remaining in Christ. What is the result of abiding in Christ?

In verse 9 we are told what one of the results will be; we will keep his commands and abide in his love. And he tells us that is the same as his obedience to his father’s commands and abiding in his father’s love. Guess we all want to live in God’s love. And Jesus goes on to say that he is informing us of all this so that his “joy may be in us and that our joy may be complete.” Is there anybody here that doesn’t want to be in that situation? Of course not. We all want to be in that type of relationship to Jesus and his father. I know that I sure do. I am sure that you do, as well.

Is there a secret to moving into that type of relationship? Well, if it was a secret, Jesus just spilled the beans. Remain in me, remain in my word, and allow my word to remain in you. Love me enough to obey my commands. Spend time with me and my word. Live it out! That’s the open secret!

You know, we cannot abide or remain in Jesus and his word without time and effort to understand and live out the word of God. You can do a lot of this in conjunction with other believers, which is why we Bible study groups, but some of it has be done when you are alone with God and his Word.

Now I don’t want you to misunderstand what I am saying. I am not wanting you to work harder, to be busier. Most of us are already too busy. I don’t want to add to your list of things to do. Working and serving are important. But we need at times to be more like Mary than Martha. Do the important thing and sit at Jesus’ feet and learn of him. Maybe it does not means doing, as much as it means becoming. Jesus chose to call himself the vine, and a vine’s fruitfulness is seasonal. At times it may simply mean gaining strength for future fruitfulness.

Listen to how Jesus continues this disciplining session in chapter 15, in verses 12-16. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.”

The benefits of being a branch of the true vine, Jesus, are amazing. When I read this my response is something along the line of, “yes, let’s do it!” What great and wonderful promises to us as friends and children of the Lord Jesus Christ in whom we live and move and have our being. This is a joint mission for all of us working together. This is a solemn personal mission for each one of us as an individual. Get alone with God and his word. Remain in Jesus, the vine, in such a way that His joy is in us and our joy is complete. Love each other! Never mind how or why, just love one another. Why deny yourself the joy that comes from that simple obedience? The church is full of wonderful people just like you!

Remain in Jesus and make sure that his word remains in you. That is why He chose us.

Do you ever listen to a sermon on Sunday morning and think it is something worth remembering and putting into practice and then forgetting most of what was said by the time you get back to your car? Or have you read something from the word, enjoyed it while you read it, and then moved on in your day and forgotten it completely? That’s not going to bear much fruit in your life.

Take time to make sure the word remains in you and makes you fruitful. Just do it! Give yourself time regularly to be alone with God and his word. Take time to spend with others to encourage each other in studying the scriptures. Let the word and the Holy Spirit cleanse you and prepare you to bear much more fruit, to the glory of our precious Lord and Saviour. Amen, so be it!

Pray

Ron MacKinnon

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