The Vine And The Branches
THE VINE AND THE BRANCHES
JOHN 15:1-11
The picture of the vine tells us that as we maintain a close personal link with Jesus, his life flows into ours.
Mutual indwelling and mutual love have been the keynotes of chapter 14. They are now strikingly illustrated by the figure of the vine and the branches, which provides the last of the “I am” sayings and is further expounded in this chapter. Israel was frequently described in the Old Testament as a vine (Psalm 80:8; Jeremiah 2:21; Hosea 10:1) or as a vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7). The metaphor suggests something belonging to God and tended by him and expected in due course to yield fruit. This expectation was not fulfilled (Mark 12:1-9). Israel, however, had only been a prefiguration of the Messiah, who was the true, genuine, real vine. Christ must not be thought of here simply as an individual, for by faith his people belong to him and are united with him. Consequently, he is the vine and they are the branches (15:5).
The main thrust of the figure now ceases to be the relationship of the vine to the vinedresser and becomes the relationship of the vine to the branches. The branches must be fruitful and become increasingly so. Fruit-bearing is only possible through the close union of vine and branches. When that occurs things will happen. The close union depends upon love and obedience. Fruitfulness brings glory to the Father and joy to the disciples, as we should discover for ourselves.
Notes 15:1: the figure of the vine may have been suggested by the “fruit of the vine” at the Last Supper (Mark 14:25). 15:2: perhaps Judas and Peter are respectively in mind. 15:3: the disciples are in the position of having been pruned by the word of Jesus. 15:5: the metaphor is similar to the Pauline idea of “in Christ” and his metaphor of “the body of Christ” with its members. The fruit which is borne is first and foremost the fruit of Christian character (cf. Galatians 5:22-24). 15:7: another striking promise about the efficacy of prayer but the basic conditions must not be forgotten (cf. 14:13f.). 15:8: it is important that there should be concrete evidence of their discipleship of him (cf. 13:35). 15:9: the relationship of Father to Son is repeated in the relationship of Christ to the disciples also in the sphere of mission (20:21). 15:11: “my joy,” cf. “my peace” (14:27). For the fullness of joy, cf. 3:29; 16:24; 17:13—see also Psalm 16:11.