John 15: 1-8 - Jesus Our True Vine
15”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.
Background: The Farewell Discourse. Today’s passage takes place in the middle of Jesus’ farewell reflections given to his disciples in the upper room the night of his betrayal. He, if not they, knows that his time with them is short and he has much he wants to tell, promise and reinforce with them. He wants to be sure that they know everything that they need to know to get them through the hard days to come. John, as always is concerned about presenting the good news in such a way that it nurtures faith, especially in times of crisis or persecution. These verses follow on his teaching that we are to love one another and that he will send the gift of the Spirit to help and guide us. In today’s passage, he paints a beautiful picture about the nature of the Christian experience and the unshakeable source that will ground and nurture us. It is as always, all about love. Some scholars believe that the Farewell Discourse originally ended at the end of chapter 14. The case can certainly be made, as the final verse seems to tell the disciples to get up and go from the place. Regardless, the material in chapters 15 and 16 repeat the important themes and give us images to which we can cling as we deepen in our spiritual lives and face times of challenge and change.
Community in John: In John, Jesus clearly paints a picture of the life of the Christian community as marked by interrelationship, interdependence, mutuality and the indwelling power of the Spirit of Love. The image of the vine and branches is a startling one of interconnection and mutual dependence. Community is not governed in any structured or hierarchical way. It is ruled by love and lived in relationships of love that arise from one common source: the Love of God.
Word Study
Vs. 1 – I am – in John’s gospel in particular, I am phrases carry great weight and mystical importance. The words, ego eimi, are the Greek translation of the Hebrew name that God shares with Moses at the burning bush, Yahweh, when God sent him back to Egypt on his mission to free the enslaved Hebrews there. When Jesus uses this phrase in John, it is not just an identifier. It is a heads up sign that he is speaking with divine authority.
True – Alethia – This word means , real, ideal, genuine. The image of Israel as God’s vine shows up in many places in the Old Testament. A number of those passages deal with the fact that God planted Israel so lovingly, but that she turned from her gardener and produced alien fruit. See Jer. 2:21f, Isa. 5:1f and Song of Songs 8.
Vs. 2 – removes – this word literally means to take or to take away.
Fruit – This word refers to the tangible results of something, what a person or thing produces over time. Here, John sees the fruit of a believers life as obvious actions of love.
Prunes – This word means to cut off, cut clean, or to cleanse. Here Jesus is saying that, that which does not bear the fruit of Spirit led life and divine love must be removed in order to insure that proper fruit is brought forth. The image is like removing a tumor so that the body can live in health. Jesus is not so much talking about lopping off fruitless believers as he is about removing impediments to fruitfulness from individuals and the community. In other words, anything that does not produce love in individuals and the community must go.
Vs. 3 – cleansed – In Greek this is the same word used above and translated pruned.
Word – logos – refers to the creative word of God that calls new things into being. In the first chapter of John’s gospel, the evangelist uses this word to describe Jesus Christ himself. So in that light, Jesus is saying that it is his own powerful being that does the cleansing.
Vs. 4 - Abide – This word means to continue, to dwell, to persist, to persevere, to remain constantly in and with. In Greek it can also refer to a set of characteristics, a way of being, a lifestyle. It is very active and involves the will. We don’t passively remain in Christ or in community. We choose to do it, again and again and again. Here Jesus is urging us to immerse ourselves in him in such a way that he transforms our character into a reflection of his love for the world. Wow.
Vs. 5 – I am – again this is ego eimi.
Vine – Here Jesus is reminding us that he is our source, our only source of love. Just as the Father is his source, he is our source.
Apart from me you can do nothing – as far as the works of love are concerned.
Thrown away like a branch – This is an expression for something that dries up and becomes worthless, unable to be of use. It is not a rejection per se, as much as it is a reflection of reality. When we depart from our source, we wither and can no longer be depended upon to produce love.
Burned – This has two meanings. First, it means to become useless and therefore destroyed. Second, it means to be purified. In scripture, burning is a powerful symbol for removing impurity and revealing what is fine and reborn. Think of the legend of a phoenix. He is NOT saying here that if we stray or sin, or even if our fruit is spotty or rare that we are going to hell.
Vs. 7 – abide – see above.
words – here he is referring to his teaching, his walk of life, his way of life.
Ask for whatever you want – This is important! Jesus is saying that when we are in that marvelous state of union with him, even our desires will be so transformed that they will reflect the will of God and God will bring it about through us. This is not to say that God has an obligation to give us anything and everything we think we want. Rather, it means that as we live more and more from our true source, and as we become more and more truly loving, we will want what God wants and become instruments through which God accomplishes God’s loving will.
Vs. 8 – disciples – This beautiful word means a follower in practice, not just a believer or adherent. It is someone who seeks with all of life to mold oneself after the teacher. Jesus is telling us that, when we do that, we ourselves, just by our being, glorify God.
Questions for Personal Reflection
- In what ways do you experience Jesus as your source? How does he tend and nurture you?
- Are there unproductive, or spent, aspects of your character that need to be released, purified or repurposed? What about our church?
- In what circumstances do you struggle with being loving? What would a more loving lifestyle look like for you?
- In what ways do you abide in Jesus and in his words? What help do you need?
- How might God be calling you to a life of deeper union with Jesus?