Jesus: The True Vine
By James Jeffery
"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
I have a confession to make: prayer is something I have always struggled with. My natural response to fear, worry, stress, and life's challenges is not to pray, but to buckle down and face the giants myself. Why do we do this? And why do we find it so hard to pray?
While there are certainly many reasons we may struggle to pray, one is that we think we can live fruitful lives without the power God provides. Our default setting is 'independent' rather than 'dependent' upon God. It requires humility to cry out to God for help, because it's only when we are helpless and needy that we acknowledge He is the only source of strength we have. Whether we want to admit it or not, this describes our condition every single day.
One of the most liberating truths in Scripture comes in John 15:5. Here Jesus states the obvious: apart from Him, we cannot bear fruit for God's glory. That is to say, Jesus is the source of sustenance, power, wisdom, and strength in the Christian life. Whether we acknowledge it or not, He is the one who empowers us by His Spirit. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Jesus illustrates this reality by using the image of a vine.
Understanding the Context
This is the final of Jesus' seven 'I Am' statements in the Gospel of John. In John 15:1, Jesus declared: 'I am the true vine.'
Throughout the Old Testament, God commonly refers to His people as branches, God Himself being the vine (Psalm 80; Ezekiel 15). Just as a vine bears fruit, so the lives of God's people bear fruit if they abide in God.
This metaphor constantly reminded Israel that they were entirely and utterly dependent upon God for all that they had, and all that they did. The moment they thought they could live independently from God was the moment they began to fall away from God. Apart from God, they could do nothing.
Coming to the New Testament, Jesus identifies Himself as the vine. Jesus declared: 'I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.' Jesus is the source of sustenance, life, and joy for His people. Apart from Jesus, it is impossible to know or enjoy God.
What does this mean for us today?
First, if we trust in Jesus for our salvation, we are like branches who have been grafted into a vine (Jesus). It is impossible to be grafted into a vine unless the vinedresser does it for us. Jesus grafted us into the vine by laying His life down for us (John 15:13).
Therefore, no one is made right with God through being a 'good person.' Indeed, the only good human to ever live was Jesus Christ. Salvation is a gift of God, that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). This humbles us to give God all the glory for our salvation.
Second, it is impossible to live a truly fruitful life unless we abide in Christ and recognise our complete dependency upon Him for all things. Branches of a grapevine produce grapes because they are connected to the life-source, the vine.
This leads us to praise Jesus for all the good we experience in our lives, and to depend upon Him in prayer every day. Those who trust in Jesus have confidence to approach God as the Father who gives good gifts to His children (John 15:17).
Finally, apart from Christ, there is no hope. While we live, Jesus calls us to abide in Him, that we would bear fruit for His glory. If we refuse to do this, we will be gathered like branches, and thrown into the fire of eternal judgment (John 15:6). While this may sound harsh, it is the truth, and Jesus warns us in advance because He loves us.
Final Words
Apart from Jesus, we don't have the strength to live fruitful lives. Trying to live a God-honouring life without Christ is like a branch trying to bear fruit without being attached to the vine. It is impossible.
If you are a member of God's vine in Christ, rejoice at His kindness and goodness toward you. Abide in His love, recognising that He is the source of your fruitfulness. When you are tempted to obey in your own strength, be reminded that it is Christ who gives us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Cry out to our Father in prayer, with confidence that He delights to answer us and give us what we need.
If you are not yet a member of God's vine, come to Christ today. Without the strength that He provides, it is impossible to live for God. Trying to live for God without Jesus is like attempting to catch the wind or touch the end of a rainbow. It is merely an illusion.
Jesus alone has the power we need to love God as He has called us, and to love others as ourselves. Know that Jesus is a gracious Saviour who came not to save the righteous but sinners like you and me. Furthermore, know that if you come to Jesus today, He will graft you into Himself forever, and give you everything you need to live for Him.
Closing Prayer
Dear Father,
Thank you for loving us by grafting us into the True Vine, Jesus Christ Your Son. Holy Spirit, empower us with the strength we need today to live for Jesus and love others. Embolden us with confidence to know that You delight to answer our prayers.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
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