The True Vine
Read: John 14:18-15:17
Vineyards are not something with which I am overly familiar. Growing up where I did in northwestern Montana, I am far more familiar with hay fields. I can appreciate, though, the work that goes into tending crops of the fields. In many ways, you are utterly dependent on God for their success. A freak early (or, for that matter, late) frost or snowstorm, not enough snow in the winter, not enough rain in the spring, flooding, grass fires, and more can threaten the success of a crop, which in turn can affect a family’s entire livelihood. Farming and ranching are both endeavors of faith; this does not discount the incredible strategizing and skill that goes into these professions.
Viticulture, the growing of grapes, is a profession that fits the mold of all I know about trying to produce a living from the land. In my research, I learned that vines tended to be planted on hillsides and that the vines would be cultivated from already existing vines. Vines would take four to five years to mature, and to maintain the health of the vines and ensure they would continue producing good fruit, they would need to be pruned. Vineyards and their produce were economically significant crops, especially in Middle Eastern cultures (Lexham Bible Dictionary). They were so important that “[p]eople working in the grape harvest were exempted from military service” (Baker Encyclopedia).
Israel was an ideal land for establishing vineyards and growing grapes, so vine/grape symbolism permeated their culture. Vineyards were even considered a part of their promised inheritance from the Lord. Deuteronomy tells us:
“‘When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob that he would give you – a land with large and beautiful cities that you did not build, houses full of every good thing that you did not fill them with, cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant – and when you eat and are satisfied, be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery.’” (6:10-12)
This description tells us that the land God was giving Israel would be filled with blessings of homes, water, food, and all good things, but Israel needed to remember that these blessings came from God. They were purely a gift; Israel had done nothing to “earn” them. They could not forget that their ultimate source of provision and blessing was God.
They forgot.
Israel’s disobedience would lead to their exile from the Promised Land. God forewarns Israel in Deuteronomy 28 of the consequences of rebelling against their God:
“‘All these curses will come, pursue, and overtake you until you are destroyed, since you did not obey the LORD your God and keep the commands and statutes he gave you. These curses will be a sign and a wonder against you and your descendants forever. Because you didn’t serve the LORD your God with joy and a cheerful heart, even though you had an abundance of everything…’” (28:45-47)
Vineyards are also specifically mentioned: “You will plant and cultivate vineyards but not drink the wine or gather the grapes, because worms will eat them” (Deut. 28:39). The blessings that Israel experienced in the land would be removed when they were disobedient and rebellious toward God when they turned from worshiping God to the pagan worship of their neighbors.
Vineyards were twined with the blessings of obedience and curses of disobedience. Eventually, a grapevine began to symbolize Israel itself. Psalm 80 says:
“You dug up a vine from Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared a place for it;
it took root and filled the land.
The mountains were covered by its shade,
and the mighty cedars with its branches.
It sent out sprouts toward the Sea
and shoots toward the River. (80:8-11)
Israel is the vine that God brought out of slavery in Egypt. They were the vine He planted in the Promised Land as a fulfillment of His covenant promises to Abraham many hundreds of years prior (Gen. 12). The Holman Treasury of Key Bible Words says, “From God’s perspective, the final goal of Israel’s journey, from Egypt to Canaan, was to be planted as a vine in the good land of Canaan.” This was where Israel was to flourish in the blessings of God.
Israel fails that mission, as they do so many others—namely, worshiping God as the one true God. Had they been perfect, though, there would have been no need for a Savior.
Thus, Jesus.
Jesus uses vine and vineyard symbolism multiple times in His teachings, especially since His listeners would have been intimately familiar with the illustrations. On the last night of his life, Jesus is not finished with His culture-shifting teachings. He states, “‘I am the true vine…’” (John 15:1a). Yet again, He presents a radical shift in thinking. The Holman Treasury describes this shift: “It means that He, in contrast to Israel, who should have been God’s vine but failed, is the true vine – the true fulfillment and actualization of the vine.” Israel could not remain perfectly obedient to the Father, but now we have the fulfillment of all of God’s promises in Jesus.
In the Old Testament, Israel is often rebuked for not producing the fruit of God since they have been rebellious to Him. One psalmist pleads with God for restoration and says:
“Return, God of Armies.
Look down from heaven and see;
take care of this vine,
the root your right hand planted,
the son that you made strong for yourself…
Let your hand be with the man at your right hand,
with the son of man
you have made strong for yourself.” (Psalm 80:14, 17)
Israel was to have been that son, but now Jesus is the perfect Son of God who fulfills all of God’s words. Jesus is the exact expression of God and is perfectly obedient to Him. Jesus is the true vine.
Jesus extends this metaphor to all believers when He says:
“‘Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.’” (John 15:4-5)
If Jesus is the true vine, then we must remain firmly attached to Him to have life with God. The inherent nature of a grapevine is to produce fruit. If we are branches on the grapevine of Christ, then our inherent nature must be to produce fruit as well. The NIV Application Commentary says that “fruit-bearing is the test of life-giving attachment to the vine” (418). The fruit we produce is a result of our “life-giving attachment” to Jesus.
What is this fruit? Paul, writing to the Galatians, provides a helpful list: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). And I would argue that the greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13). Jesus further tells us in this narrative, “‘Love one another as I have loved you’” (John 15:12). This is not really a new command. At one point in His ministry, Jesus is asked, “‘Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?’” (Matt. 22:36). Jesus responds by saying:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.’” (Matt. 22:37-40).
Israel has been told from the beginning: Love God and love others. This idea has been present throughout the history of Israel and is especially present in the teachings of the Law and Prophets. What is new is the connection believers will have with God that will produce this love in our lives. In John 14, Jesus tells His disciples, “‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come and make our home with him’” (14:23). Up until now, God’s dwelling on Earth had been the tabernacle and then the temple. Jesus introduced the idea that God’s dwelling would now be within the people themselves. Jesus promises that when He leaves, He will send a Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to dwell within people.
The indwelling Spirit of God is our life-giving connection to God. It is through this connection to the true vine that we will produce fruit that evidences our relationship with God. As always, though, it comes down to the choices we make. Will we choose to remain in Christ, attached to Him and the life He gives? Or will we choose to do life our way?
