I Am the True Vine

I Am the True Vine

In John 15:1, Jesus is sitting with His Disciples at the Last Supper. His death is imminent and He knows that these followers of His will soon be on their own, confused and scared. Judas has already left the table to betray Him.

It’s helpful to know what is going on in chapters 14 and 16 before we look at this strange talk about vines. Those chapters start with these words:

John 14:1

“Do not let your heart be troubled.”

John 16:1

“These things I have spoken to you so that you may be kept from stumbling.”

Chapter 15, then, is about helping the Disciples deal with their impending loss. How does Jesus want the Disciples to get through the coming ordeal? He tells them that He is the Vine and they are the branches.

Think about that.

A branch cannot survive unless it is attached to the vine. If it separates, it dies. Jesus is telling His followers to stay with Him, don’t give up no matter what is going to happen. We can’t make it alone so we have to believe in such a way that our faith sustains us and upholds us though every twist and turn. A branch is only a part of the vine. It is not self-sustaining. It has to stay connected to its source.

Does this describe you and your relationship with Jesus?

That’s a tough question, isn’t it? Is your faith in God so tied to Him that you are a living branch that is growing and producing fruit for Him? That’s what Jesus wants for His followers—to stay connected. This is what a church does and it is what prayer and Bible reading are for—to keep us connected and to keep us from going off on our own.

True faith—deeply connected faith—will always produce fruit. That’s what makes us stronger as believers and it’s what builds the kingdom for God’s glory. Charles Spurgeon said this, “A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul.”

That’s the fruit-producing, world-changing, life-altering faith that God wants for every one of us—healthy and connected to the Vine.