I Am the True Vine
John 15:1-13
Why did Jesus call himself the True Vine?
Israel was God's vine/vineyard that failed to please Him.
Psalm 80:8-9
Isaiah 5:1-2
Jeremiah 2:21-22
Jesus is God's True Vine that completely pleased Him. He did what no man or country could do.
Matthew 3:17 - "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased."
Jesus had obeyed the Father and represented Him, His will, and His message perfectly.
John 6
John 8
John 9, 10
Jesus is the source of Life (physical and spiritual).
John 1:1-4, 1:12
Why did Jesus call His Father the Vinedresser/Gardener?
Jesus revealed His Father’s love for Him and for those in Him!
John 3:35-36
John 15:2 - He wants believers to bear fruit!
Jesus revealed His Father works to bring about fruit that glorifies and honors Himsellf
John 15:8
Jesus’ Command to Abide - John 15:2-5
What does meno (meh’-no) mean?
Abide (Meno) defined:
Stay, Wait, Stand fast, Remain, Abide
Meno illustrated:
Native Iowans
Our home
The Father’s goal of fruitfulness - John 15:2, 8
What does "airo" (i’-ro) mean?
This can mean take away
John 1:29 - Behold the Lamb who airo’s the sin of the world
John 11:39 - Jesus told them to airo the stone from Lazarus’ grave
This can mean lift up
John 5:8, 24 - “Rise, airo your bed and walk.”
John 11:41 - (Right before Jesus told Lazarus to come out of the tomb) Jesus airo’ed his eyes and said, “Father thank you for hearing me.”
What does 'Kathairo" (kuhth-‘iro) mean?
This means to prune trees and vines. The goal is to prune the tree/branch so that more fruit will be produced. This happens in viticulture during winter (after harvest) and during the growth season.
Winter pruning looks brutal. Even fruitful branches from the previous season get significantly cut down to almost nothing. Like branches are 2-3 inches and a couple of buds. If one looks at a vine pruned after harvest from a distance, the vine might look like it doesn’t have any branches until one gets closer.
Spring or season pruning is less brutal. The removal of smaller branches on a branch that will take away from the main branch. The removal of too many leaves.
Jesus’ Warning - 15:6
What does bollo (bahl’-oh) mean?
This means to throw
This means to cast (out)
Matthew 5:13 - You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt (you) loses its saltiness is bollo’ed and tread upon.
*I don’t feel verse 6 is talking about the loss of salvation or eternal damnation. The disciples are in Christ. That is significant. To be in Christ is to be spiritually reborn, justified, adopted, and sealed by the Holy Spirit. Verse 6 I believe is talking about future judgment for the disciple(believer). Fire in God’s Word is not just eternal damnation in hell. Fire is judgement. The following passages talk about the idea of a believer’s works being tested by fire in the future. A branch/disciple/believer will be “thrown” into the fire
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
1 Peter 1:5-7
**I also strongly feel that based on what Jesus Christ has said multiple times in John’s Gospel alone a true believer is not rejected or cast aside or out by Christ.
Luke 10:20 - “rejoice your names are written in the book of life.” Are written is the perfect tense - names have been written, are written, and are kept written
How do we abide in Jesus?
Receive
Jesus is the source for spiritual life - John 3:5; 3:14-17
Jesus is the source for Spiritual desire - Philippians 2:13 NLT
Jesus is the source of Spiritual fruit - John 15:5; Galatians 5:22-23
Jesus lives to love us - John 15:9
Rejoice
Give God credit for your growth/fruitfulness
Give God glory to people around you (testimony)
Release
Live in obedience to Christ's commands - 15:9-10
Live a life of love - 15:12
Live to pray - 15:7
For God to move in His world
For others to willingly listen to His Word
For You to lovingly obey His Word
Live to sharing the Gospel - John 4:35-36
Remember
God's love is unfailing.
He will never give up on you - 15:2; John 6:38-40; Philippians 1:6; Hebrews 13:5
He is all about the fruit of Christ being released into His World! - John 4:35-36
