I am the True Vine

Seven times John records Jesus giving Himself an “I Am” name.  Each one describes an aspect of our relationship with Him; how we should view Jesus and relate to Him.  Each also provides a glimpse of what Jesus offers to all faithful and obedient believers.  May you be enriched and blessed as you study these names and discover what He offers to you each day.

The seventh “I am” name Jesus gave Himself is found in John 15:1; “I am the true vine.”

Each name Jesus gave Himself indicates a human need He alone can meet.  What do you think the human need is that He alone can meet as “the true vine” for mankind?

This statement is part of the final words of instruction and encouragement Jesus shared with His disciples on the night He was arrested.  In the upper room, while sharing supper together, Jesus covered many topics.  In the midst of this time He said these words:

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.” (15:1-2)

As Christians read these two verses, we often believe they are about Jesus and our relationship with him, and they are secondarily.  But primarily they are about the vineyard keeper - My Father - and His actions.  God is the focus here.  Look carefully at what God does.

For every branch the Father either throws it away or prunes it back.  Either way, every branch is going to feel the cutter’s blade!  What determines a branch’s fate is whether it is producing fruit or not.  Those that produce no fruit are cut off; those that produce fruit are cut back, so they may produce more fruit. 

What determines a branch’s ability to bear fruit?  Jesus told us in the next few verses:

“Remain in Me, and I in you.  Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me…The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit…If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you…If you keep My commands you will remain in My love.”  (vs. 4-10)

So often we read this passage and recognize the importance it has in discussing our relationship with Jesus.  But we miss the focus it has on the Father and His role.  The impact of this passage is much greater when the Father is put first.

“My Father is glorified…” (vs. 8a).

“As the Father has loved Me…” (vs. 9a)

“I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.” (vs. 10b)

Bearing Fruit¹

Some people teach that those who do not win others to Christ will themselves be snatched off of the vine.  They are assuming that bearing fruit means each branch must be winning people to Christ.  And while this certainly must be part of an appropriate interpretation of the passage, bearing fruit may mean much more.  Paul wrote these words about fruit:

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control.  Against such things there is no law.”  (Galatians 5:22-23)

Could it be that the bearing fruit Jesus spoke of includes the growing presence and influence of the fruit of the Spirit within each Christian, as well as each Christian having a role in bringing new believers into the Kingdom?  Properly understood, I believe this is a good interpretation.

Be warned.  This interpretation does not mean that a Christian can focus on bearing the fruit of the Spirit and ignore winning souls!  They are not mutually exclusive activities.  You can do both at the same time.  Indeed, according to this passage you please God when you accomplish fruit bearing in evangelizing others and in maturing in your walk with Christ; and face punishment when you do not fulfill either of the two.

However you interpret the meaning of bearing fruit, the problem still remains that those who do not will be removed.  Who are these?  Are they Christians?

Problem Passages

There are two passages in this section of Scripture that cause confusion, are easily misunderstood, and therefore cause many Christians to have unnecessary fears and worries.

1. “Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes.” (vs. 2a)

2. “If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and withers.  They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.” (vs. 6)

What does it mean that “He removes” the non-bearing branches; and that they are “thrown aside”…and thrown “into the fire?”  And who are these?

In this passage Jesus is talking to believers about the Christian life.  He describes Christians who produce no fruit (vs. 2a), those who produce some fruit (vs. 2b), and those who produce much fruit (vs. 5).  Since Jesus is talking about Christians, when He says in verse two that those who do not bear fruit God removes, what does this mean?

The Greek word airo, here translated as removes, may also be translated as lifts up.  For this passage, this is a better translation and use of the word.  Think about it:  the emphasis is on the care of the vine by the vineyard keeper.  It would be strange, therefore, if the first activity of the vineyard keeper was destroying parts of the vine.  But it is not at all strange, and indeed better fits the passage to emphasize His activity as lifting up the unproductive branches so they may be better exposed to sunlight; thereby helping those branches develop fruit.

The unproductive, non-fruit bearing Christians in verse two will be moved, lifted, positioned and aided by the vineyard keeper so that they can produce fruit!  The promise of verse five is that every Christian can and should produce much fruit.  In verse two, the vineyard keeper is helping this occur.

It is a different story in verse six.  Jesus starts this verse by saying, “If anyone does not remain in Me…”  Clearly here, Jesus suddenly shifts to describe the fate of non-believers.  It is these non-believers who are gathered as if they had been discarded branches – but they never were actually engrafted onto the vine; they never were saved.  Therefore, this is not a description of Christians losing their salvation.

As for the non-Christians being gathered together and being tossed into the fire, this is consistent with Scripture.  Read what Jesus said on another occasion:

“And He will separate them one from another…He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left…Then He will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels!’”  (Matthew 25:32-33,41)

Therefore, if you are a Christian you do not have to worry about verse six.  It does not speak of you.  But it should break your heart to read the verse and realize every lost person you know faces that certain and sure judgment.  Perhaps that thought, as well as the promises of the passage to Christians, will motivate us to bear much fruit for the Kingdom.

And bearing fruit requires being intimately and continually connected to the true vine – Jesus!

¹  Parts of this section taken from:  Gangel, Kenneth O.; Max Anders, gen. ed.  Holman New Testament Commentary: John  (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), pg. 197-199.