I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. John 15:1 NIV
This statement is another of the many times that Jeus uses the language “I am” in the gospel of John. The Lord’s word evokes our Father God’s words spoken to Moses from the burning bush in Genesis. Jesus’ choice of words reveal his claim as the Messiah and his divinity as the Son of God. As the true vine, Jesus reveals the source of his power as he calls his Father God the gardener.
Some translations replace the term “gardner” with “vinedresser,” while others use the term “husbandman.” In each of these terms, we are reminded of God as our keeper and nurturer. Also, this metaphor for God describes him as one who prunes the branches for productivity and removes the branches that are dead and produce no fruit.
The Branches
As the vine, Jesus is sustained by God who cares for him in this metaphorical garden. In a few more verses, Jesus describes his followers as “the branches.” We are connected to God through the vine that is Jesus Christ.
Whether we are Jews or Gentiles, our rebelliousness and disobedience to God required a redeemer in the person of Jesus Christ. Paul writes of redeemed Gentiles in Romans 11:19 saying, “Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. WEB” Of Jews we may think of them as the root through which the true vine of Jesus Christ came to save the world from sin. God nourishes the root, the vine and the branches.
Bear More Fruit
Crucially, we must understand that God also prunes and removes branches. As Jesus says in John 15:2, “Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. WEB” Fruitless branches are removed and burned in a fire such as those who reject God are condemned. For fruit bearing branches, God carefully prunes them as people who receive correction and direction from the Lord in order to be more productive for the kingdom of God.
Saved by the grace of God through faith in Jeus Christ, the Lord expects that we bear fruit for the kingdom of heaven. These fruits are expressions of the Holy Spirit within us such as the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that Paul writes about in Galatians.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the true vine, Jesus Christ. Thank you for grafting me to the vine and accepting me into your holy family. Remove from me anything that gets in the way of my service to you and your kingdom. Help me to be as fruitful as I can. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Christ Died for Us
