The Vine Life: Jesus Last Will and Testament - Part 3

The vine was a common metaphor in the “ancient world” (Carson). Scholars, teachers and writers would use it to depict a variety of things. The Mediterranean region is known to be a great place to grow grapes and vines. It was often a symbol of prosperity and blessing.

But, as we read earlier, the vine and vineyard language was a common analogy or metaphor for the people of Israel.

Carson notes that often when Israel was referred to as a vine it was a vine that does not produce the expected fruit. Israel had often failed to reproduce what God intended.

So here, Jesus calls himself the “true vine.”

Some commentators speculate that Jesus and the disciples had truly left the upper room and began to make their way toward the Mt. of Olives - but did so via that Temple - which would have been replete with vine symbols.

So, with this in mind, what John reveals in chapter 15 sounds to us like an effective metaphor, but may have been earth-shattering to Jesus’ disciples. Jesus is the replacement for the geographically oriented Israel. The promise, the fruit, the blessing is now no longer tied to a place but a person - Jesus Christ.

So Jesus communicates that he is the true vine. He then begins to discuss what...

Life in the vine requires...

I’ve not spent much time around vineyards or orchards, but I have spent an insufficient amount of time in the plant beds around my house. The plants we are intending to grow are often misshapen and are failing to blossom effectively. I need to do a bit more pruning.

Which is the first thing that Jesus notes is required by the life in the vine...

...pruning (John 15:2-3)

Jesus says:

John 15:1–2 ESV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

A few years ago I reached out to one of the local vineyards and learned a bit about vine care. The “vinedresser” said that as branches grow and get longer, further away from the vine, they take up energy and life from the vine. The grapes that are produced furthest away from the vine are not as tasty or healthy as the ones closest to the vine. So the vinedresser has to trim the ends that bear weak fruit and cut the portions that bear no fruit so that the fruitful portions may be strengthened and bear better fruit.

God, like a vinedresser, works in similar ways. He prunes his people in order to allow us to grow and produce the fruit that he desires. He allows pain, disappointment, and struggles in our lives individually and in us corporately to trim back the edges that are fruitless so that we might become fruitful.

Bruce Milne notes:

In his pruning the Father also uses hard circumstances and trials. None of these appear "pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest" (Hebrews 12:11).

Have you and I taken time in our pain to ask what God might be communicating to us through that? What way of thinking, habit, attitude, or sin is He trimming so that he can bear more fruit through us?

But Jesus makes something a bit more personal to his disciples...

John 15:3 ESV

Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

Because He is the true vine, the words that he has spoken has produced belief and new life in His followers. A fruitless performance-based religion has been trimmed off, new life in Christ is the fruit they are beginning to bear.

Jesus uses an interesting play on words here that is lost on us in English. When Jesus says that the Father “prunes” the vine, he uses a variant on a Greek word meaning to prune or to clean (kathairei). When he says that the disciples are “clean” he uses a variant of that same Greek word (katharoi).

When we think about the larger faith community, it seems like Jesus is pointing out that because the disciples believe that He is the Messiah that they are “clean” or “pruned” on account of their faith in him. But for others who do not yet believe or refuse to believe, they sit as “uncleaned” and risk being cut off. Judas Iscariot may be a part of that - especially since he had left the group to betray Jesus. It could be that other unbelieving Jews were in that condition as well.

I wonder too, if that would include people who look like they are part of the vine, but really have no spiritual connection. (poison or english ivy or the vine that is growing up in front of the house)

showing up, family involvement, universalism - all good people go to heaven

Are you an intended part of the vine or a weed that is only benefiting from the soil, but not bearing true spiritual fruit?

Or are you already clean because you’ve responded to Jesus’ call for salvation? Do you believe that He is the Messiah, the one who can save you from your sin? Or are you depending on your own righteous works?

But in addition to pruning, life in the vine requires...

...connection (John 15:4-5)

Jesus continues:

John 15:4–5 ESV

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

So Jesus seems to move from the broader religious community to the more individual application of this vine/branch metaphor. If we are individually branches - then we must remain connected to the vine.

It almost goes without saying that for a branch to grow, it must be connected to or remain with the vine.

But how does this happen? How did it happen for his disciples? After all, Jesus would go to the cross the next day and then would ascend to heaven about a month later.

I think for the disciples, this involved continuing in what he had taught them. Not turning back to a performance oriented religion. It seems that some of John’s initial audience were struggling with that. They were tempted to return to a sacrificial system. So they were to continue in that, to press on, to remain in the Word that Jesus spoke to them. They would be aided by the Holy Spirit - whom Jesus already said would:

John 14:26 (ESV)

...bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

But how does this apply to us?

I think we remain connected to the vine of Jesus by not returning to our old, fallen way of thinking - by not returning to our old way of solving life’s problems.

But remaining, abiding, connecting to Jesus involves spending time with him, spending time in His Word. Here are a couple of other passages to help us think about this:

Colossians 3:16 ESV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Let his word so saturate our lives that it oozes out when we speak with one another.

On Wednesday nights, we’ve been working our way through Psalm 119 which is a series of meditations on the word of God, on His teaching.

Psalm 119:16 ESV

I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Psalm 119:11 ESV

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

The Psalmist recognizes throughout this Psalm that the satisfaction in, knowledge of, and life according to Word of God is needed to withstand the sinfulness within and attacks from the unbelieving world.

How are you doing in reading, meditating, memorizing and applying the Word of God? Are you consistent in allowing the Word to penetrate your thinking and your acting? Are you truly connected to Jesus?

As you think about it, please pray for me in this? I am sometimes so task and habit oriented that I read/listen to check a box off. Then as I take time to prepare sermons and other Bible studies, the Word can sometimes feel like a text book or source material, rather than the living Word of God. Pray that I would daily, personally delight in the Word. Pray that I would read and reflect on the Word slowly and personally.

As the writer of Hebrews states:

Hebrews 4:12 ESV

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Let us remain or abide in Jesus by daily reading, considering, memorizing, and living His word.

Which brings us to the next point. Life in the vine not only requires pruning and connection, but...

Life in the vine results in...

several things. First of all, life in the vine results in...

...fruit (John 15:2, 4, 5, 8, 16)

The whole point of the pruning and connection is that we bear fruit. And not just temporary fruit, but fruit that remains.

Fruit in our lives is a marker of live in the vine.

John 15:8 ESV

By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Now, bearing fruit is not a prerequisite - but rather is a result.

The question becomes, what is this fruit?

Well, when you think about a vine a branches - the fruit that is produced results in more of the same.

To some degree, the fruit in our lives should be new believers. After all, we are called to...

Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV)

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you....”

We spent much of the last month thinking about and praying for the ones whom God might call to be His in our circle of influence. We may have completed the 30 days of praying for our “one,” but were not finished. Keep praying, keep witnessing, keep reaching, keep seeking to bear fruit.

As parents, bearing fruit involves leading our kids in the Word of the Lord. Seeking to establish them in the faith. I was so encouraged a few weeks ago when one mom emailed me and asked for the passage for Sunday’s message - because they use that for their family devotions and I hadn’t included the text in the midweek email. (Zech and Jordan) thank you for your diligence to bear eternal fruit in the lives of your boys. You are an example to me!

But, I don’t think this fruit is limited to just making new disciples. I think it involves every aspect of our lives as we being to emulate and appropriately represent Jesus here.

Milne again writes:

“The fruit–bearing which glorifies the Father, and is the product of "pruning" and "remaining", is finally inclusive of all the works, graces and ministries of the living Lord in His people.”

Do we represent Jesus well to those around us? Do we represent Jesus well when we are all alone?

In addition to resulting in fruit, the vine life results in...

...love (John 15:9-17)

We’ve seen this several times in the last few weeks and will see it again in the coming weeks, but love in His disciples (in us), is clearly on Jesus’ mind.

John 15:9–13 ESV

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

This is not an idyllic or emotionally driven love. It’s not romanticized or fictions. This love is:

a response to God’s love for us -

unconditional - it does not expect love in return or contain prerequisites - it simply loves.

obedient - even when obedience is difficult

mutual - one to another

sacrificial - Jesus modelled this most clearly by going to the cross for us. Love may require us to lay down our lives or preferences for the sake of each other. Love may simply require us to give up time or energy or comfort - but love will require sacrifice.

1 John 3:16 ESV

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

One of the things that I often talk about at weddings in the requirement of love. As husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church (Eph. 5:25) - I’ll encourage the couple - especially husbands - to ask the question:

What does love require of me?

As Jesus’ disciples - I think we can and should wrestle with that same question with one another - what does love require of me?

Is it serving in a class differently?

is it opening my home to a fellow brother or sister?

Is it welcoming a stranger?

Is it sharing a meal?

Is it going across the street or around the world?

What does love require of me?

In addition to fruit and love, life in the vine results in...

...answered prayer (John 15:7)

Now, if you’re like me, maybe you’re thinking “yes, I’ve been praying so many prayers that feel like they go unanswered. Finally, I’ll get the secret to answered prayer!!!!”

Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s that easy or simple. Jesus says:

John 15:7 ESV

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Jesus places a condition on this answered prayer - remaining in him and having his words abide in us.

Don Carson writes:

The Gospel according to John a. The Extended Metaphor (15:1–8)

Such words must so lodge in the disciple’s mind and heart that conformity to Christ, obedience to Christ, is the most natural (supernatural?) thing in the world.

He continues:

The Gospel according to John (a. The Extended Metaphor (15:1–8))

To cast it in terms of prayer, such a truly obedient believer proves effective in prayer, since all he or she asks for conforms to the will of God

So, to this end, it seems that prayers are answered because our desires have been so changed by being with Jesus that we want what He wants.

A few verses later, Jesus adds a bit more information:

John 15:16 ESV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Is that the key - to say “in Jesus name”? What does that mean?

It seems like

Praying in Jesus name is:

a result of abiding

praying according to his will

Conversely,

Praying in Jesus name is not:

what we tack on to prayer

a magic phrase to get what we want

I know it can be so challenging to keep praying and to keep asking and seeking the Lord. We assume that what we want most for our loved ones or for us is what God wants.

healing

someone getting their life together

salvation

a new job

etc.

But ultimately, it seems we need to make sure that as we’re abiding in Jesus, as we’re spending time with him and his word, that we make time to lean in and begin to ask “God what are you doing in this? Why are you delaying? What do I need to learn, change, think differently?”

We’d like to say with the bold faith of the Psalmist:

Psalm 119:126 (ESV)

It is time for the Lord to act,

Rather, I wonder if the next time we pray, we should ask ourselves “am I really ‘in Jesus’ regarding what I am asking for?”

So, life in the vine requires pruning and connection and results in fruit, love, and answered prayer.

Finally, we need to consider one of the things that has caused many people challenges in this passage:

What is the result of life outside the vine? (John 15:2,6)

We already read that the Father has a great role to play in our lives:

John 15:2 ESV

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

What does it mean for a branch to be “in me” or “in” Jesus that then gets taken away?

A few verses later, Jesus states:

John 15:6 ESV

If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Does this mean that if I accept Christ as a child but don’t stick with it that I’ll be cast into the fire of hell?

Does it mean I can lose my salvation? I thought salvation was permanent?

When I was in seminary I had to write a position paper on this passage/ verse. The point of the assignment was to determine what the real-life application of Jesus’ extended metaphor here.

I wrestled with this because it certainly seemed like eternal life was contingent on remaining in Jesus.

The professor I had pointed out that the word in verse 2 which is translated “takes away” can also be translated “take up” or “lift.” His argument was that God may prop up the weak and fruitless branches so that they can bear fruit once again.

So - that makes a bit of sense and is encouraging.

Not all commentators agree with that perspective.

Some suggest that these fruitless branches are the people of Israel who don’t believe. Their whole faith system pointed to the one who would come, now that he has arrived, many of them don’t believe.

But what about verse 6, where clearly the non-abiding branches are thrown into the fire? There is no ambiguity there. Is abiding a condition of eternal life? If so, how much abiding?

Based on what I read elsewhere in Scripture, our salvation is not conditional on us - it’s all on Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 6:23 ESV

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:4–9 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 1:3-14 is a beautiful picture of our salvation being entirely dependent on Jesus. Take some time this afternoon read and reflect on that passage. Notice all of the “in Him”s.

but that passage closes with this assurance:

Ephesians 1:13–14 ESV

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

So based on a broader understanding of scripture, our salvation is eternal.

So, back to our passage in John - what’s up with these non-abiding branches?

I suspect that these are branches who are faking in. These are branches who may have been introduced to the gospel but were never grafted in (Romans 11:17-24) - they never repented of their sin and never received the free gift of salvation that Jesus offers.

Friend, is that you? Have you responded to Jesus call? have you repented of your sin? Have you trusted your life to what Jesus did on the cross for you? Repent, believe, be baptized. I’d be happy to open the Word of God with you and help you understand.

Being cast aside in judgment is a reality that everyone who does not respond to Jesus faces.

Closing thoughts

Beloved, how is your walk? I’m not talking about your gait, but your spiritual walk. Are you taking time to abide in Jesus? Are you remaining faithful when the pruning hand of God ways heavy on your life? Are you bearing fruit that produces disciples and appropriately represents the true vine - Jesus?

Let’s pray.

Benediction:

Matthew 3:8 ESV

Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

Sources:

Burge, Gary M. The NIV Application Commentary: John. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000.

Carson, D. A. The Gospel according to John. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans, 1991.

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.

Gangel, Kenneth O. John. Vol. 4. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000.

Milne, Bruce. The Message of John (The Bible Speaks Today). Downers Grove, IL. Inter-Varsity Press, 1993

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