I Am the True Vine
John 15
Last Sunday’s to now…
John 11: “I Am the Resurrection and the Life…” (Lazarus’
resurrection)
John 12: Mary anoints Jesus’ feet – uses her hair to wash them
John 13: The Triumphal Entry; predicts His death, Judas’
betrayal and Peter’s denial
John 14: The Last Supper – He comforts the disciples (I Am the
Way, Truth and Life) and promises sending the Holy Spirit
Vv27&28: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you…Do not
let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. You heard Me
say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you’…”
John 15: 1, “I Am the true vine and My Father
is the Gardener (Husbandman [KJV])
Context seems “out of nowhere”:
Perhaps already on their
way to Gethsemane
Perhaps a decorative vine
caught Jesus’ attention
How did this good vineyard
become a wild vineyard?
Ps. 80; Isaiah 5:3-7; and Jer.
2:21
The True Vine…
Ps. 80: 3-19,
“Restore us, O God, make Your face to shine on us,
that we may be saved…You transplanted a vine from
Egypt; You drove out nations and planted it. You
cleared ground for it, and it took root and filled the
land…why have You broken down its walls and all who
pass pick its grapes?...wild animals feed on it…return
to us , God Almighty! Look down from heaven and
see! Watch over this vine, the root Your right hand has
planted, the son You have raised up for Yourself. Your
vine is cut down, it is burnt with fire…Restore us, Lord
God Almighty…”
Isaiah 5: 1 - 7
“I will sing for the one I love a song about His vineyard: My
loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up
and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest of
vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as
well. The He looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded
only bad fruit…What more could I have done for my
vineyard that I have not already done?...I will make it a
wasteland…the vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the house
of Israel; and the people of Judah are the vines He delights
in. And He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed, for
righteousness but heard cries of distress…”
Jeremiah 2: 21
“I have planted you like a choice vine of sound
and reliable stock. How then did you turn
against Me into a corrupt, wild vine?”
Let’s not be too quick to judge…Adam and Eve
were created perfect… given a will to choose…
hence the struggle defined in Romans 7…
Before we go in depth on the Vine, let’s take
a minute looking at the “Husbandman”
Some translations: the Gardener
Husbandman is an old English term = Owner, Cultivator
and Trainer, Nurturer, Defends the vineyards growth with
“merciless pruning”
Then Jesus states, “I am the True Vine…”
A classic/typical message of John 15 would look at the
whole chapter like this:
The Father – Husbandman;
Jesus = the True Vine
Believers = the branches being given life through remaining
connected – through obedience to His Word – believers
abide (have life) in Him.
He prunes us through spiritual discipline…
Today’s Focus: Jesus is the True Vine –
what mean “vine”? Where does that term
come from?
God’s promise to Abraham through the
Tribe/family of Judah (Jacob’s 4
th
son)
through David (Judah is David’s great,
great, great, etc. Grandpa)…
Isaiah 11: 1&2, “A shoot
will come up from the
stump of Jesse (David’s
dad); from his roots a
Branch will bear fruit. The
Spirit of the Lord will rest
on Him – the Spirit of
wisdom and
understanding, of counsel
and might, of knowledge
and the fear of the Lord.”
Jer 23: 5 & 6, “The days are
coming, declares the Lord,
when I will raise up for David, a
righteous Branch, a King who
will reign wisely and do what is
just and right in the land. In His
days, Judah will be saved and
Israel will live in safety. This is
the name by which He is
called: The Lord, our Righteous
Savior.”
Isaiah 53: 8, “…for He was cut off from the land
of the living; for the transgressions of My people
He was punished.”
Rev 22:16, “I, Jesus, Am the root and offspring
of David and the Bright Morning Star.”
Jesus told us (John 15) to abide in Him
When we do, He no longer calls us His servants – He
calls us His friends…intimate relationship
As we receive life from Jesus, we will grow, be
pruned, and be fruitful…
Abide in the Vine and have life eternal!