THE PARABLE OF THE VINEAND ITS BRANCHES (John 15:1-11)

“I am the true vine 1, and my Father is the gardener 2. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes3 so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”

ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH

The image of the grape-vine was often used in the Old Testament to describe Israel and its fruitfulness in God’s work. Israel was a “choice vine” God brought out of Egypt that became a “wild vine” (Isaiah 5:1–10; Psalm 80:8ff). The vine symbolized peace, prosperity and settled living (Micah 4:4). Jesus had previously used the image of a vineyard in three parables (Matthew 20:1–16; 21:28–32; 21:33–46).
In this extended parable or allegory, Jesus taught that from now on he is the genuine or ideal vine, for the fulfillment of God’s purposes, while the Church, the new people of God, are the branches. Jesus fulfilled what Israel failed to be i.e. fruitful. The parable emphasizes the importance of fruitfulness in the Christian life that results not from human achievement, but from one’s position in Christ and close fellowship with him (John 14:20). To achieve fruit, the vine-dresser, the grape-vine, and the branches i.e. God, Jesus and the Church, are all necessary. The metaphor of the vine is similar to the head-body image used by Paul, with Christ as head and believers as members of his body, the Church (1 Corinthians 12).

A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP

This parable is a model of the Christian Church and the unity of the family of God where “Christ is all and in all” (Colossians 3:11). The branches are not independent of the vine since the life of the vine is inter-related with the life of its branches. This reminds us to depend continually on Jesus. As the Vine, Jesus imparts his followers with his divine life and strength. Our life with Christ is as organic and dynamic as the sap that constantly flows through the vine to its branches.
The branches or believers belong to one another because they share a common source in the vine. Individual branches are intertwined together and support one another. Thus the Church is not a collection of individuals but a community of believers where bearing fruit is closely related to life in Christ within a community. Furthermore each branch has equality of status with the other branches. A church that resembled a vine with branches would not have a hierarchical structure since no branch has status or position over another.

A CONTINUING RELATIONSHIP

Throughout this passage we are encouraged to “remain” in Christ who is the source and giver of life. The key Greek word “meno” occurs in verses 4 (3x), 5, 6, 7 (2x), 9, 10 (2x), and 16. It is translated “remain” (NIV), “abide” (AV), “dwell” ( NEB), “stay joined to” (CEV), “maintain a living communion with” (Wuest), “live on in” (Knox), and has the idea of being united to someone in mind, heart and will. It implies a union and a living faith between Christ and his disciples. This means a daily following of Christ, completely and continuously relying on him.

A FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIP

God, the Gardener, who carefully cultivates the vineyard, seeks fruit. Fruit is mentioned eight times in this chapter (verses 2, 4, 5, 8, 16) where there is a progression from “no fruit” (verse 2), to “fruit” (verse 2), to “more fruitful” (verse 2), to “much fruit” (verses 5 and 8). The proof of discipleship is fruitfulness of character and service.
Abundant fruit is a result of two conditions: “If a man remains in me” i.e. a believer continues or perseveres in believing; and “and I in him” i.e. Christ indwells in the believer (verse 5). God nurtures the vine by removing the unfruitful branches and pruning the others to make them more fruitful. Pruning focuses the growth of the plant and strengthens weak branches. Vines need constant attention and heavy pruning every year. A wild vine is unproductive.
Similarly spiritual growth requires the painful process of pruning. God prunes the dead wood from his Church and disciplines believers into fruitful service. Fruitful disciples feel the sharp edge of God’s pruning knife as he seeks to maximize fruitfulness. He purifies motives and removes idols from our lives. Sometimes God cuts away the good that we might have the best. One of God’s main means of disciplining us is his Word at work in our lives (verse 3).

FRUITLESS AND FRUITFUL BRANCHES

There are only two kinds of branches: the fruitless and the fruitful. The dead branches without fruit have a destiny described in the solemn language of verse 2, (“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit”) and verse 6, (“If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown into the fire and burned.”) A spiritually dead person is like a dead branch. John the Baptist used a similar image of judgment: “Every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 3:10). Is my life productive in God’s eyes?

WHO ARE THE FRUITLESS BRANCHES?

There are three common interpretations of these severed branches:

1. They refer to true believers who have lost their salvation through apostasy or abandonment of one’s faith (Romans 11:20–22; Hebrews 6:8; 1 John 5:16).
2. They refer to true believers who will lose their rewards but not their salvation on the Day of Judgment (1 Corinthians 3:15).
3. They refer to false or nominal believers, like Judas Iscariot, who profess to belong to Jesus but whose faith is a superficial commitment (Matthew 7:21-23; 13:20-22).

Remember that this is a parable or allegory that focuses on fruitfulness, not on salvation.

CONDITIONS FOR FRUIT BEARING

Fruitfulness is not automatic. Ezekiel compared the people of Jerusalem to a fruitless and useless vine that would be “fuel for the fire” (15:6). Here Jesus emphasized our total dependence on him and our helplessness apart from him: “Apart from me you can do nothing” (verse 5). All our efforts are unfruitful apart from Christ. We cannot produce fruit from ourselves: “No branch can bear fruit by itself” (verse 4). This implies humility and self-distrust.

God has placed us in Christ and it is our responsibility to remain where he has placed us so that the life of Christ flows through us and produces its fruit (Romans 11:17ff). “If a man” (verse 5), “If anyone” (verse 6), “If you” (verses 7 and 10), all stress individual responsibility and human will. While salvation is by sovereign grace through faith in Christ, it is the responsibility of the believer, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to remain in Christ. Our diligence and co-operation are necessary, but only God’s cultivation makes fruit possible: “Only God makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:7 cf. Philippians 2:12-13).

The believer’s responsibility to remain close to his Saviour includes allowing his “words” to become part of him. “My words in you” (verse 7) implies we are to live in the Word and allow the Word to live in us. As his teaching shapes our personalities we live in the centre of his will. Spiritual vitality also requires prayer (“Ask whatever you wish”, verse 7) and obedience (“Obey my commands”, verse 10). The promise that we shall have “whatever we wish” is not unconditional. Prayer is answered because those who remain in Christ ask for nothing that is not in line with his will. God will give us whatever we need to make us fruitful branches in Christ.

Finally the life-giving sap of the vine is Christ’s constant and unconditional love (verses 9-10). Our love for Christ is a result of his love for us. The Son’s love for the disciples is patterned on the Father’s love for the Son (verse 9). Love unites the disciples to Christ and to one another. Believers rejoice in the knowledge that the life of Christ within them produces the fruit that they could never produce by their own ability.

THE RESULTS OF FRUIT-BEARING

We are commissioned or “appointed” to bear fruit (verse 16). The image of fruit is often interpreted as good deeds (cf. Matthew 3:8; 7:20). Deeds not words are the test of discipleship: “Bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (verse 8). Fruit refers also to the qualities of Christian character i.e. the character of Christ as in Galatians 5:22-23: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (cf. Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:11; Hebrews 13:15; 2 Peter 1:5-8).

In addition fruit means numerical growth as the main purpose of the fruit of a tree is to spread seed and create new plants. Thus evangelism, or bringing others to faith in Christ, is part of discipleship (Matthew 28:19). Our relationship with Christ is outward-looking as well as inward-looking. Abiding in Christ is not a mystical inner state of being, but a radical discipleship that includes loving obedience to the “Father’s commands”, community, and mission.

FOR REFLECTION

PRAYER

Lord God, we thank you for the privilege of being branches in the Vine that is Christ. Keep us close to you, O living vine, that from our union we may be fruitful branches. Amen.

Jim Peacock M.A. (Hons), Diploma of Education

1This is the last of the “I am” sayings in this gospel.
2Or “vinedresser” (RSV, NASB)
3The Greek word translated “prunes” also means “cleans” (verse 3).