John 15:1-8
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain 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. 6If 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. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
<1> Message:
Content:
1) Lord Jesus is the vine, God is the gardener (v.1)
2) Fruitful and unfruitful branches have different consequences (v.2)
3) God’s words cleanse us and give us life (v.3)
4) Lord Jesus is the vine, we are the branches; the branches must be attached to the vine so as to bear fruit (v.4-5)
5) Unattached branches that don’t bear fruit must be cut off, thrown into the fire and burned (v.6)
6) Staying bound to God and praying will realize God’s promise (v.7)
7) Bearing fruit brings glory to God and affirms one as being God’s true disciple
Themes:
1) The vine and the branches
2) Remaining in God and God’s words remaining in me.
3) Nothing apart from God
<2> Who are God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit?
1) Father God full of power (v. 1-2, v.6)
2) Jesus Christ, the source of life (v.4-5)
3) Father God who listens to prayers (v.7)
<3> What does the passage teach us (about commands, promises, examples, exhortations and warnings)?
1) Jesus is the true vine
1I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (v.1)
Grape trees, fig trees, and olive trees are plants often used in Biblical comparisons referring to God’s people. In this case, Jesus uses the grape tree to parallel himself. Moreover, he emphasizes that he alone is the true vine. Why would he place such emphasis on “true”? In the old testament, when a vine is often associated with being corrupt. For instance, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others, referred to the Israelites as “wild grapes” when the people were corrupted, fallen, and far from God. Such metaphor was also an indication that they were unsalvageable. Since according to such “Jewish history”, the people were the wild grapes that couldn’t be saved, then the “true vine”, Jesus Christ, would thus represent the only source of hope for salvation for humanity.
Reflection: Do I accept Jesus Christ as my personal savior and rely on him fully for his saving grace?
2) The connections of life
5I am the vine; you are the branches. (5a)
According to this passage, we see that Jesus Christ is the vine, and we are all the branches on the tree. Therefore, our relationship with Christ should theoretically be a vital one.
Reflection: How is my relationship with Christ? Is it vitally necessary? Is it an intimate and lively relationship?
3) Conditions for bearing fruit
“while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.” (v.2b) 4Remain 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. (v.4)
In discussing the vine and branches, there are two important conditions for bearing fruits:
a) Pruning the fruits
If there are too many dried leaves on the vine, other fruits will be affected. It is therefore crucial to prune the branches. It is so with the lives of Christians as well. If there are too many secular views, attitudes, habits, that affect one’s fruit-bearing, one must rely on God’s words to prune these traits. Only through God’s words can people’s hearts be cleansed (Hebrews 4:12). Him whose delight is in the law of the LORD, who, on his law he meditates day and night, is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. (Psalms 1:2-3)
b) Remaining attached to the vine
The branches must be attached to the vine in order to absorb all the required nutrients such as to bear fruit. It is the same with Christians. We require a vital attachment to Jesus Christ, so as to gain life and bear fruits.
Reflection: Do I constantly have the vital interaction with Christ? Do I constantly rely on God’s words to prune and renew myself? What kinds of fruits have I bore for God?
4) Consequences of bearing fruit, or not
2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. (v.2)
The worth of a branch that is attached to a vine depends solely on whether it bears fruit or not. The consequence of not bearing fruit is dire. A fruitful branch will be nurtured with diligence and care by the gardener so as to bear even more fruits. An unfruitful branch would simply be cut off and thrown into the fire.
Reflection: Over the years of believing in Christ, how much fruit have I bore? Am I being pruned and cared for or on the verge of being cut-off?
5) God’s words cleanse
3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. (v.3)
Jesus Christ said that his words can cleanse, prune, correct, and renew his disciples’ lives so that they bear more fruit. Clearly, solely Jesus Christ’s words can cleanse our lives.
Reflection: Have I held on tightly to Jesus’ teachings, and acted accordingly to cleanse my life?
6) Building a vital relationship
4Remain 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. 6If 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. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. (v.4-7)
Jesus reasserts the importance of remaining in one another.
a) One who does not constantly remaining in Christ: will not bear fruit, cannot nothing, will be like a branch thrown away withering, picked up and thrown in fire and burned.
b) One who constantly remains in Christ: will be pruned by the gardener, will bear many fruits, and will be given whatever you wish
Reflection: Do I constantly remain in Christ, and Christ in me?
7) The key to remaining in Christ
7If you remain in me and my words remain in you (v.7a)
Verse 3 mentions, “now that you have been cleansed by my words”. Here, it says, “if you remain in me and my words remain in you”. Clearly, we must constantly remain in Christ, and Christ in me. The imperative ingredient is God’s words. It is through his words that we remain in Christ.
Reflection: How are my devotional and Bible-reading habits? Have I held on to the key of remaining in Christ?
8) The consequence of bearing much fruit
“ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (v.7b-8)
Once we bear much fruit, all that we wish and ask for will be granted by God. In conjunction, God’s name will be glorified. This also testifies that we are Christ’s disciples.
Reflection: Do I bring glory to God by bearing fruits? Am I worthy of being Christ’s disciple?
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