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The Gospel of John, The Period of Conference, Conference With the Disciples, Part XXIX, John 15:1 - Lesson 137
Jesus Christ continues his discourse to his 11 apostles.
He is not talking to unbelievers.
Judas the unbeliever has left.
So only believers remain.
It is very important to remember that Christ is talking to believers.
What he is talking about applies to believers and not unbelievers.
Without this understanding much error will occur in understanding this passage.
In chapters 13 and 14 Christ told his disciples what he would be doing for them and all believers while he is away.
But in this chapter, he instructs his own in what they are to do for him while he is away.
In chapter 15 he tells his own that they are to bear fruit.
John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Israel had been called a vine on many occasions in the Old Testament.
Jesus Christ uses this familiar plant to teach a truth about the Father, about himself and his relationship with his own.
He is true.
He is the true light in contrast with his forerunner, John who was but a lamp.
The true bread in contrast with the manna of the wilderness.
The true tabernacle in contrast with the tabernacle that Moses made.
He is the true vine, in contrast with Israel of the Old Testament which as a type of vine proved a failure.
As Hosea 10:1 says: Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself:
Now a vine serves no other useful purpose but to bear fruit.
It is not to bear fruit for itself but for the husbandman.
If it does not bear fruit for the husbandman but simply consumes the nutrients of the soil it is simply a nuisance and is pulled up and cast away.
Israel simply bore fruit for itself and not the husbandman.
God will have his fruit so he sent Jesus Christ to be the vine on which fruit would be borne.
Jesus Christ came to bear fruit for the Father.
He came to seek and to save that which was lost!
He is the true vine.
He now is to return to the Father but he expects fruit bearing on himself the vine, to continue.
The vine is planted in the earth and branches have sprouted.
His going away will not stop the fruit from coming but in fact it will increase the fruit bearing. |