Jesus: The One True Vine

Sermon: The Vine and the Branches
February 20, 2022

15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He 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. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also 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 you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are 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 done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

I am not a gardener, just ask my mother. She learned how to garden from my grandpa…but I simply was not interested in learning. My daughter Courtney took up gardening last year which meant that we had to learn a little bit about it. I still don’t know much but I have learned a few things or being reminded of things that I already knew.

Plants must be watered, pruned, and protected. Much like the plants, in order to live a productive Christian life that is pleasing to God we must be nurtured, pruned, and protected.

Over the last few weeks with have talked about the I AM statements of Jesus: I Am the Bread of Life-John 6:35, I Am the Light of the World-John 8:12, I Am the Gate-John 10:7, I Am the Good Shepherd-John 10:11, I Am the Way, the Truth, and the Life-John 14:6.

The last of the I AM statements is I Am the True Vine-John 15:1

Jesus says the first four “I AM” statements to large crowds and the last three were are said to the disciples in the upper room at the last supper just before his crucifixion-including today’s scripture about Jesus being the one true vine. Through the first eight verses of this text Jesus talks about bearing fruit which includes bearing no fruit, not being able to bear fruit by yourself, bearing fruit and becoming disciples, and finally bearing fruit that lasts in verse 16.

There's a great progression in Jesus speaking about the one true vine. The first four verses speak to God being the gardener and Jesus aligning himself with God. We have the opportunity to align ourselves with the mission and ministry of Jesus. In verses 5-6, Jesus speaks about himself being the vine and being the source of fruit. Jesus invites the disciples (and us) to place their trust in Him. He also warns them that they cannot go it alone. On their own, they are cut off from the vine. Jesus is the vine and WE are the branches. Verses 7-8 close with a promise, "Remain in me and God will be glorified by this and YOU bear much fruit and produce much fruit as my disciples."

It's about connection. Here's a practical way to look at connection. Most of us have probably played with legos in our lifetime. LEGOS are varied in size, colors, shapes, and sizes but they are designed to connect at both the top and bottom. God designed us to connect both with God and with one another. The church fulfills its mission as it faithfully makes these connections. (~from The Lego Principle) 

The fruit metaphor is so good that Paul later uses this familiar example of fruit:

The metaphor is so good that Paul later uses this familiar example of fruit:

22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. ~Galatians 5:22-23

It’s his final “I Am” statement in his final discourse. This words are meant to give the disciples strength for what lies ahead. He invites them to enter into a deeper relationship with him. Vines have to be tended to in order for the branches to bear fruit. There is no fruit yielded if it doesn’t come from the vine. In John’s mind (and in Paul's) there are branches that do not produce fruit. They fail to live in love and are concerned only with themselves. It is all about them and not the community. 

Thus, Jesus takes the common everyday image of the vine and transforms it into a symbol of community, mission, and love. This community is characterized by interdependence, mutual respect, and the ongoing presence of Christ. The vine and the branches is a reminder of the communal and relational nature of our Christian faith. It’s a challenge for us to do better to continue to grow and produce fruit as a growing community. Jesus is not just saying this last I AM statement to his disciples, he’s saying it to all of us as well.

So let me ask you, in what ways are you connected to the vine? How are you producing fruit? How are you branching out?