I am the true vine (Part 1)

John 15:1–17

You and I live in a culture that separates Sunday from Monday and religion from the “real world.” We learned this heresy from the ancient Greeks, who had transactional relationships with their gods. The Romans later adopted it as well.

All the while, the “real world” outside the church recognized none of these values. You had to go along to get along. You had to make a living to make a life. So, you went to church on Sunday to please God, hoping he would bless you on Monday.

None of this is what Jesus intended for his followers.

In our last “I Am” statement to consider in this devotional, Jesus offered a metaphor that explodes our Western separation of the “spiritual” and the “secular.” Let’s see what he taught and why it matters so much to our souls today.

The “I am” he states is simple and profound: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener” (v. 1).

“I am” is emphatic in Greek. The definite article “the true vine” shows that he is the one and only. But how is he a “vine”?

How do we become part of the vine?

Our Lord and his disciples have probably turned off the road and into one of the temple courts for a while. Here they’ve come face to face with one of the most beautiful and powerful symbols in all of Israel: the vine of grapes. A large vine of pure gold was fixed to the temple gate.

The “vine” was Israel’s image of herself. She put it on her coins and used it constantly. As America’s image is the eagle and Russia’s is the bear, so Israel’s was the vine. Over and over again in the Old Testament, this symbol was used for their nation.

However, the Old Testament also makes clear that Israel’s vine had degenerated.

Her vineyard has run wild; her grapes are sour and bitter. The psalmist complained: “Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire” (Psalm 80:16). Jeremiah quotes the Lord: “How did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine?” (Jeremiah 2:21; cf. Isaiah 5:7).

On the other hand, Jesus is the “true,” authentic, and correct vine. Being “attached” to their temple or our church is not enough. Being an adherent to their religion or ours is not enough.

To what vine are you attached today?

Are you receiving your energy and life from Jesus or from entertainment, greed, self-righteousness, or people pleasing?

Turn to him, abide in him, and know his promise that he will also abide in you.

In our next and final devotional, we’ll continue to unpack Jesus being the true vine that produces spiritual fruit in our lives.