The Vine, The Vinedresser and the Branches
Lord's Table, Communion • Sermon • Submitted
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· 68 viewsJesus continues teaching his disciples after keeping the Passover, as they were on their way to Gethsemane. The vine and the branches. Abiding in Christ.
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Introduction
Introduction
it is Passover and Jesus knows that his death is imminent
the purpose for his coming into the world is about to be fulfilled
Jesus came to offer his life as a satisfaction for God’s offended justice and as a substitute
he did this for all the elect, all who would put their faith and trust in him
as he suffered and died he took upon himself all their sins and gave to them his perfect righteousness
knowing he was headed for the cross Jesus informed his disciples he would be leaving them and that where he was going they could not follow, ... yet (13:1-20)
this caused the disciples great fear and confusion
where was he going? why was he leaving? why couldn’t they go with him? does he not love us anymore?
uses the Passover to reaffirm his love for his disciples
uses the Passover to reaffirm his love for his disciples
Jesus knew that all these questions were running through their minds
Jesus also knew that because they had not yet been given the HS they would not able to understand
so rather than try and explain what they incapable of understanding he reaffirmed his love for his disciples (Jesus could have opened their minds but did not - his purpose was that they be given that understanding with the gift of the HS - in the meantime they had to struggle)
he reaffirmed his love by washing their feet
he encouraged them with many promises
he prayed for them
just as he humbled himself in order to wash their feet they ought also to humble themselves before one another and serve one another
they were to love one another as Jesus had loved them
general principle in 13:16 - a servant is not greater than his master or a messenger than the sender
Jesus’ followers are to imitate him
Jesus gives a new commandment (13:31-35)
they are to love one another with agape love, God’s love, self-sacrificial love
Jesus informs them of Peter’s future denial (13:36-38)
Jesus commands them to believe in him (14:1-11)
Jesus and the Father are one
Jesus is the only way to the Father
Jesus promises the HS to all who love and obey him ()
Jesus confronts their lack of love and their lack of faith as the cause of their being troubled ()
Abiding in Christ
the central truth of this passage is abiding in Christ (vv. 4,5,6,7,9,10)
those who abide in Christ bear fruit
those who do not abide in Christ are cut off, thrown away, cast into the fire and burned (vv. 2 & 6)
Abiding in Christ
this brings us to chapter 15 of John [read vv.1-11]
this is the 3rd chapter of 5 that John records about the time Jesus’ spent with his disciples at the Last Supper
the key point of this passage is abiding in Christ (vv. 4,5,6,7,9,10)
those who abide in Christ bear fruit
those who profess to abide in Christ but do not bear fruit are cut off, thrown away, cast into the fire and burned (vv. 2 & 6)
with this imagery Jesus was teaching his disciples that if they wanted to experience his love, his promises and his encouragements they had to abide in him
in this image there are 3 parts: the vine, the vinedresser and the branches
The Vine
The Vine
The Vine
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
one of 7 “I am” statements spoken by Jesus
while each identify him as God in the flesh they also say something specific about his life and ministry
I am the bread of life (,,)
I am the light of the world (; )
one of 7 “I am” statements which identify Jesus as God in the flesh
I am door of the sheep (,)
I am good shepherd (,)
I am resurrection and the life ()
I am way, the truth and the life ()
I am true vine ()
"I am the vine” points to Jesus as the only source of all spiritual life, vitality, growth and productivity
speaking as the great shepherd Jesus says of his sheep,
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
“I am the vine”
a picture of the relationship between Jesus and his disciples, and between the Father and the Lord Jesus, and between the Father and Jesus’ disciples
vine = the grapevine
this is one of many pictures Christ used to illustrate the connection between himself and his disciples
shepherd/sheep, head/body, lord/servant, master/slave, husband/bride
here the Lord Jesus uses the image of a grapevine/branches
for those who know your Old Testaments you will know that God described Israel as his vine which he transplanted from Egypt to Canaan
he did everything to make sure that it thrived
God’s purpose that Israel be the channel through which he would bless the nations
to be that blessing Israel had to obey the laws, statutes, testimonies, precepts and principles of the Word of God
instead she constantly disobeyed
Israel consistently produced such bad fruit that God destroyed his vineyard ()
Jesus used this same vine picture to describe Israel in his own day in
even though more than a 1000 years had passed since being set apart as God’s people to be a blessing to the nations it still had not fulfilled it’s purpose
Israel’s constant rebellion and idolatry disqualified it as the channel of God’s blessings
43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.
Mt 21:43
that blessing now comes through Jesus Christ, the true vine
though Israel failed to be the blessing to the nations, Jesus is fulfilling that plan through his church
if we take the millennial reign of Christ literally, Israel will be that blessing to the nations during that time (Mic 4:2)
faith and the works which flow from it, not circumcision, become the key characteristic of belonging to God’s people
Jesus is the “true” vine in the same sense that he is the “true light” ()
just as there are many false lights in the world designed by Satan to draw people away from the true light there are many false “vines”
all of the religions of the world are false “vines” promising spiritual life and vitality when in fact they offer nothing but fiery destruction
Jesus’ claim to be the true vine is in fact the claim to be the only source of spiritual life
as he said in ...
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:
he is the bread which comes down out of heaven ()
31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
true spiritual life only comes by being joined to Christ
this is also the key to the imagery of the body where Christ is the head and we are his members
The Vinedresser
The Vinedresser
The Vinedresser
The Vinedresser
vinedresser: one who tills the soil; a farmer or vine grower
in Jesus’ imagery the Father is the vinedresser
by comparing the Father to a vinedresser Jesus was emphasizing the Father’s role in making his vine produce as much good fruit as possible
once the farmer plants, fertilizes and waters the vine he has two primary concerns in his ongoing care of it
to accomplish that purpose he focuses on the branches growing on his vine
once the farmer plants, fertilizes and waters the vine he has two primary concerns in his ongoing care of it
like the farmer who plants, fertilizes and waters his vine he has two primary concerns in his ongoing care of it
because the vinedresser’s passion is to see his vine producing as much good fruit as possible he pays special attention to the branches
he sees that some of the branches bear fruit and others do not
he deals with both kinds of branches with his knife
the fruit bearing branches he prunes so that they bear more fruit
first, he removes the branches that do not bear fruit
first, he cuts off the branches that do not bear fruit
the vinedresser removes the unfruitful branches from the vine
the non-fruit bearing branches he cuts off and throws into the fire
the same troubles and trials which make true Christians stronger cause false Christians to leave
second, he prunes the branches that are already bearing fruit so that they produce even more
second, he prunes the branches that are already bearing fruit so that they produce even more
that do bear fruit so that they bear even more
he does this by cutting off anything which hinders them from bearing more fruit
[read Rom 11:17-24]
this is no way minimizes Jesus’ deity and full equality with the Father
at his incarnation Jesus willingly accepted and embraced a subordinate role to the Father
he is focused on the branches growing on his vine
he is focused on his Son the Lord Jesus and those joined to him by saving faith
he deals with both kinds of branches with his knife
those who are joined to his Son the Lord Jesu
The Branches
once the farmer plants, fertilizes and waters the vine he has two primary responsibilities in his ongoing care of it
because the vinedresser’s passion is to see his vine and its branches producing as much good fruit as possible he must do 2 things:
first, remove branches that do not bear fruit
first, the removal of branches that do not bear fruit
second, prune the ones that do bear fruit so that they bear even more
Jesus’ primary concern in the use of this kind of imagery is the two kinds of branches:
branches and withered branches
fruit bearing and non-fruit bearing
green branches and withered branches
the fruit bearing branches he prunes so that they bear more fruit
the non-fruit bearing branches he cuts off and throws into the fire
The Branches
The Branches
the 3rd part of Jesus’ imagery is the branches
there are two kinds of branches attached to the vine
branches which produce fruit and branches which do not produce fruit
the branches represent those who are joined to Jesus
when we look closely at Jesus’ ministry we find that many believed in him and followed him but only a few were truly devoted to him
this reality is pictured in the branches of the vine
branches which produce fruit and branches which do not produce fruit
just as a branch must be grafted into the grapevine in order for it to live and bear fruit so those joined to Christ depend completely on him as their source of spiritual life and vitality
all branches vitally joined to Christ have his life flowing through them
the purpose and inevitable result of Christ’s life in them: they bear fruit
if the flow of spiritual life from the Lord Jesus is hindered for any reason, the branch will begin to whither, its fruitfulness will decline and eventually the fruit it produces will become bitter and distasteful
the vinedresser deals with this by pruning
cut off from the Lord Jesus the believer will die
the opposite is also true:
the more connected a person is to Christ the more fruitful, vibrant and wholesome their spiritual lives will be
what does that connection look like?
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
the degree to which we are connected to the Spirit is the degree to which we will have power over our sinful desires
gratifying our sinful desires therefore robs us of spiritual power and vitality
when we surrender to temptation and sin and wallow in it, the life giving HS is grieved and our spiritual life and fruitfulness is hindered
contrast with command to keep being filled with HS
[read ]
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
v.22 put off old self
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
v.23 renewed in spirit of minds ( & Col 3:16)
v.30 do not grieve the HS by doing the things mentioned in the previous verses
Three Qualities of Branches Which Abide in the Vine
Three Qualities of Branches Which Abide in the Vine
the vine represents Christ, the branches represent disciples and the vinedresser represents the Father
the vine represents Christ and the branches represent disciples the vinedresser represents the Father
just as there are two types of branches there are 2 types of disciples
both are attached to Christ but only only one bears fruit
genuine disciples are the fruit bearing branches
the vinedresser prunes them so that they bear much more fruit
he cuts off whatever is hindering them from being fruitful and productive
false disciples are the branches that do not bear fruit
they may have many leaves of a rich green colour but there are no grapes hanging from them
they are those who profess Christ but refuse him as Lord (master) and Saviour
because they do not bear fruit the vinedresser cuts them off
1. They Bear Fruit
1. They Bear Fruit
1. They Bear Fruit
1. They Bear Fruit
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
both kinds of branches experience the knife of the vinedresser
the key factor as to how the Vinedresser approaches the branches is fruit
fruit bearing branches are pruned so that they bear more fruit
anything that would reduce their spiritual energy, hindering their ability to bear fruit is cut away
the Father is directly and actively involved in the lives of true believers to make them more fruitful
our Father deals with sin in our lives through trials, suffering and persecution
our Father cuts away the sin in our lives
our Father cuts away the time wasting things we focus on which keep us from the work we should be doing
through trials, suffering and persecution
His word is the knife
His word is the knife
12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
that our sufferings and the Word of God are intimately connected is clearly taught in the scriptures:
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
Ps 119:
12 Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O Lord, and whom you teach out of your law,
16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
troubles, trials, afflictions work together with the Word of God for our good
what is the fruit the Father is looking for on the branches which are joined to Christ, the vine?
the knowledge that our Father uses the troubles and trials we experience for our ultimate good and his glory should eliminate all fear, self-pity and complaining
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
because our Father knows all things and sovereignly controls all of the circumstances of our lives
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
what is the fruit the Father is looking for on the branches which are joined to Christ, the vine?
fruit is often confused with external religious displays
going to church regularly, Sunday righteousness, eloquence in prayer, long prayers, regular giving
the problem with using these as measuring sticks is that deceivers, hypocrites, false teachers and cults promote all these things
nowhere does the bible equate these external behaviours with the kind of fruit that the Father is looking for
listen to Paul’s reminder to the Galatians of what that fruit looks like
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
these fruits mark all who are joined to Christ
remember though, this is not about perfection but about direction
what the NT says about fruit:
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.
10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mt 3:7
8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
the Pharisees refused John’s baptism because they thought themselves righteous
Mt 3:
they presumed that because they were descendants of Abraham that they were good with God
John’s exhortation: bear fruit in keeping with repentance tells us that true repentance produces the only fruit that is acceptable to God
humility before God, confession of sin, acknowledging he is right in all his judgments
bearing much fruit is connected with hearing and accepting the word
20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
Lk
only those who are in Christ can bear fruit
4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.
praise offered to God
15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
the fruit of being joined to Christ is a heart that loves to praise God
good works that flow out of the desire to please Christ
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
28 When therefore I have completed this and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will leave for Spain by way of you.
10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
the Philippians financially supported Paul’s ministry
how a believer walks in obedience to the Lord:
bears fruit in every good work
those gifts
continually increasing int he knowledge of God
knowledge should always lead to practical obedience
Jas 3:1
the knowledge that our Father uses the troubles and trials we experience for our ultimate good and his glory should eliminate all fear, self-pity and complaining
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.
11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
because our Father knows all things and sovereignly controls all of the circumstances of our lives
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
abide = remain
Judas did not remain
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
do not be like Judas and depart from the Lord Jesus Christ
Demas another example of one who left because of his love for the world (2 tim 4:10)
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
those who abide remain with Christ
defined as “in me and I in him” = a relationship
a back and forth relationship
a back and forth communion/fellowship which produces spiritual life and vitality and fruit
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
,,,
praise offered to God
15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
the Father is glorified when those who are joined to Christ bear much fruit
the fruit of being joined to Christ is a heart that loves to praise God
this is the proof they are genuine disciples of Christ
it is the one of the products of spiritual wisdom
17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
2. They Abide in Christ’s Love
2. They Abide in Christ’s Love
2. They Abide in Christ’s Love
2. They Abide in Christ’s Love
2. They abide in Christ’s love
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
abide = remain or continue
those who abide in Christ’s love remain in Christ
defined in v.4 as “in me and I in you” = a relationship
a back and forth communion/fellowship which produces spiritual life and vitality and fruit
those who abide continue with Christ and do not depart from him
lessons from the Parable of the Soils
shallow soil: when persecution comes they remain faithful
weedy soil: when tempted by the allurements of the world they refuse to love the world or the things of the world
they do not leave Christ for the approval of the world
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
example of Judas who did not remain
do not be like Judas, who, for the love of money, did not abide with the Lord Jesus Christ
Demas another example of one who left because of his love for the world (2 tim 4:10)
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
those who abide remain with Christ
a back and forth communion/fellowship which produces spiritual life and vitality and fruit
8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
the Father is glorified when those who are joined to Christ bear much fruit
this is the proof they are genuine disciples of Christ
3. They Keep Christ’s Commandments
3. They Keep Christ’s Commandments
they do not depart from him
when persecution comes they remain faithful
when tempted by the allurements of the world they refuse to love the world or the things of the world
3. They Keep Christ’s Commandments
3. They Keep Christ’s Commandments
they do not leave Christ for the approval of the world
19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Three Qualities of Branches Which Abide in the Vine
Three Qualities of Branches Which Abide in the Vine
3. They keep Christ’s commandments
3. They Keep Christ’s Commandments
3. They Keep Christ’s Commandments
they live their lives serving their Lord Jesus Christ
they follow Jesus’ example who always obeyed the Father
10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.
Jesus’ teaching in , ,