THE TRUE VINE

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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As Jesus prepared for his arrest, trial, and eventual crucifixion, he met with his disciples for a time of teaching and training. The message given by Jesus, which encompasses the majority of chapter 15 of John’s gospel, is one of the most powerful and compelling teachings on the relationship between God and man to be found anywhere in the Bible. 

John 15

Today marks the first of five devotionals that will walk through this teaching bit by bit. If you have the time to read the whole of John chapters 13-16 to provide context, you would definitely benefit from any amount of time spent in these chapters. 

But for today, we are going to start with the following passage:

1 “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 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.

(John 15:1-14 NIV11) 

The Vineyard

Jesus and his friends were well acquainted with the functioning of the typical Mediterranean vineyard. The images used here by Jesus were part of their normal lives. This was such a common experience that this would be equivalent of you and I speaking about how to drive a car in traffic. 

Elements

Because this agrarian world now seems so remote for most people, we can lose sight of the meaning of some of Jesus’s teachings. So, to make sure we get this right, let’s work through the various elements. 

True Vine

Jesus begins the metaphor by positing himself as the vine of truth, the one true vine. 

Imagine seeing a long row of branches growing along a fence with lots of fruit hanging off in every direction. In this context, the true vine is the main trunk of the plant that grows up from the soil, drawing nutrients and moisture from the richness of the surrounding soil. 

The various branches that grow off of this main vine are all dependent upon the life-giving sustenance provided by the one part of the plant that is rooted firmly in the soil. This is what Jesus is claiming to be for the children of God.

Jesus is the source of spiritual as well as actual life. He is not only the vine that grows to support his many branches, but he is also the light that brings life to the plant. 

The Apostle John used this same language when speaking of the role Jesus Christ plays as the giver of true light in the opening of his gospel:

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 

(John 1:9-10 NIV11)

Gardener

Jesus teaches that the Heavenly Father plays the role of the gardener (γεωργός  – georgos). 

The function of the gardener in this vineyard scene is akin to the vine doctor. He is not someone who cleans up the garden as we might envisage, instead, the Father is seen working amongst the branches to help them become healthier and stronger. 

The role of the gardener is one that leads to greater productivity and greater fruit. The Heavenly Father is seen working to enable the whole vineyard to be as fruitful and healthy as possible. 

Abiding

In verse 4, we hear an interesting statement, “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.”

The branches (those seeking to be a part of the vine) must commit to being a part of the vine. A branch cannot produce fruit if it is only partially attached, or if it seeks to be a part of multiple vines at once. 

If a branch wants to be healthy and productive as part of the true vine, it must abide, be fully committed, completely attached to the life-giving sustenance of the vine. If a branch wants to be healthy and strong, it must also submit to the pruning and cleansing of the gardener. 

Summary

As the teaching continues, we will hear more about how each of these elements plays a part in this powerful teaching of Jesus. But for today we ought to give God thanks for the following:

•  Thank you Lord for being the giver of life. 
•  Thank you Lord for supporting me and providing for me. 
•  Thank you Father for being a loving gardener who seeks to help me become healthy, strong, and productive. 
•  Thank you for your word which cleanses my mind.
•  Thank you Jesus for inviting me to abide in you.
•  Thank you Jesus for choosing to abide in me and to work in me.  

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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