John 15~ Heather Young

Have you ever found yourself puzzling over John 15? “What’s so important about a grape plant, anyway,” you think.  Here is an article that I hope will clear up your confusion.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 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. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 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. 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. 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. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 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. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

John 15:1-11

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” (v. 1)

The vine is the trunk of the grape plant that grows out of the ground.  Branches are connected to the vine…  The vinedresser is the keeper of the vineyard.  He works hard to coax from his plants the most pounds of grapes possible.

The branches of the plant are the main focus of the vinedresser’s efforts because they produce fruit.  They are tied to a trellis or propped up with sticks to let air circulate, to provide the maximum amount of sunshine, and to allow full access for tending.  Lovingly, the vinedresser cultivates each branch so that it will bear as much fruit as possible.  Yet every branch responds differently to his efforts, and when the time for harvest comes, each branch will have produced a different-sized crop, displayed in verse 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.” (v. 2)

Fruit represents good works, as shown in Titus 3 and Psalm 1:

“And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.”

Titus 3:14

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.”

Psalm 1:3

The phrase, “take away” in verse 2 suggests that one might be “cut off” from God, severed from ever having a relationship with Him.  However, a better translation for the Greek word “airo-” would be “take up” or “lift up”.  Examples of where this is used can be found in Matthew 14:20, Matthew 27:32, and John 1:29.  One expert said, “New branches have a natural tendency to trail down and grow along the ground.  But they don’t bear fruit down there.  We lift them up and wash them off.  Then we wrap them around the trellis or tie them up.  Pretty soon they’re thriving.” 

“Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.” (v. 3)

See John 13:10 for an explanation as to why Jesus said this.

“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.” (v. 4)

Notice that “Abide.” is said as a command.  When someone commands someone else to do something, it is because it won’t come naturally.  To abide means to remain, to stay closely connected, to settle in for the long term.  The branch shares an ongoing, vital connection with the vine; if it is disconnected, we wither and die and become of no spiritual use (v. 6).

You bear inner fruit when you allow God to nurture in you a new, Christ-like quality (Galatians5:22).

You bear outward fruit when you allow God to work through you to bring Him glory (Ephesians 2:10).

“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.” (v. 5)

More abiding is performed by keeping Him in your thoughts and activities throughout the day.  Have an attitude like David did in Psalm 42:1, “As the deer pants for water, so pants my soul for You, oh God.”

“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.” (v. 6)

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (v. 7)

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (v. 8)

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” (v. 9)

“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.” (v. 10)

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (v. 11)

We are here not to fulfill our own dreams, but to fulfill God’s dream of us giving Him glory.  In this way, we find our greatest joy.

1. no fruit (v. 2a)

Producing no fruit is a result of enduring sin.  In order to correct us, God can make Himself heard in many ways.  Just as the vinedresser takes necessary measures to correct a wayward branch, so does God take necessary measures to correct wayward believers.  Throughout each of our lives, He persistently offers us opportunities to respond to His loving and wise nudging us in the right direction.

“Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the LORD your God disciplines you.”

Deuteronomy 8:5

“And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

‘My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.’”

Hebrews 12:5-6

2. fruit (v. 2b)

To prune means to thin, to reduce, to cut off.  As your relationship with God grows, you will need more of your lesser priorities cut away to make room for God to get greater glory.  Similarly, as a grape plant grows, more and more branches must be cut away each year to let enough sunlight in for a maximum fruit product.  One difference between disciplining and pruning is during discipline you need to repent, and during pruning you need to give God permission to work in your life.  The most fruitful and the most joyful Christians are the most pruned Christians.

3. more fruit (v. 2c) and 4. much fruit (v. 5b)

During abiding, only what’s happening on the inside matters.  The process begins with activities such as Bible reading and prayer.  Also, the key is to break through from duty to relationship with God.

In conclusion:

1. If your life consistently bears no fruit, God will intervene to discipline you.

2. If your life bears some fruit, God will intervene to prune you.

3. If your life bears a lot of fruit, God will invite you to abide more deeply with Him.

God can use you no matter what season you are in!

***Credit to Bruce Wilkinson’s book, Secrets of the Vine for the majority of information in this article***

Photograph property of Lilies Among Thorns Magazine. Photograph taken by Corrine Voelp.