It was the last night of Jesus with His disciples and He knew that his time was short. They had just finished their dinner and Christ wanted to convey to his friends one last teaching while He was on Earth. He called them: "Arise, let us go hence" (John 14:31) and he took the walk. As they walked He gave them this analogy:
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he takes away; and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me and I in you. As the branch can not itself bear fruit unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches "(15: 1-5).
What a beautiful picture that sums up our relationship with the Son and the Father. Jesus is the vine and we are the branches that are attached to Him. It is the source of all life flowing in us. And Heavenly Father oversees everything flow of life, is the winemaker who takes care of our growth. Could there be a more serene image of our life in Christ?
There are many things to learn from this passage - and I can assure you that everything is good. The image of a blade comes to mind, that of a viticulturist expert shears - our loving God, merciful and gracious. There is great beauty in this farewell message that He gave to His church, and the first key to understanding this passage is the phrase that Jesus used: ". The true vine"
Christ tells us that He is the advantage that a source of life for us - it is the source of life. Other "vine" may seem to promise life but none brings real life as He does. Some Christians seek life from other stocks, sources that destroy their lives and who are not legitimate for Christians. Others are looking for life on other sources that look good and legitimate - ambition, desire that pushes forward, success and comfort - but the vines themselves are lifeless. They can not produce real life. Jesus wants us to be firmly grafted in Him so that we can drink from the source of His abundant life every day.