John records Jesus response that He is the Vine and We are the Branches. What is the importance of this analogy? Well first off, you cannot have branches without a vine. If you have ever seen a grape vine or some other vine plant, you will know that you cannot have the leaves and branches without the vine. And of course, you cannot have fruit without the leaves, branches, and the vine. Second, the vine and branches are all connected. What I mean by this is that...nutrients come from the roots of the vine into the rest of the plant. The branches and leaves absorb sunlight in a process we call photosynthesis that converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy for the plant's activities. Third, as a final food for thought, the Vine image actually occurs in the Old Testament multiple times especially in Jeremiah and Isaiah. Almost every time this Vine image is recorded in the Bible, it is associated with the theme of judgement.
Here is the passage that I want to focus on today from John 15:5-17 that says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other."
Here are some of my thoughts that I hope might give you some deeper thoughts into this passage. When Jesus says that He is the vine, He is the one taking on all the judgement and bearing our sins at the cross. When Jesus says that we are the branches, we are partaking (or joining) with Him...But instead being punished for our sins, Jesus gladly bears our judgement on Himself and instead exchanges God's rightful judgement with God's eternal love. This is an example how much the Son of God loved us that He took our place and accepted punishment on our behalf.
To top this loving act off, Jesus not only extended love instead of the justice we deserved. Jesus also called us out and became a friend. We are friends of God (not because we wanted to be friends with God but because God befriended us). Thus, Jesus says, "I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends...You did not choose me but I chose you...this is my command: Love each other." I hope this passage really inspires you and overwhelms you...imagine if Jesus never died for our sins, if God gave us the punishment we deserved, or if we faced judgement on our own...However, rest assured that Jesus did die for our sins, God did not give us the punishment we deserve, and that we will not face judgement on our own because Jesus will advocate for everyone who trusts in Him.
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