Sermon Devotional: I AM the Vine
Sermon Title: I AM the True Vine
Scripture: John 15:1-7 (NIV)“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. . . 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.” John 15:1, 5-8
In this series we have spent time with Jesus in the gospel of John as Jesus reveals to his followers a more complete picture of who he is. Jesus uses familiar things to reveal eternal truth. I am the Good Shepherd. I am the Bread of Life. I am the Door. I am the Light that shines in the darkness. I am the Resurrection and the Life. I am the Way of True Life. But why? What is the ultimate reason for these I Am statements?
In John 20 we read, “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). These verses make clear the primary purpose of John’s Gospel, and the imploring invitation of Jesus’ I Am statements: Believe! And have life!
- Believe that Jesus, the Son of God, came, lived, died, and rose again to become the path of life and fellowship with the Father, both now and in the age to come. (Jn 17:24, Jn 20:31, Phil 2:7-10)
But today’s text tells us that there is even more that Jesus has for and desires from us. Jesus asks us to believe; Jesus also asks us to obey. “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. . . My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” (15:10-12). However, to obey this command, to love each other the way Jesus has loved us, is impossible for us in and of ourselves. The disciples, indeed all followers of Jesus, know in their heart of hearts that Christ’s self-sacrifice, his humility, his obedience to the Father is a standard that we cannot attain. But this command to obey is an imperative.
So, how? Once we believe, how do we obey? Jesus tells us how. The word remain is used eleven times in this text. In the relationship that Jesus has established for us and with us, he commands us to abide in him, to remain in him, to be inseparably united with him. We are to exist permanently in Christ the Vine even as Christ exists permanently united to those he loves. We believe and so we are called to obey. This is the way of LIFE!
We are branches. We are not the vine. There is only one True Vine. So, what does it look like to be a really good, God-honoring, Jesus-obeying branch? It looks like a branch that is inseparably united, permanently abiding in Christ the true Vine.
The true Vine is always and forever our nourishing life source. This truth is repeated again and again in the I Am statements: I Am “the bread of life.” I Am “the resurrection and the life.” I Am “the way, the truth, and the life.” The true Vine will not remove himself from his dependent branches. He promises to remain in us, thereby continually giving us his life.
However, branches do not always remain in the Vine. The outcome of a branch that refuses to remain dependently united to the Vine is like an arm separated from the body or a sail without the wind or firewood without a spark. Jesus says, “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” (15:5-6). “No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine” (15:4).
As we remain inseparably united with Christ, we receive his life flowing freely and, by his grace at work within us, we find ourselves enabled to obey.
Consider—
╬ Jesus tells us that branches sometimes require a good pruning. Arrogance and pride, an independent “my-way” spirit, a self-focused unmerciful attitude. In your life, how has God pruned you? How did you emerge from the pruning a healthier disciple of Jesus? What areas of your life today—what actions, idols, and sins—does God want you to surrender to him? “Lord, I am willing to become a more whole and healthy branch.”
╬ Because of his obedience to the Father—his life, death and resurrection—we are inseparably united with Christ. Christ is in us, and we are in Christ. The branch is constantly, continually being nourished and sustained by the Vine. How does this reality inform your day-by-day life, your decision-making, your prayer?
╬ Jesus, you are the true Vine and I am a branch utterly dependent upon you. Through God the Spirit, enable me to cling to you assured that you will forever hold onto me. Enable me to believe, obey and love you more each day until we are face to face in your kingdom. In your name we pray. Amen.