Jesus IS The True Vintner

In John 15:1-9, Jesus declares that He is the true vine. This isn’t just a metaphor; this is foundational. In ancient Israel, the vine often represented the people of God, but Jesus is saying, “I am the true vine.” He is the true source of life. Everything that brings spiritual vitality, everything that fills the heart with lasting joy and purpose, flows from Him. He’s not just an option among many. He’s the only source of real, abundant life.

Jesus goes on to say that His Father is the Vintner, the one who tends and cares for the vine. A gardener doesn’t just plant the vine and leave it to fend for itself. No, He’s actively involved, working the ground, nurturing, pruning, and ensuring it bears fruit. This is exactly how God works in our lives. He’s not a distant figure, detached from our daily struggles and growth. He is intimately involved in shaping us, cutting away what doesn’t serve us, and guiding us to grow in the direction He has designed.

Now, let’s pause for a moment and imagine what the work of a vintner, someone who tends to grapevines, actually looks like. When the vines fall to the ground, either from the weight of the fruit or because of the storms, the vintner doesn’t just leave them there. He lifts them up, picks them up from the dirt, and washes them off. He doesn’t let the branches stay in the filth, because a branch that stays on the ground, covered in dust and dirt, will become weak, unproductive, and even get prone to disease. The vintner lifts it, cleans it, and ties it back up to the trellis, where it can get the sunlight it needs to grow and produce fruit.

This is exactly what God does with us. When we stumble, when we fall, He doesn’t leave us there. He picks us up, washes us off, and ties us back to the true vine, where we can grow strong and fruitful again. Just like the vintner’s care, God’s intervention in our lives is a sign of His deep love and His commitment to seeing us thrive. He knows what we need to be productive in the spiritual life, sometimes it’s cleaning, sometimes it’s pruning, but always it’s for our good and His glory.

Jesus warns that any branch that doesn’t bear fruit will be taken away. This is a serious matter. A branch that is not connected to the vine has no life. It might look fine for a time, but without connection to the true source, it withers - and eventually dies. It’s the same for us. Without remaining in Jesus, we lose the vitality He offers. It’s not enough to just know about Him; we must remain connected to Him, drawing life from Him. If we don't, we risk becoming like a branch lying on the ground, lifeless and unproductive.

But there is good news. For those who do bear fruit, God prunes them. This pruning might seem harsh, but it’s necessary. A vintner cuts back parts of the vine that seem healthy but aren’t producing the best fruit. This can feel painful at times. It’s hard when God removes things from our lives that we thought were good. Sometimes it’s relationships, sometimes it's habits, or even personal dreams. But just as a branch needs to be pruned to produce better fruit, God allows us to go through seasons of pruning to make us stronger, purer, and more fruitful.

Jesus reassures His disciples that they are already clean because of the word He has spoken to them. It’s not their own efforts or their perfection that makes them clean, it’s the Word of Jesus, His truth, that purifies them. The same is true for us. When we allow the Word of God to penetrate our hearts, it cleanses us. It’s not about doing enough good things; it’s about receiving God’s Word and letting it wash us, transform us, and set us apart.

Then Jesus commands us to abide in Him, and He in us. This is the heart of it all: to remain connected, to stay in a constant, intimate relationship with Him. Just as a branch can’t survive without being connected to the vine, we can’t live the life God has called us to without staying connected to Jesus. Abiding isn’t about popping in and out of relationship with Jesus, it’s about a deep, ongoing, unbroken connection. Without it, we wither and become unproductive. Only by remaining in Him can we bear the kind of fruit that brings glory to God.

Jesus makes it even clearer: “I am the vine, you are the branches.” He is the source of all life and fruitfulness. We are completely dependent on Him. Without Him, we can do nothing. We can try to live well, we can try to do good things, but real spiritual fruit only comes when we stay connected to Him. It’s not about our effort; it’s about letting His life flow through us.

Jesus also warns that branches that don’t remain in Him will be thrown away, withered, and burned. This is a sobering reminder of the consequences of choosing to live apart from Him. Just as a branch separated from the vine can’t produce fruit, neither can we. A life disconnected from Jesus cannot bear the fruit He calls us to.

But then there’s a promise: If we abide in Him and His words abide in us, we can ask for whatever we need, and He will give it to us. This isn’t a promise that we can ask for anything selfishly or for our own benefit, but that when we remain in Him, our hearts and desires align with His will. When we ask for what’s on His heart, He answers. Prayer becomes not about getting our way, but about asking for what will bring glory to God and advance His kingdom.

So here’s the bottom line: Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. He is the source of everything we need for spiritual life. Apart from Him, we can do nothing of lasting value. But when we stay connected to Him, when we abide in Him, we bear fruit. And that fruit brings glory to God. It’s all about staying connected, letting His life flow through us, and bearing the fruit He desires. God’s care for us—lifting us up when we fall, cleaning us, and pruning us, ensures that we can live the fruitful life He’s calling us to. That life is not one of striving or self-effort, but one of complete dependence on Jesus, the true vine.

I hope this message blessed you. If so, please leave a comment. I look forward to hearing from you.

image by chatgpt at my direction

 

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