Vine

In John 15, Jesus calls himself the true vine. He may have used the adjective ‘true’ to describe himself because Israel, which had been called God’s vine in the Old Testament, had failed to bring forth fruit for God. So Jesus is the true vine because he bears fruit.

Where does he bear fruit? The answer to that question is that he bears it in the branches that are united to him. Those branches are illustrations of believers and because they are united to Jesus by the Holy Spirit they can bear fruit.

What kind of fruit do they have? Many answers can be given to this question, so here are three. One essential fruit is love, which includes love to God, to his people, and to others. Another fruit is joy, although it is joy that comes through contact with Jesus, especially through his word and through prayer. Then a third fruit is holiness, which is another way of saying that we become like Jesus who was marked by peace, gentleness and faithfulness.

Who is the fruit for? Normally grapes belong to the person who owns the vineyard. God is the owner, we might say, of this heavenly vine. Indeed he has no other vines, but it is so fruitful that other vines are not needed to increase the harvest. And the harvest is not annual, but continual.