Biblical Discipleship Pt. 28 We Have All We Need When We Are Connected To the True Vine

 

John 15:1,2  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 

It is helpful to think about Jesus Christ as the true vine with each believer like the many branches connected to the vine. It is the structure of the vine (roots & trunk) that keeps the branches alive, supports the branches and these things remind us of Jesus Christ as Creator. 

John 1:3,4  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4) In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

John's gospel began with a prologue that connects Jesus Christ, the "Word" with God creating all things in the beginning (Genesis 1-2). John said the "Word was with God and the Word was God." Then, John turned to describe how Jesus Christ created all things and that Christ the Word, is the source of all life. 

Rightly so then, the Bible gives clear testimony that Jesus is Creator and Sustainer of all life (Psalm 33:6; John 1:3; 1:10; 1 Corinthians 8:6, Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3).

The diagram above is from a horticultural website and shows the anatomy of a typical grape vine. 

It is of interest to see that a grape vine has roots similar to a tree with a thick, twisted trunk that is very strong and resilient. 

The major roots of a grapevine anchor the whole plant. Many smaller, finer roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil and deliver them to the main root structure.

The main roots transport and store nutrients for ongoing growth. Main roots also produce vital hormones needed to stimulate growth in the branches and shoots and to ensure a healthy vine.

The trunk stops with a "head" and then there are two main branches called "cordons" that diverge from the head. 

The head of a grape vine limits how high the trunk will grow, usually about 4 feet high. The head is normally pruned in such a way that it cannot grow any higher. Therefore, all future growth is through the major horizontal  arms called cordons, that grow out on the left and right side of the head.

The "cordons" are populated with smaller, lateral branches called  "arms." Both the arms and cordons produce vertical   "shoots" or  "canes"  growing. The shoots produce flower clusters that yield grapes.

Some of the same kind of horticulture terms are applied to Christ. 

Christ is the root and trunk of the vine.

Isaiah 11:1,2  And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2) And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; 

Beautiful names are given to the Messiah that connect very well with Jesus' declaration that "I Am the True Vine." 

Isaiah tells us that Jesus is a "rod" which generally refers to a sturdy branch. The "rod" will come from the strong "stem" or mighty "trunk" of King David's lineage. 

Jesus is the "branch" or shoot growing out from the "root" of David. The word "root" refers to firmness, uprightness and permanence of the root anchoring the entire tree or vine. 

Jesus is called the "righteous Branch" (See Isaiah 4:2; Jeremiah 23:5; 33:15). 

These prophesied names for Christ show that He is the true vine that anchors the entire plant, gathers lifegiving nutrients and water, and who distributes them throughout all of the vine, in order to produce a harvest of grapes.

Christ is the head of the vine.

Colossians 1:17,18  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18) And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

The fact that a grape vine has a unique structure called a "head" reminds us that Jesus Christ is the "Head" of His church. (See also Matthew 21:42; 1 Corinthians 11:3; Ephesians 1:20-22; 4:15; 5:23; Colossians 1:18; 2:10; 2:19; 1 Peter 2:7). 

The idea of Christ as the Head of all things is that He alone, is preeminent and highly exalted by the Father over all things. 

Philippians 2:9-11  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

The Father has glorified Jesus Christ beyond all measure. All nations and people will fall down before Him and declare that Jesus is king of kings and Lord of lords. 

Some parallels between Christ and the structure of a typical grapevine.

1. Christ is the preeminent Head of His body, the Church. 

Ephesians 1:20-23  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21)  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

Christ directs His church, governs His church and grows His church as He deems best. He gives new life to all believers and direction on how we can walk in newness of life.  

2. Christ is the strong trunk of the vine which supports all the cordons and shoots.

Hebrews 1:1-3  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2) Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

God the Father spoke to all mankind through His son, Jesus Christ. He made Christ the heir of all things and we see that Christ is our Creator.  Jesus upholds all things by the word of His power. Think in terms of how Jesus set in place all of the laws of physics that govern our universe with amazing precision. He spoke them into existence and His word makes them work properly. 

Since this is true, Jesus as the True Vine can certainly support all of the cordons, branches, and shoots that will grow in Him.

3. Christ is the strong root system that firmly anchors the whole vine (Hebrews 6:19). 

Matthew 7:24-27  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 

The writers of Hebrews refers to Christ as the anchor of our souls. Matthew recorded Jesus' teaching about two builders. Those who hear and heed His word are like a wise builder who constructed his home on the solid rock (Christ). This pictures Christ as the True Vine, firmly anchoring the whole body to the ground and firmly holding all of us together and lifting us up. 

3. Christ supplies all nutrition needed to promote spiritual growth (Philippians 4:13-19). 

Ephesians 4:11-16  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14) That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16) From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 

Jesus gave great gifts to His church in the form of faithful apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These gifts are meant to help us grow in our faith, help us become more like Christ our Master, so that the work of the ministry might get done. 

Notice Paul's words. We grow and mature in Christ our head. He joins the branches to the true vine. He supplies the spiritual food to each part of the plant. Christ supplies the necessary nutrients through the Word of God, because man shall live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4).

4. Christ supplies living waters (See John 4),  that flow through the vine to the branches.  

John 7:37-39  In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. 38)  He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. 39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 

As the True Vine, Jesus supplies water to all parts of the grape vine so that the plant grows, stays healthy and produces much fruit. Notice His promise was that living waters would come to all who believe. John tells us that this is referring to the Spirit of God who was not sent until Jesus returned to the Father in Acts 1. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Here are some parallels between the branches and believers in Christ. 

1. The branches must be fed special hormones by the vine or they will not grow. Are you taking in the spiritual nourishment supplied by Christ? 

2. The branches must receive water from the vine or they will not produce fruit. Are you drinking in the water of the scriptures?

3. The branches must be connected to the vine in order to stay healthy. How is your spiritual health today?

4. Any branch or shoot that becomes detached from the vine through storm damage, severe temperature extremes, rot, fungus or insect infestation, will die. Have the circumstances of your life made you feel disconnected from the vine?

5. Any branch will have dead shoots pruned off, so that it will be reinvigorated and enjoy renewed health. What is God pruning out of your life?

We will look more at Jesus' teaching about the true vine because there is so much truth here for all disciples, Pastors, Parents, and Parishioners to think about. 

A healthy spiritual life happens when we are a fruit producing shoot connected to Christ, our true vine.

May the Spirit of God help us understand the many implications of this beautiful picture Christ gave us about being born again into the family of God. 

May we humble ourselves under His mighty hand and dedicate our energies to being fruitful believers. 

Bob