Jesus refers to himself as the true vine. There must be no better fitting metaphor than this reference to Jesus.
The vine lives to give us lifeblood. Its flower is small, its fruit abundant and when that fruit is mature and the vine has for a moment becomes glorious, the treasure of the grapes is torn down and the vine is cut back to the stem and next year blooms again.[1]Truly Jesus lived the life of the true vine.
The parable of the vine gives us deep truth. Jesus is the vine; we are the branches. A vine branch no longer attached to the vine is useless. Vine wood cannot be used for making furniture, for building, or for making a kitchen utensil. It will not even serve as a peg on which to hang a hat. A vine branch that does not bear grapes is worthless.[2]
The destiny of the branch cut off from the vine is being thrown away and withers. Such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
On the contrary the branch attached to the tree is bound to bear abundant fruits. When the branch is separated from the vine, it cannot certainly bear fruit. If it is attached to the vine, it will automatically bear fruits. Fruitfulness is not something we achieve in the natural energies of the flesh but something that follows naturally enough when we are in Christ.[3]
Jesus lived the most abundant fruit bearing life. The secret of the life of Jesus was his contact with God.[4] As Jesus is always abiding in God, we should abide in Jesus. The abiding life is the abounding life.[5] A very important element of our life is that we are to be “in” him, and he is to be “in” us. Without that continual and close contact our lives will always be unfruitful.[6]
Therefore, we should unite with Jesus. If our branch unites with the vine of Jesus, we will bear much fruit.
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (v. 8). Jesus does not look for fruitfulness simply from a few great saints. He expects each one of us to live a fruitful life. And he speaks of a large quantity of fruit. We are not disciples in the sense in which we should be if we are content with the minimum. Jesus expects each of his followers not only to bear fruit, but to bear much fruit.[7]
What does the parable of the vine teach us?
Bearing fruit does not depend on the branch, but from the tree. If the branch is attached to vine, it will bear abundant fruits of grapes, berry after berry. This is the truth that we ought to remember.
[1] Temple, Readings in St. John’s Gospel, 252-253.
[2] Phillips, Exploring the Gospel of John, 288.
[3] Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John, 519.
[4] Barclay, The Gospel of John, 205.
[5] Phillips, Exploring the Gospel of John, 289.
[6] Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John, 518.
[7] Morris, Reflections on the Gospel of John, 518.