Who is Jesus? The True Vine

Verses:

' “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; 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.'

John 15:1

'I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. “Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad? Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled. I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it.” The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the nation of Israel, and the people of Judah are the vines he delighted in. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress. '

Isaiah 5:1

'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. '

Galatians 5:22

Devotional:

Throughout the Old Testament, God referred to the people of Israel as His beloved vineyard. Unfortunately, although God provided everything the Jewish nation needed to bear good fruit, for one reason or another they only produced wild grapes (see Isaiah 5:1-7). As a result, when people read about the vine, it was almost always done so under the banner of failure, and it was almost always followed by a pronouncement of God’s judgment. And yet, Jesus uses this term to refer to Himself. Jesus said, "I am the true Vine". So, what did Jesus mean?

With one statement Jesus was saying, I have come to do what you could not do. I have come so that you might produce the kind of fruitfulness that pleases God. Through My death I will bring life. Through My Spirit I will give direction. And through My presence you will become the branches that bear much fruit in the world! But here’s the secret to a fruitful life: you cannot thrive spiritually without a strong connection to the Vine.

Reflect:
How often are we like Israel, trying to produce fruit on our own, striving in our own strength to be patient, loving, or self-controlled? But, when we disconnect from the true source, we wither spiritually. Jesus reminds us that apart from Him, we can do nothing. True spiritual growth comes not from effort alone, but from abiding in Him—staying close through His Word, seeking Him in prayer, and walking in obedience. The more we abide in Him, the more we reflect His love, joy, peace, and goodness to the world around us.

Respond:
Today, take time to evaluate: are you abiding in Jesus or relying on your own strength? What one step will you take today to stay connected to the true Vine, so that He will sustain you, strengthen you, and help you produce lasting fruit for His glory?

Pray:
Lord, help me abide in You daily. Keep me connected to Your presence so I may bear fruit that glorifies You. Prune what is not of You and fill me with Your life-giving Spirit. Amen.