THE VINE
John 15
1 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. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Introduction:
Today’s sermon is about the final message from Jesus to His disciples on the night He was betrayed. The last words or message from someone before they die is likely the most remembered. The events could have happened like this.
This conversation probably took place after the strange events in the upper room. Most of you know the story of the upper room. Jesus had desired to partake of the Passover meal with his disciples. Jesus had tried to let his disciples know of his nearing death and resurrection but they did not fully understand. At the end of the Passover meal Jesus laid aside his garments and took a towel and girded himself and begin to wash their feet. This was a task usually left for the humblest of servants. Jesus did this to teach them a lesson about humility and service.
Judas leaves to betray Jesus. Jesus talks to his disciples about many things and then Jesus says “arise let us go from here”. (Judas had already left)
Eleven men follow Jesus down the hill, through the winding streets of Jerusalem. They head for their final destination of the Mount of Olives. As they stay out of the crowds they may have walked single file between rows of neatly tended grapes, plants that have been bearing fruit for generations. Ahead rises the Mount of Olives, where unknown to the disciples, Gethsemane and betrayal await.
Here Jesus stops. Surrounded by rows of vines, the disciples can not go on and they gather around Jesus. Jesus appears to be looking for something on the ground. Jesus reaches down for a grape branch and says: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.”
I. The True Vine
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman (vine dresser).
a. (Jesus = the vine) The vine is actually the trunk that grows out of the ground. Which is traditionally cut off to about waist high, ending in a large gnarl from which branches grow in either direction.
b. (God the Father = the husbandman or the vinedresser) The vinedresser is the keeper of the vineyard. His job is simply to coax from his plants the most fruit possible a healthy and properly tended vineyard means more fruit.
c. (You and I = the branches) In the vineyard, the branches are the focus of the vinedresser’s efforts because they produce the fruit. Branches are tied to a trellis or propped up with sticks to let air circulate, provide the maximum amount of sunshine, and to allow full access for tending. The vinedresser lovingly cultivates each branch so that it will bear as much fruit as possible.
II. Lifted Up
2a Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away (“airo” take up or lift up)…
A. Taketh away – some would say this means if you bear no fruit you cannot be a Christian.
a. The Greek word “airo” that some interpret “take away” would be better-interpreted take up or lift up.
b. This verse says “Every branch in me” other scriptures describe the believer as “In Christ” for example:
• 1 Corinthians 1:30 “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
• Also Ephesians 2:10; and Philippians 3:9
c. A person who grows grapes will walk countless hours: tending the grapes, watching them develop, waiting for the perfect day to harvest
d. New branches have a tendency to grow along the ground; the leaves get coated in dust. When it rains, they get muddy and mildewed.
e. Do they cut it off and throw it away?
• No, they go through the vineyard with a bucket of water looking for those branches.
• They lift them up wash them off .
• They attach them to the trellis, where they will soon grow and thrive.
B. God like the vinedresser lifts up the new Christian out of the dirt (sin) and helps them to get attached and become healthy productive Christians.
• As Christians, sin is like dirt covering the grape leaves.
• Air and light cannot get in and the vine becomes sick and produces no fruit.
• We all go through times when we produce little or no fruit. If your eyes are on God, his eyes will be on you.
• God will not let you die spiritually.
• Instead He will lift you up and wash you off and reattach you to the trellis where you can thrive and bear fruit again.
III. Fruit, More Fruit, and Much Fruit
2b and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
a. It is the vinedresser’s job to get most fruit possible from his branches. God will purge (rebuke) us, train us, and mold us until he gets us to start bearing fruit.
b. The vinedresser prunes the grape vine in order to get more fruit. He knows exactly where and how to prune the vine to force it to produce more fruit.
c. Many times God must also prune us. In Gods expert hands he knows exactly what is holding us back and what we need to give up to help us produce more fruit. This may be painful but if we trust God and allow him to work in our lives as he wants he will help us produce more fruit.
d. As the vine matures the ability for greater yields increase, but the pruning becomes even more intense.
e. We go through trials that will strengthen us during these times of pruning we learn to surrender all to God. We learn to put everything in our life, even our most precious things into the hands of God.
f. Once we give all to God we will produce much fruit.
IV. What is Fruit?
A. In practical terms, fruit represents good works – (def) A thought, attitude, or action of ours that God values because it glorifies him
B. Types of Fruit
a. Inner Fruit – You bear inner fruit when you allow God to nurture in you a new, Christ like quality: Galatians 5:22 & 23 tell us. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
b. Outer Fruit – You bear outward fruit when you allow God to work through you to bring Him glory. Whether you are helping a widow, taking care of sick neighbor, spending time as a missionary
• Outward fruit appears when your motive is to bring God glory.
V. Warning!!
Jesus tells us:
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Closing:
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
As we reach this part of our journey and we have matured and given control of everything to God. We are abiding in Him and He is abiding in us. We are fruitful Christians who produce much fruit. God say we can ask what will and it shall be done, because we will ask according to Gods will. We have become mature branches securely attached to the vine, which is Jesus.
Alter Call:
Prayer:
**Information for this sermon was inspired in part by the book titled Secrets of The Vine written by Bruce Wilkinson. A book I highly recommend reading.**
