Here, Jesus begins His analogy of the vine and branches by saying that He is the "true vine", God the Father is the "vinedresser" (or husbandman), and His disciples are the “branches”. Three characters are involved in this analogy.
1.
The Husbandman
Jesus
says: "My Father is the Husbandman." The word
“husbandman” means “vinedresser.” It means one who has the care of a vineyard. God
is the Vine-dresser, that is, He “dresses up” the vine. He is the
gardener who takes care of the vine. He cuts and prunes the branches and
gathers the fruits.
The
vinedresser has authority over the vine. By describing the Father as the
Vinedresser, Christ is describing His relationship with the Father as well as
His actions in the lives of the disciples. Christ’s humility and subjection is
shown in this analogy. He said: “My Father is greater than I” (John
14:28).
The
vinedresser also has authority over the branches. He cuts and prunes the
branches. “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” (John 15:2). God takes care of all the branches in the vine and
those which are dead and fruitless, he cuts them but He takes special care of
the fruitful branches.
To
call God the Father a Vinedresser is to say He cares for the vine personally.
And it’s indeed comforting to know that we are under the care of God: “Casting
all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
2.
The True Vine
Jesus
calls Himself the "true" vine. By "true" He means,
"genuine." He uses the definite article to describe Himself and
thereby says I am "the" vine, not "a" vine; not any vine,
but the one and only vine His disciples should abide in: “As the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can
ye, except ye abide in me” (John 15:4). He is "the" only
true vine in contrast to something that the disciples might consider the true
vine.
The
vine is the source of life for the branches. It provides the water and
nutrients by which the grapes are produced. Without the vine, no fruit could
ever result. Hence, Jesus is the source of all spiritual strength and blessings
to His disciples (Ephesians 1:3). And, as the branches are utterly dependent
upon the vine for life, therefore, without Christ, there is no eternal life
(John 14:6; Acts 4:11-12).
3.
The Branches.
The
“branches” refers to the believers. It does not refer to the various
denominations. The condition of a fruitful branch is that it must abide in the
Vine. What is included in abiding in the Vine? The answer: “If ye abide in
me, and my words abide in you,” (John 15:7). Every denomination
originated from a different vine and not from the true vine because they don’t
abide in the doctrine of Christ: “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not
in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of
Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (2 John 1:9).
The
Vinedresser expects every branch to be fruitful (John 15:2). The disciples here
must be fruitful. God is honoured by a fruitful discipleship: “Herein
is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples”
(John 15:8).
The
word “glorified” means “honoured”. Just as any gardener is honoured when his
orchard is blossomed with much fruits, God is honoured (glorified) when HIs
vine is producing much fruits.
The
fruit, in the immediate context, consists of the converts one personally makes,
or is instrumental in helping to bring to the Lord (John 15:16). Elsewhere in
the New Testament, it refers to the admonition to produce the “fruit” of
Christian character (Galatians 5:22-23).
We
see there are two commandments for the branches. First, abide in the vine.
Stick with Christ and His teachings. Second, bear fruits. Bear the fruit of
discipleship and the fruit of the Christian character.
Are
you a fruit bearing branch?
Jimmy Lau
Psa
119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
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