Tuesday, 2^nd May 2023

Alex Buabeng-Korsah

TOPIC: I AM THE TRUE VINE

THEME SCRIPTURE: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman” – John 15:1

PREPARATORY QUESTIONS:

1. What does Jesus mean by His saying, “ I am the true vine”?
2. What makes Jesus the true (genuine) vine?

Israel is often called the vine (Psalm 80:8; Isa 5:1–7) in the Old Testament. Israel was the vine Yahweh loved and cared for(Isa 27:2–3). Yet it was not fruitful for Yahweh. God's people had been barren and unfruitful repeatedly due to waywardness an corruption (Jer 2:21). Israel failed to be the vine Yahweh desired. So God went ahead to plant a new vine. The owner and dresser of this new vine is God.

If Israel was the old and unfruitful vine, then who is this new vine?

Heading towards Gethsemane through the way of the temple, Jesus spots one of the chief ornaments of decoration: a giant golden vine with a cluster. At the sight of this ornament, Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman."  He continues by saying, “Every branch in Me that bears no fruit, He [the Father] takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” (John 15:2).

Jesus intimates that He is the true vine, the vine that is fruitful to the Father.

As the true vine, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross (Phil 2:8). Through His death, Jesus has reconciled the world to the Father, bringing us salvation (Rom 5:10). Again, Jesus is the true vine; through Him, the Father has had many sons and daughters (Gal 3:26).

When Jesus called Himself the true vine, He meant both His relationship with His disciples (the branches) and the glory and fruits He brings to the husbandman (the Father).

Jesus’ intimate relationship with His disciples cannot be described in precise theological terms. So as He has always done all through His ministry, He uses the motif of a vine and its branches to illustrate this. “I am the vine; you are the branches. He that abides in Me and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). By this, Jesus is indicating that all His disciples must remain in life-union with Him if we are going to bear fruit. He is the vine, the one whose life runs through the branches. He is the true vine that sustains and provides nourishment to every branch that wants to be fruitful. Remember, some branches are unfruitful. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches stifle the fruitfulness of some disciples. They have many leaves but no fruits. Such, the Father takes away from the vine (John 15:2); he is cast forth as a branch, and it is withered (John 15:6).

Precious One, Jesus is the true vine, and we are the branches. It is important that we remain in life-union with Him every day. This is because, without Him, we can do nothing. God bless you more.

FURTHER READING – John 15:1-8

 Call to Salvation: Today is your day if you have not received salvation by turning over your life to Jesus Christ. Click here to do so

 

QUESTION TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:

1.  How are you bearing fruits in Christ Jesus? Are you a fruitful branch?

 

CONFESSION

Precious Jesus, I affirm this day that you are the true vine and I am the branch. I confess that your life is at work in me, and I choose to remain in life-union with you all my days. I confess that from today onward, I am become a fruit-bearing branch in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah

 

1-Year Bible Reading Plan

Deuteronomy 19; Ecclesiastes 11; Acts 10