John 15:1
January 18, 2012 Leave a Comment
Good morning friends,
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
What triggered Jesus to discuss this metaphor a vine at this moment is unclear. Thought there is difficulty with the idea, Jesus and the disciples may have left the upper room for the Kidron Valley as is possibly seen in the last phrase of chapter 14; “Arise, let’s go from here.” Maybe they were passing a vineyard as they were in route. It could be that as they were drinking wine the discussion came to mind. None-the-less Jesus jumps into this discussion about the true vine. The imagery would be common to them. Numerous times God in the Old Testament refers to Israel to a vineyard or vine. Jesus here says that He is the true vine – He is the fulfillment of Israel. God does not have two plans of redemption – one for Israel and one for the Church. We might consider Psalms 80:14-18 at this moment:
Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine, the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself. They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face! But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself! Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name.
Look at this just for a moment. First we see the Psalmist calling God to return to His people (the vine). We next see that the vineyard is in poor condition. Now the Palmist pleads that God would restore His grace on Israel and that He would do so through the “son of man.” Clearly this Psalm is a prefigurement of Christ. Christ came at the fullness of time announcing that He was the true vine and that His Father was the vinedresser. The Father owned the vineyard and was responsible for the care of it. Jesus is clearly the fulfillment of Israel. Furthermore when Jesus says He is the “true” vine He is indicating that He is the “genuine” or the “perfect ideal.” Though we are not there yet our being “in” the vine is of great significance from where we draw our spiritual “life.”
Bill
Heidelberg Catechism
Q. 29. Why is the Son of God called “Jesus”, that is a Saviour?
A. Because he saveth us, and delivereth us from our sins; (a) and likewise, because we ought not to seek, neither can find salvation in any other. (b) (a) Matt.1:21; Heb.7:24,25. (b) Acts 4:12; John 15:4,5; 1 Tim.2:5; Isa.43:11; 1 John 5:11.
