A Vine and Branches Teaching From
the Gospel of John, Chapter 15, Verses 1-8
By
J. Owen Allen, Ph.D.
This morning, I’d like to talk a few minutes about our heavenly Father’s Vineyard. Because His vineyard is huge. It has over two billion branches in it, and you and I are two of those branches. So I think it’s important for us to understand how His vineyard works, and what we’re supposed to be doing in it.
But – before we get to those details – let me confess that I like grapes. And I like vineyards. There are 60 different kinds of grapes in vineyards around the world and, whenever I can, I like to stroll through a vineyard to see the grapes grow and to watch the harvest.
What’s interesting is that that there are only 200 official wine districts in the U.S. And the Yadkin Valley of North Carolina is one of them. Winston-Salem and Forsyth County are on the eastern edge of the valley, and the valley has over 50 wineries in it.
One of my favorite Yadkin Valley vineyards is the Childress Vineyard in Lexington, North Carolina, south of Winston-Salem. I like Childress because it has a nice restaurant, a big gift shop, and walking trails among the vines. Jody and I visit there several times a year, and I always feel close to the Early Christians there because grapes were so important to them.
Some people don’t realize this, but every Christian family in the First Century had its own private vineyard and winepress. We know that because researchers have excavated Early Christian homes and have found the remains of their vineyards and winepresses.
One reason the Early Christians had vineyards and winepresses is that wine was valuable in the First Century. The Greek word for wine is oinos (pronounced “OYE’-nahss”). It word oinos is used over 200 times in the New Testament, and it always refers to standard, ordinary, fermented wine.
The Early Christians knew that wine contains nature’s only natural tranquilizers and nature’s only natural germ killers. So they used wine as a tranquilizer; as a medicine; as a cash crop; and as a daily drink for men, women, and children – especially in areas where the water wasn’t pure. We see those uses mentioned in Bible stories like: the Old Wineskins; the Good Samaritan; the Wedding at Cana; and Timothy drinking wine for an upset stomach.
Because of the popularity of wine – it’s not surprising that Jesus used wine as a symbol of the Holy Spirit … and that He used grapes as a symbol of Spiritual behavior. So knowing that – let’s now talk about the details of the Father’s Vineyard.
Jesus described the Father’s Vineyard in detail in John 15:1-5. He did it at The Last Supper – just before He was arrested. And His description of it is one of the most beautiful motivational teachings in the New Testament. So let’s read that teaching straight from the Bible. Here we go.
Verse 1. (Read) So our heavenly Father has a huge vineyard here on earth. And its name isn’t “Childress.” Its name is Christianity. And our heavenly Father is the vinedresser of that vineyard. However, He only has one Vine in His vineyard That one Vine is Jesus. But that one Vine has over two billion branches! Those branches are us Christians here on earth. You and I are two of those branches.
But the big lesson in Verse 1 is this: There’s only one true Vine in the Father’s vineyard – and that’s Jesus. What does that mean? It means He is our only Spiritual root as Christians. He’s our only true Spiritual motivation. He’s our only true source of Spiritual behavior. We have no other source of Spirituality. Think about that a minute. That sets the table for everything else we’re going to read. Now let’s read Verse 2.
Verse 2. (Read) This tells us exactly how the Father’s vineyard works. It also tells us exactly what the Father expects from us. The Bible teaches three (3) kinds of Christians: infant Christians; growing Christians; and mature Christians.
But notice that the Father classifies Christians (He calls us “branches”) by the amount of fruit we produce. As you know, the Greek word Jesus is using in these verses is karpos (pronounced “car-PAHSS'”). Literally, karpos means fruit, such as apples, oranges, and grapes. But figuratively – and that’s how Jesus is using it here – it means Spiritual behavior. It refers to supernatural love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. That’s what the Father expects us to produce in His vineyard. But our only source of it is Jesus.
Also notice something important. This isn’t a negative verse. It’s a positive verse. Most Bibles translate this verse to say that the Father “cuts off” branches that aren’t bearing fruit. But that’s a poor translation. The Greek actually says that He “lifts them up.” And that’s exactly what vinedressers do. When a branch isn’t producing, the vinedresser takes string or wire, and pulls it up higher on the trellis, so it can get more air and sun, and can start producing. Those branches are the infant Christians. And the Father is trying to help them start producing!
Next, Verse 2 says the Father “prunes” branches that are already producing so that they’ll produce even more. That refers to growing Christians. The Greek word “prune” means to “cleanse” – to make a Christian free of flesh and sin. So all Christians are expected to produce some Spiritual behavior. Then they’re expected to produce even more Spiritual behavior! But how does that happen? Let’s find out in Verses 3 and 4.
Verse 3. (Read) This verse says that Christians are already “cleansed” – or that they’re supposed to be – because of the “word” that Jesus has spoken to them. The term “word” in Greek means a “Spiritual principle,” or a “Spiritual mandate.” And Jesus has already spoken the mandate that He’s our only source of Spirituality. He’s our only hope for Spiritual living. So what are we supposed to do about it all? Let’s find out in Verse 4.
Verse 4. (Read) This verse gives us full instructions for how the Father’s Vineyard works. It says that Jesus is going to “remain” in us. But our job is to “remain” in Him! The Greek word “remain” means to “continue” in Him, to “endure” in Him, and to “not give up” relying on Him.
So He’s going to continue indwelling us. But we need to continue letting Him motivate us. No Christian can produce Spiritual behavior with his or her human nature. Christians must continue letting Jesus motivate them through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus makes all this crystal clear in our last verse. Let’s read it now.
Verse 5. (Read) This verse summarizes the principles that Jesus taught in the first four verses. He’s the Vine in the Father’s Vineyard. We Christians are the branches off that vine. And if we “continue” letting Him motivate us, we’ll produce much fruit – that is, we’ll be mature Christians.
But probably the most important part of Verse 5 is the last sentence. That’s where Jesus says: “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” He means that apart from the inner motivation of the Spirit of Christ within us, we can do nothing Spiritual. And yet, we’ve seen in these five verses that it’s the Father’s will that we bear fruit, and more fruit, and much fruit, as Christians. So now let’s put the icing on the cake. I didn’t tell you this. But we have one more verse to read. It’s Verse 8 in Chapter 15. Let’s read that final verse now.
Verse 8. (Read) This verse says that when we’re mature Christians by producing “much” Spiritual behavior, we glorify the Father. That means we honor Him; we praise Him; we magnify Him, by becoming mature Christians! But notice one last point. This verse says that when we become mature Christians, we prove that we’re Jesus’s disciples. Think about that a minute. What else would prove that we’re disciples? What else would glorify the Father? Nothing but living with Spiritual behavior day-by-day can prove that we’re disciples. Only that glorifies the Father.
That’s the only way we can live with Spiritual love, joy, peace, healing, and miracles. And to do that, all we have to do is release more of the indwelling Holy Spirit’s power within us. That’s what the Early Christians did in the First Century. And that’s what we need to do today.
That’s the only way we can have “a little bit of heaven on earth.” That’s the only way we can be a mature Christian and produce much fruit during the day. The big question is: Are we doing that? How much fruit do we produce during the day? More importantly, how much can we produce? I believe we can produce as much as the Early Christians produced. And I believe we’re supposed to produce that much.
I think that’s why Paul said in Ephesians 5:18, “Be filled with the Spirit!” And he said it in the Greek command tense. It wasn’t a suggestion or a hint. It was a military-style command. So together, let’s obey it. Let’s pray for one another, support one another, and encourage one another to be mature Christians and produce much Spiritual fruit.
Let’s pray for that right now. Let’s pray for it now. (Pray.)
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