Jesus—I AM the True Vine
“The branch does not exist for itself, but to bear fruit that can proclaim the excellence of the vine: it has no reason of existence except to be of service to the vine.” Andrew Murray
Introduction:
John 15:1, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.”
1. Jesus is the real, authentic vine in contrast to Israel:
2. Jesus makes it clear that the vine is:
John 15:2-3, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.”
1. There are those branches who give the appearance of belonging to Jesus:
2. There are those branches that truly do belong to Jesus because they:
3. Those branches that bear fruit must be cleansed so that:
4. Every word that Jesus speaks to us:
5. Pruning also means a cutting away of everything that:
John 15:4, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
1. To abide means to remain, stay, continue with, and dwell. It means this:
2. To abide in Jesus is the secret of bearing fruit:
John 15:5, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
1. The branch has no other purpose than:
2. The branch never has the responsibility of:
3. The vine supplies all the nourishment:
So, what does this fruit that the vine produces look like?
1. A love and compassion for sinners:
2. A burden for those who are:
3. A strong desire to be a blessing:
4. A new courage and strength:
5. A deeper understanding:
6. A deeper assurance of:
7. A desire to live in such a way that the:
8. A joy that is only produced:
Conclusion: