Studies in John’s Gospel: Knowing the Master XI
The Master as the Vine (John 15:1-17)
By Pastor Tan Moy How
The Jewish people make up only 0.2% of the world’s population but they have been relatively more intelligent and successful. Of the Nobel Prize laureates, one out of five has Jewish ancestry and 42% of these winners are in the field of economics. This could be attributed to BIO:
B – Brought Up
Every male in the traditional Jewish community has the obligation to study the Torah i.e. the five books of the Old Testament. Their upbringing is rooted in the law of God.
I – Involvement in every sphere of life study
Jewish culture is interested in every area of sphere of everyday living.
O – Observation of day to day living
Jewish culture has been taught to observe lessons in everyday living.
The vine in the vineyard is an observation of everyday life that Jesus brought to the attention of His disciples. As Jesus and His disciples were heading towards the garden of Gethsemane, sometime in mid April, they probably passed by some vineyards in the countryside. As Jesus walked, the vine may have caught His attention and He paused and began His discourse about the true vine.
Likewise in DUMC, we have the vine and branches motif that decorates the church auditorium. This reminds us that as we sit among the capacity of over 3,000 chairs (likened to the colours of grapes), that we are reminded to be fruitful to the Lord.
I. The CALL
1. To do exactly
“…but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded Me.” (John 14:31)
Even though Jesus knew that He was going away, He expected His disciples to carry on His work. Just as Jesus did what His Father has commanded Him, likewise His disciples are called to do the same. We as Christians are also His disciples.
2. To do greater things
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)
Jesus has given His disciples the authority to do even greater things in His name and nothing will harm them. This is like the account in Luke 10 when Jesus sent out the 72 disciples.
II. The CAUSE
Becoming a genuine disciple and bearing fruit for the glory for the Father.
1. The Person of the True Vine
In order to carry on Jesus’ work, we need to know how to produce fruit. The passage is all about how to become a genuine disciple. In order to become more like Him, we need to know the Person of the True Vine.
a. Jesus, the True Vine (John 15:1)
Israel was associated with the vine in the Old Testament (e.g. Psalm 80:8-9) but as Israel increase in prosperity, altars and idols were built which eventually led to its destruction (Hosea 10:1). Israelites turned away from God and became wild grapes (Isaiah 5:1-2). Wild grapes are of no use. The books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel further illustrate Israel as a chosen vine by God. Even in the parable of the wicked tenants (Mark 12), the reference of the vineyard was used. Moreover, during the attempted rebellion in AD 68-70, coins minted with the vine symbol were used.
As a result, to the Jews, the reference of the vine implies a negative image. It reflects the judgment of God. But Jesus is distinguished in the gospel of John by declaring that He is the True Vine. This implication is in contrast to Israel that became unfaithful and subject to the judgement of God. Jesus remained faithful till the very end.
Likewise, we are reminded to be careful not to forget the Lord. The church can be weakened in good times when we take God for granted.
i. The source of life to all (John 6:51)
Jesus is the bread of life and source of life to all. He is life for those who believe in Him.
ii. The source of abundant life (John 10:10)
A full life is found in Jesus Christ alone.
iii. The source of eternal life (John 11:25; 14:6; 1 John 5:11-12)
Jesus revealed to Mary and Martha that He is the resurrection and the life. Indeed, Jesus is the way the truth and the life. God has given us eternal life through faith in Christ alone.
b. God the Father, the Gardener of the True Vine
The responsibilities of the Gardener:
i. He protects the vineyard
The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. (Proverbs 15:3)
And Jesus’ prayer to His Father for His disciples,
“Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name…” (John 17:11)
The gardener watches with tender loving care and protects His vineyard. Aren’t we glad to have a watchful Father looking over us?
ii. He props up the branches
“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit…” (John 15:2a)
The Greek word for ‘cut off’ (Gk: ‘airo’) used here could also mean to “lift up” or “prop up”. In studying the process of planting at a vineyard, Bruce Wilkinson in His book ‘Secret of the Vine’ learnt that new branches tend to grow low and eventually touch the ground. The leaves will be covered by dust and mud. Instead of cutting the branches off, the gardener will come with a bucket of water to clean the mud off those branches and leaves before lifting them up with a support so that they can receive sunlight. These branches will very soon thrive and be ready to bear fruit again.
iii. He prunes the branches
“…while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be more fruitful.”(John 15:2b)
Pruning is accomplished by the word of God spoken to us.
1. Like a mirror, the Word of God reveals problem (James 1:22-25)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:22-25)
2. Like a sword, the Word of God cuts to the heart (Hebrews 4:12)
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
iv. He picks up and throws away the useless branches into the fire
If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. (John 15:6)
These branches were once attached to the vine. They were once attached to Christ but they did not remain in Him. They had life and produced fruit in the past. However, they have turned away from Christ and were cut from the source of life. If we turn away from Christ, we will become fruitless, wither and ultimately be thrown into the fire.
2. The purpose of the True Vine
a. A distinct purpose
i. The vine has but one purpose: to produce fruit (2 Timothy 2:6; James 5:7)
The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops, i.e. God. The Gardener expects fruits and a harvest. The crop is valuable to the person who plants it.
b. A distinguished purpose
i. The glorifying of the Father
This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit… (John 15:8a). When fruit is yielded, all credit goes to the Gardener.
ii. “Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever” #1 Westminster Short Catechisms
“…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
One day, we will all have a great, grand worship and the ultimate goal of the worship is to glorify God. So, we need to learn to worship now. Our daily living therefore should be an act of worship to the Lord Almighty.
c. A delegated purpose
i. The vine supplies life to the branches.
Jesus is our source of life and He alone provides life to each of us.
ii. The branches take that life and use it to bear fruit.
Fruits are the result of the life of the vine flowing through the branches. The fruitfulness of believers is part and parcel of the way the Son glorifies the Father. Hence, as an authentic disciple of Christ, we are called to attend the School of Leadership and be faithful in our journaling. The fruit bearing cause has been delegated to us and in bearing of much fruit, it shows ourselves to be true disciples.
3. The promise of the True Vine
a. An abundance of fruit (John 15:5,8)
i. Apart from Christ, zero fruit; attached to Christ, much fruit
We bear much fruit when we remain in Christ. The word ‘remain’ and ‘remains’ is mentioned 11 times in John 15 alone and 118 times in the whole of the New Testament. So, it shows the fundamental relationship with Jesus Christ is required to bear fruit, as we remain in Him.
ii. The kind of fruit-bearing which glorifies the Father:
Fruit bearing for God is Christ working through us - not through our human capabilities.
1) In winning of the lost (Romans 1:13)
In leading pre-believers to Christ, we glorify the Father.
2) In social justice (Isaiah 5:7)
The heart of God is a heart for righteousness and those who are defenceless.
3) In character development (Galatians 5:22-23)
We are called to be bear the fruit of the Spirit and reflect His character.
4) In praise giving to God (Hebrews 13:15)
We know we are honouring God when we give Him praise. Psalm 50 is a reflection of the sacrifice of praise that He desires.
5) In financial giving (Romans 15:27-28; Philippians 4:17KJV)
When Paul thanked the Philippians for their financial giving to the poor, he said their act brought fruit to their account and this account is an account that is kept in heaven.
b. An Astounding Prayer Life (John 15:7,16)
i. Prayer is heard ‘according to His will’ (1 John 5:14)
When we remain in Christ, we are in such harmony with God’s purpose that our hearts desire and concern will be that of His.
c. An ‘Agape’ Love (John 15:12-13)
i. A sacrificial love
The greatest example of such love is Jesus Christ Himself who laid down His own life because of His unconditional, selfless love for us. Likewise, we are called to love one another. In fact, we MUST love one another, if we love Jesus (John 13:34-35)
d. An Absolute Joy (John 15:10-11)
i. Definition of joy:
“The spontaneous enthusiasm of my spirit when my soul is in fellowship with the Lord.”
When the joy of the Lord is in us, that is supremely attractive to the non-believers and many have been drawn in to our church because of our joy. So smile often as it exudes the joy of the Lord in us. There is a testimony that non-believers even joined a multiplication party because they saw the radiant joy of the cell members of the group.
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We have heard of the Person of the True Vine and He has called us to remain in Him and to love one another (John 15:17). As we go out and touch the lives of those around us, they too will experience His love. That will give Him honour and glory. Therefore, let us all remain in Him and bear fruit for Christ!
Contributed by the Writing Team:
Tan Lay Guan
Do you really know Jesus?
Scripture:
Observation:
In this passage of Scripture, Jesus was explaining His dependence and unity with the Father and there is no one else that can depict God but Jesus. However, Philip’s remark somewhat implies that he did not know Jesus even though Jesus has been with him during the three years of ministry.
Application:
Jesus’ rebuke to Philip speaks to me as well that despite being a Christian for quite a number of years now, there are times when I do not take the time to know Jesus personally. It has become convenient to just know Jesus through the pulpit and through what others have discovered and learnt. I must have my own time with God and hear from Him personally.
Response:
Dear Lord, forgive me Lord for times when I only learn about You through others and not directly through You. Help me to once again be consistent in making and spending time with You and reveal Yourself more and more to me so that I will know the heart of the Father through You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Result:
We are now entering into the 2nd half of 2011. While I started off the first three months of the year pretty well and had been consistently keeping my journaling and prayer time with God, the second quarter of the year has not been so consistent. I want to get back on track and make time to know Jesus myself.