JESUS: THE TRUE VINE

And His Name Shall Be Called #3

Pastor Mark Warda

Woodland Church

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

(John 15:1-11, ESV) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 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. 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. 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. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

A.  Our obedience to Christ.

1. We need to know our identity with Christ.

2. We need to follow Christ.

3. We need to remain in Christ.

Two of the seven “I am” statements of Jesus are “I am the Good Shepherd” and “I am the Door of the Sheep.”

(John 10:3-4) “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice”

As Christians, we are like those sheep who come at the voice of the Lord-the One who calls us by name-and we obediently follow Him.

Unlike animals bound by instinct, we’re uniquely made in God’s image with a free will to choose to follow God or choose to reject God.  

There’s a “call of the wild” in all of us.  It’s called our sin nature.  And unless we remain in Christ we are in danger of abandoning Christ.

(John 15:1-2) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 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.”

God the Father, the gardener, prunes the branches (that’s us) so that we bear much fruit.

(John 15:8) “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

But if we do not bear fruit, then we are denying God His glory.

“People judge by the fruit of a garden of what the gardener is. People judge of God by the fruit that the branches of the Vine of His planting bears. Little fruit brings little glory to God.” – Andrew Murray

We serve by the power of God that He may be glorified.

(1 Peter 4:11) “…whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

(John 15:5) “I am the vine. You are the branches.”

B.  Our relationship to Christ.

1. Branch is our identity.

2. Bearing fruit is our obedience to whom we are identified.

3. And in so doing, we bring glory to God.

    

Unless we remain in the vine, we can’t produce fruit. 

The branch does not draw nutrients from the vine; rather the vine pumps nutrients into the branches.

The branch is utterly dependent upon the vine for its nutrients.

(Philippians 4:19) “God … will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

(John 15:4) “Abide in Me and I in you.”

The fruit of the vine is nothing less than people putting their trust in Christ for their salvation.

(John 15:16) “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain”

Just as we Christians are to remain in Christ, our fruit – that is, those who have also become Christians – are to likewise remain in Christ.

(John 15:11) “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” 

(Hebrews 12:2) “For the joy set before him he endured the cross”

Jesus is the vine who supplies all the needs of the branches.

God the Father is the gardener who works to ensure the branches produce much fruit, fruit that will remain.

We are the branches, dependent upon the vine, whose job is to produce fruit for the vine that the gardener will be glorified.

It’s precisely what we mean when we say “Celebrating God’s love (glorifying God) by persuading people to become passionate followers of Christ (bearing fruit that remains).

GROWTHWORK

1. A pet will wear a tag to identify its ownership. In what specific ways are you identified to others as a Christian belonging to God?
2. When and how have you experienced the connectedness of life on the vine?
3. When have you seen the value of both pruning and fruitfulness in your own section of God’s vine?
4. Which areas of your life could be described as your comfort zone that are metaphorically leafy but devoid of fruit?
5. Which areas of your life need pruning and how would it promote fruit bearing?
6. Who will you invite to Christmas Eve Service?
7. Pencil-sketch a vine with many interconnecting branches. Highlight your section of the branches as they connect to the vine. Mark those branches with names of people and ministries and sketch your various connections to each. Include any “fruit” that you are aware of. Consider various weaknesses and strengths in your drawing of branches and revise the shape and size of the branches accordingly. Show the centrality of the vine and the various interwoven connections of the branches. Prayerfully reflect on what your pencil-sketch reveals.