Introduction:

There is no doubt as to which vine Jesus compared Himself to. Not only does the context give us a clue, but the chronological order of events cements it, The discourse of John 15 took place at the Last Supper or immediately afterward. (Compare Jn. 13:21 and Lk. 22:21-23) After Jesus compared Hid blood with the "fruit of the Vine" (Luke 22:18) He told His disciples that He was the "true Vine."

There are several reasons why Jesus pointed out that He was the "true Vine."

 

I. ISRAEL HAD BEEN A VINEYARD - (Isa. 5:1-7)

A. Planted by God.

[1]. God frees it from large stones - (vs. 2) - The obstacles that are too large for us to deal with - (Deut. 4:38; 11:23).
[2]. God builds a fence around it - (vs. 2) - To protect it from robbers and prowling animals - (Num. 32:17; 2 Chron. 14:6; 17:2,19; 19:5; 21:3).
[3]. God Builds a tower in the midst - (vs. 2) - This was a high, one room cottage, that the husbandman and family lived in during harvest time. Between harvest, the tower, which was often 40 ft. high, was occupied by a watchman. (Eze. 3:17; Isa. 21:11,12; 62:6)
[4]. God cultivated and pruned it - (vs. 6) - Vines are pruned when they become dormant. (Ps. 79:9; Eze. 20:38; 2 Chron. 34:8)
[5]. God built a wine press in (vs. 2) - Every vineyard had its own wine press, usually hewn out of solid rock and lined with mortar or small stones. An upper receptacle was made to receive the clusters of ripe grapes, which were trodden thoroughly by the feet of those stamping over them; the juice then flowed into a lower vat. (Judg. 9:13; Ps. 104:15) - God had given Israel a source of joy, yet they had miserably failed. (Jer. 2:21; Hos. 10:1)

 

II. AN INSUFFICIENT VINE PRECEDES THE ALL SUFFICIENT ONE

"How soon, and how much, will grapes bear?

Grapevines should not be allowed to bear any fruit until their third season, and then only a small crop.

The fourth season may be expected to have reached full production. This may be from 10 to 20 lbs. per vine. An average of 10 lbs. per vine would give about 3 tons per acre for vines spaced 8 to 10 ft. apart. - 10,000 Garden Questions Answered 1959, Doubleday. (Compare this with Lev. 19:23-25). Is it a coincidence that Jesus came to earth in the beginning of the fifth millennium or that God created life on the fifth day (Gen. 1:20-23 ).

A. The Father is the husbandman (Jn. 15:1)

In the Old Testament the Father is represented as the Proprietor of the vine, but here He is called the Husbandman, that is the Cultivator, the One who cares for it. The figure speaks of His love for Christ and His people: Christ as the One who was made in the form of a servant and took the place of dependency. How jealously did He watch over Him who "grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground" (Isa. 53:2)! Before His birth, the Father prevented Joseph from putting away his wife (Matt. 1:18-20). Soon after His birth the Father bade Joseph to flee into Egypt, (Ps. 80:8) for Herod would seek the young Child to destroy Him (Matt. 2:13). What proofs were these of the Husbandman's care for the true Vine!

B. Self Sufficiency is set aside for Christ's sufficiency.

[1]. The branch bears the clusters, but it does not produce them. It bears what the vine produces; "to me to live is Christ".
[2]. Fruit is always borne silently; works usually are accompanied by some sound.
[3]. Fruit is for the owner; works are usually done for others.
[4]. Good fruit can be produced only by a good tree; works can be done by bad men.
[5]. Works speak of what we do; fruit speaks of what we are.
[6]. Works represent conduct; fruit represents character.
[7]. Works are employment; fruit is enjoyment.