Since Jesus is the true vine, He is the source of true life. In this passage, He reiterates the kind of relationship His disciples—and consequently all followers of Jesus—must have with Him. He emphasizes that He is the vine and they are the branches, highlighting their absolute need for Him. Additionally, He makes both a promise and a warning: "If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing." Positively, if a believer remains in a vital relationship with Him, he or she can expect to bear much fruit, not just some or little fruit. However, He also warns those who do not remain in Him; their lives will become purposeless and useless, like a branch that is thrown away and withers, picked up, and thrown into the fire to be burned.