Jesus, the Vine: Jesus told his disciples, "I am the vine; you are the branches." This was the perfect analogy for the Christian life. Staying connected to Jesus means staying connected to the very life and love of God. This life consists of joyful obedience, fruitful work, and friendship with Jesus. What could be better than that? Recorded on Feb 25, 2024, on John 15:1-17 by Pastor David Parks.

Finding Life in Jesus’ Name is a sermon series on the gospel according to John in the Bible. Have you ever felt unsatisfied with your life? Or, even when things were going well, something was still missing? Many people sense there must be something more. But what?? John, one of the closest friends of Jesus, believed that Jesus came into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full. Jesus turned John’s life upside down, and John claims this new life — marked by God’s power, presence, and purpose — is available for all who believe.

Sermon Transcript

All year, we’re working through The Gospel According to John in a series called Finding Life in Jesus’ Name. Today, as we start John chapter 15, we’ll consider the seventh and final “I AM” statement of Jesus in John’s gospel. Jesus says, “I am the true vine.” This teaching has huge implications for the Christian life. Maybe there’s someone here who is wondering what it would mean for them to become a Christian. What would that be like? What would have to change? Or maybe there’s someone who’s been a Christian for some time and is wondering, is this it? Should I be doing something more? Well, if you want to know what it looks like to do life with Jesus — if you want to know how it would transform you, or what would be required of you, then you need to understand what it means that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. If you have a Bible/app, please take it and open it to John 15:1. We’ll read through this and unpack it as we go.

John 15:1–4 (NIV), “1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” Ok, let’s pause here. So, again, this is the night before the cross of Christ. And Jesus is telling the Twelve, minus Judas, some very important things to help them not only get through the next few traumatic days, but to equip them for the whole of the Christian life. And there are few other passages as important for us today in understanding what life looks like with Jesus. Now, Jesus is a brilliant teacher. And he uses the analogy of the vine and the branches to teach us something about himself, about us, and about the work that God is doing in our lives when we are connected to him. As I said, this is the seventh “I AM” statement of Jesus in John’s gospel. There are seven signs and seven statements that point to Jesus being God. “I AM” refers to the divine name of God in the OT. But also, these “I AM” statements reveal something about Jesus’ mission/purpose. Here, he says, “I am the true vine,” which means that he is the source of life for the branches. If there’s a branch that fails to produce fruit, it’s cut off. But every branch that does bear fruit is pruned by God the Father so that it will be even more fruitful. Jesus says, “Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” What does all this mean? And what kind of fruit is Jesus talking about? Let’s keep going and see if it becomes more clear. (v. 5)

John 15:5-8 (NIV), “5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up,