“Jesus: The True Vine” | John 15:1 Commentary

What follows is an excerpt from a John 15:1-8 Bible Study that was streamed on 5.18.22

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  • “I AM”
  • The True Vine
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Commentary

In John 15:1, Jesus says:

I am the Vine – the True [Vine] – and my Father is the Vinedresser. (Jn 15:1, AT)

“I AM”

Now, they may look insignificant, but the first two words are very important. Jesus says, “I AM”.

As we’ve discussed before, when Jesus gives Himself the title, “I AM”, He is using language from Exodus 3, where God reveals His Name to Moses at the Burning Bush.

In Exodus 3:13-15, it says:

13 Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”

14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM [LXX: ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν]. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” (Ex 3:13-14, NIV)

God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD [YHWH], the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

         “This is my name forever,

         the name you shall call me

         from generation to generation. (Ex 3:15, NIV)¹

Now, in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, the LORD uses the same words that Jesus uses in John (LXX: ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν).² The LORD is the Great “I AM”. And He says, “I am who I am”.

The LORD’s Name (YHWH) is likely pronounced Yah-weh. And this could mean “I am the one who is”.³ Or, it could mean “I am who I will be” or “I will be who I am”. That is, God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever more.

Now when the Jewish leaders hear Jesus insinuate that He is the great I AM – that He is God, they try to kill him because they think He is blaspheming.

As we see in John 8:56-59, Jesus says:

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

57 “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am [ἐγώ εἰμι]!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. (Jn 8:56-59, NIV)⁴

Now, if Jesus was just going around giving people helpful advice about how to get along – or if He was going around healing people from all their sicknesses – why would they try to kill Him?

You see, they wanted to kill Him because He claimed to be God.

As we see in John 10:33, His opponents say:

“We are not stoning you for any good work,” they replied, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” (Jn 10:33, NIV)

The words “I AM” may seem insignificant, but they are very important. They are so important that, in John, Jesus pronounces these words on seven important occasions (Jn 6:35, 6:41, 8:12, 9:5, 10:7, 9, 11, 14, 11:25, 14:6, 15:1, 5)⁵ (also see Jn 4:26, 6:20, 8:24, 8:28, 13:19)⁶

First, in John 6:35, it says:

Then Jesus declared, “I am [ἐγώ εἰμι] the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (Jn 6:35, NIV)⁷

Second, in John 8:12, it says:

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am [ἐγώ εἰμι] the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12; cf. Jn 9:5)⁸

Jesus also repeats this metaphorical statement in John 9:5.

Third, in John 10:7, it says:

Therefore, Jesus again said, “Amen, Amen, I say to you that I am [ἐγώ εἰμι] the door for the sheep. (Jn 10:7, AT; cf. Jn 10:9)⁹

He also repeats this metaphorical statement in John 10:9

Fourth, as we’ve studied before, in John 10:11, Jesus says:

I am the Shepherd – the Good One. The Shepherd – the Good One – lays down His life for the sheep. (Jn 10:11, AT)

He also repeats this metaphorical statement in John 10:14.

And, in my more literal translation, I’ve tried to highlight the fact that Jesus is emphasizing that He is the Good Shepherd – as opposed to the bad shepherds.

As we’ve seen, in Ezekiel 34, through the prophet, the LORD condemns the bad shepherds – the wicked leaders of Israel who were taking advantage of God’s flock instead of taking care of God’s flock – God’s people.

And the prophecy foretells of the Messianic Son of David who would gather all of God’s scattered sheep into one flock – a flock that would enjoy salvation, green pastures, and rest.¹⁰

In contrast to the bad shepherds who cared more about feeding themselves than caring for their sheep, Jesus is the Good Shepherd – who is willing to lay down His life for His sheep.¹¹

Then fifth, in John 11:25, before Jesus is about to raise Lazarus from the dead, it says:

Jesus said to her [Martha], “I am [ἐγώ εἰμι] the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; (Jn 11:25, NIV)¹²

Sixth, in John 14:6, as you may recall, it says:

Jesus says to him [Thomas], “I am [ἐγώ εἰμι] the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (Jn 14:6, AT)¹³

And seventh, in John 15:1, Jesus says, in His final “I AM” statement:¹⁴

“I am [ἐγώ εἰμι] the Vine – the True [ἀληθινός | alēthinos] [Vine] – and my Father is the Vinedresser. (Jn 15:1, AT; cf. Jn15:5)¹⁵

He also repeats this metaphor in John 15:5.

The True Vine

More literally, Jesus says, “I am the Vine – the True One” (cf. Jn 4:23, 6:32, 17:3;¹⁶ cf. Jn 1:9)!¹⁷

Now, when someone says something like, “I’m the true king” or “I’m the true champion”, what are they emphasizing?

Often, they’re emphasizing that, even though there may be another who has been called something similar, they are the true, rightful owner of that title.

So, the question is, who else has been called the “Vine”?

(Note: Wisdom is also depicted as a vine in Sirach 24:17-21, NRSV.¹⁸ Vines/vineyards were commonly used as metaphors in the ancient world).¹⁹

Well, as you’ll see in the Old Testament, the nation of Israel is often described as God’s vine or God’s vineyard (cf. Ezekiel 15, 17, 19; Ps 80:8-16;²⁰ cf. Jer 2:21; Hos 10:1-2;²¹ cf. Jer 12:10-11;²² cf. Is 27:2-6).²³

For example, in Psalm 80:8-11, it says of the LORD:

8  You transplanted a vine from Egypt;

        you drove out the nations and planted it.

9  You cleared the ground for it,

        and it took root and filled the land.

10 The mountains were covered with its shade,

        the mighty cedars with its branches.

11 Its branches reached as far as the Sea,

        its shoots as far as the River. (Ps 80:8-11, NIV)²⁴

Here, the psalmist depicts Israel as a vine that the LORD transplanted from Egypt (during the Exodus) and planted in the Promised Land.

Yet, if you keep reading, this psalm – like many others – is a lament to the LORD. For the LORD has metaphorically allowed the vine to become food for others (Ps 80:12-13).

Continuing in verse 12, the psalmist cries out to the LORD saying:

12 Why have you broken down its walls

        so that all who pass by pick its grapes?

13 Boars from the forest ravage it,

        and insects from the fields feed on it.

14 Return to us, God Almighty!

        Look down from heaven and see!

15 Watch over this vine,

        the root your right hand has planted,

        the son you have raised up for yourself. (Ps 80:12-15, NIV)²⁵

And verse 16 says:

Your vine is cut down,

   it is burned with fire; at your rebuke your people perish.

(Ps 80:16, NIV)²⁶ Also see “son of man” in Ps 80:17.²⁷

You see, the LORD allowed foreign nations to invade, cut down, and burn Israel – His vine. For His vine – His vineyard – had become wild and corrupt.

In the Book of Jeremiah, in chapter 2, verse 21, the LORD says through the prophet:

I had planted you like a choice [LXX: ἀληθινός | alēthinos] vine of sound and reliable stock. How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine? (Jer 2:21, NIV)²⁸

You see, Israel was supposed to be God’s choice vine – God’s true vine (same Greek word for “true” is used in the LXX).²⁹

But they became wild and corrupt. They produced bad fruit.

As we see in Isaiah 5:1-7, which says:

1 I will sing for the one I love

       a song about his vineyard:

   My loved one had a vineyard

       on a fertile hillside.

2 He dug it up and cleared it of stones

       and planted it with the choicest vines.

   He built a watchtower in it

       and cut out a winepress as well.

   Then he looked for a crop of good grapes,

       but it yielded only bad fruit. (Is 5:1-2, NIV)

3 “Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and people of Judah,

       judge between me and my vineyard.

4 What more could have been done for my vineyard

       than I have done for it?

   When I looked for good grapes,

       why did it yield only bad? (Is 5:3-4, NIV)

5 Now I will tell you

       what I am going to do to my vineyard:

   I will take away its hedge,

       and it will be destroyed;

   I will break down its wall,

       and it will be trampled.

6 I will make it a wasteland,

       neither pruned nor cultivated,

   and briers and thorns will grow there.

       I will command the clouds not to rain on it.” (Is 5:5-6, NIV)

And if the metaphor is not clear, Isaiah 5:7 states plainly:

7 The vineyard of the LORD [YHWH] Almighty

       is the nation of Israel,

   and the people of Judah

       are the vines he delighted in.

   And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed;

       for righteousness, but heard cries of distress. (Is 5:7, NIV;³⁰cf. Mt 21:33-41; Mk 12:1-12)³¹

(Jesus also uses a vineyard metaphor in Mt 20:1-7, 21:28; Lk 13:6-7).³²

Now the Book of Isaiah has some of our favorite, uplifting passages in all of Scripture. But it begins with judgment.

Often times, a prophet’s job was to pronounce the LORD’s judgment, and to call people to repentance.

Here, through the prophet Isaiah, the LORD God says He planted His beloved vineyard, Israel – but they produced bad fruit.

That is, they were disobedient. There was bloodshed instead of justice, cries of distress instead of righteousness.

So, God punished His people Israel by removing His hedge of protection – they were invaded by foreigners – God’s instruments of judgment.

And, in fact, whenever Israel is portrayed as a vine or vineyard in the Old Testament, it concerns Israel’s failure to produce fruit – and their subsequent judgment.³³

And as you may recall, Jesus pronounces similar words of judgment using a vineyard metaphor (that includes a watchtower and winepress) in Mark 12:1-12,³⁴ the Parable of the Wicked Tenants.

And, in contrast to Israel, God’s vineyard which became wild and corrupt, unfruitful and unfaithful, Christ says that He is the True Vine.³⁵.

(Also, in contrast to Israel, Jesus shows Himself to be the true Son of God during His temptation (Mt 4:1-11)³⁶ (see Luke 4:1-13 “Divine Paternity Tests” Bible Study).

So abiding in Christ means being a part of the new, reconstituted Israel; remaining united to Christ means being a part of the new people of God.³⁷. (Paul uses similar imagery in Romans 11:17-24).³⁸

God’s people are no longer seen as vines in a vineyard in a particular place, but as branches in the True Vine – in a particular Person.³⁹

Christ has already said that He is the only way to the Father – no one comes to the Father except through Him (Jn 14:6).⁴⁰ The only way to be a part of God’s people is to be connected to Christ.⁴¹

And Christ makes it clear that it is Father who is the One behind all the growth⁴² – God is the Gardener.

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