“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

In our various Scriptural portraits of Jesus Christ, that of the Vine is an especially intimate view of the relationship between Christ and His followers. Much could be said of the Vine symbolism; and this space doesn’t allow for a full discussion of the subject. However, we do note several key points from which further study may proceed:

1. The people of Israel are likened to a vine (Psalms 80:8; Jeremiah 2:21; Hosea 10:1).
2. A certain ruler is likened to a vine (Judges 9:12-13; Ezekiel 17).
3. The heavenly host is likened to leaves on a vine (Isaiah 34:4).
4. The City of Jerusalem is likened to a vine (Ezekiel 15:6; 19:10).

In making a spiritual application of these points, we get a composite view of a vine as a central figure from which dependents draw their sustenance.

Here we see the significance of Christ’s identification as the True Vine. He is the Source of Life, from which we all receive physical sustenance. Death is separation from Life.

So also in the spiritual sense: the same way that branches must be attached to the vine in order to live, Christians must be attached to the True Vine in order to have spiritual life. But note that the life of a branch is not its own, rather it is the Life of the Vine (Romans 8:11).

In our text, Jesus explains that His life in us is not the end, but the means whereby we “bringeth forth much fruit.” The Life of the Vine works in the branches to produce Fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). Christ has chosen us as His disciples to be spiritually fruitful (John 15:16). Because of Christ’s choosing of us, we have the responsibility to yield ourselves to Him so that the Life and Love of Christ may be reproduced in us by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.

Failure to be spiritually fruitful keeps one from realizing the purpose of being chosen. We cannot bear fruit without staying “connected” to the Vine. This we do through regular Bible study, prayer, fellowship in the Body of Christ, and continual yielding of our will to His, as we surrender, submit, obey, and endure in His grace. Then we will bear His Fruit; then that Fruit will remain; then we will please God.

Christian Life requires living in spiritual attachment to the Source of Life as branches attached to the True Vine. Through this abiding in Him, and He in us, we are identified with Him. Only then do we come to understand our Christian identity as His Life is reproduced in us, conforming us to His image, and bringing us to a place of Oneness with Himself.

Jesus tells us that a tree is known by the kind of fruit it bears, and “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (Matthew 7:18). In order to bear spiritual fruit, we have to stay connected to the Vine, the Source of our Spiritual Life and Fruit.