Session Seven: I Am the True Vine
In this session, we’ll explore:
Why we need to stay connected to Jesus
Why Jesus has called us to follow Him
Jesus’ command to us
‘Remember, you are not a tree, that can live or stand alone. You are only a branch. And it is only while you abide in Christ, as the branch in the vine, that you will flourish or even live.’
Robert Murray M’Cheyne
1. Reflect
Read Isaiah 5:1–7 and Hosea 10:1-2.
What do these verses tell us about the image of the vine or vineyard in the Old Testament? What does God expect and what has gone wrong?
2. Read
Read John 15:1-17. Jesus is speaking to His disciples at the Last Supper. From what you’ve just seen in the Old Testament, what do you think they would have understood when Jesus talked about being the true vine?
What is Jesus talking about when he speaks about the vine being pruned? What do you feel about that idea?
What does Jesus mean when he speaks about being fruitful? How do we remain fruitful?
What do verses 9–17 tell us about the way that Jesus sees his disciples?
Can you command someone to love? How does that work?
Which of these verses most clearly summarises what this passage is about?
Need help? Here are some hints…
The image of the vine or the vineyard is used in the Old Testament as a picture of Israel. Despite God’s care, provision and protection things went badly. The Old Testament is not just a book that people had, it is the foundation of the way that the Jewish people thought when Jesus was alive.
1. The disciples would have instantly made the link to Israel and its calling to be the people of God. They would have understood Jesus to be making a massive claim, that in him, God was fulfilling the hopes of Israel and bringing justice and righteousness.
2. The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives includes the idea of him cutting away the dead wood - everything in us that is not good. This sounds like a destructive process but pruning produces the conditions for better, stronger new growth. It is getting rid of the stuff that is of no use any more.
3. Fruitfulness in the Kingdom is about what the Holy Spirit is producing in, and though, our lives. The implication of this is that everyone of us is meant to be fruitful; that is God’s purpose for us. Israel produced bad fruit, but we are to produce good fruit. Fruitfulness comes from staying close to Jesus.
It is important to think about how we remain in Jesus and what is involved in that.
Jesus is speaking about the impossibility of being part of his Kingdom without a living relationship with him.
4. Jesus is completely motivated and controlled by love (see 1 John 4:7–12)
He knows exactly what is going to happen to him but he chooses to take that path for the sake of his disciples
He calls us his friends - it is worth exploring this amazing idea
6. Many possible answers but verse 13 is the right one!
3. Act
In what practical ways can we obey Jesus’ command to love each other?
4. Pray
Give thanks for those that have shown you God’s love in some way.
Ask God to show you how you can show His love to people around you.
