I Am the True Vine
Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from John 15:1-11. “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 this Scripture Jesus is telling His disciples the parable of the vine. He tells them He is the true vine, and His Father is the husbandman (gardener, vinedresser). Believers are considered to be the “branches.” Branches in Him which don’t bear fruit He cuts off. Branches that bear fruit, He prunes, so they will bear more fruit. There are many references to the word “fruit” in the Bible. As believers we are expected to bear fruit for the Lord.
One of the references to “fruit” is the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” This is what we should produce if we are abiding in the vine.
Ephesians 5:9 and 10 says, “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth; Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. You are clean through the Word I have spoken to you.” This is why it is important for us to study the Bible so we will know the Word. It will purify our hearts and lives so we can produce good fruit.
Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I in you. Just as the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, it must abide in the vine, and so it is for us we have to abide in Him. If you don’t abide in me, you will be like a branch that withers and is cut off and burned in the fire.”
Think of this parable as if you had a vine growing in your yard and there are branches coming off the main vine. As the gardener, you cut off the branches that are dead and prune the branches that are producing fruit so they will produce more fruit.
In this parable, God the Father is the gardener, Jesus is the main vine, and as Christians we are the branches. First Corinthians 3:11 says, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” In John 15: 7 Jesus says, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” What do you think the word abide means? Maybe it means to stay close, or continue in Him.
Jesus tells the disciples, His Father will be glorified, and they will bear much fruit; and they will be His disciples. He says, “Just as the Father has loved me, so have I loved you: continue in my love.” He wants us to come to Him, worship Him and pray to Him. Jesus tells them in the same way He loves His Father and keeps His commandments; we too should keep His commandments and abide in His love. He tells them, “These things I have told you, that my joy will remain in you, and that your joy will be full.”
Daily Bible Reading:
John 15:1-11
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 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.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Things to think about:
- What do you do to the dead branches on your vines?
- As Christians why should we abide in Jesus?
- In this Scripture, who is the gardener?
- What does this Scripture say will happen if we don’t bear fruit?
Prayer of the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who in this parable is the true vine. As Christians we are the branches, thank You that He is our source of strength and provision. Help us to abide in Him so our joy might be full. Help us to produce good fruit. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.
Bible Verse for Journaling and Memorization:
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
Excerpt from I AM: Jesus, the Son of God
Christian Music: I Am the Vine
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Jesus asks his disciples the question, “Who do men say that I am?” Then, through different metaphors, He describes who He is.
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