Grace and Peace

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. (John 15:1 ESV)

The vine was a powerful symbol and one with which Jesus’ disciples would immediately identify. The vine was a symbol of Israel itself.  During the Maccabean period of Jewish history, it was the vine which served to represent Israel on their coinage. Even before that, Scripture (Psalm 80 and others) used the vine to identify Israel .  Isaiah’s prophecy declared that Israel had produced bad fruit and that righteousness and justice were lacking.  Israel, the vine, had gone bad.  Those who ought to have been tending, guarding, and keeping the vine were failing miserably.  Now, Jesus identifies Himself as the True Vine and His Father as the Gardener.

Then think about a little later in the night, as the disciples left the upper room after sharing the Passover meal together.  They then made their way toward Gethsemane which took them pass the Temple.  A chief symbol decorating the Temple was a golden vine with a cluster of grapes as large as a man.  In His ministry, Jesus had often challenged the corruption of Temple worship practices.  When He said, “I will destroy this Temple and raise it up on the third day” in reference to His own death and resurrection, perhaps Jesus had in mind the fact that this symbol of the vine of Israel would soon be shown to be inferior to the True Vine.

Also, consider the elements present at the Passover meal.  On the table had been lamb.  Remember John the Baptist identifying Jesus as “The Lamb of God, come to take away the sins of the world.”  There was also bread.  Jesus had identified Himself as the “Bread of Life;” the true staple of spiritual life. There was wine as well.   Jesus points to Himself as the Source of the real fruit of life.  He is the True Vine.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 English Standard Version)

“I am the way”, said the One who would soon be nailed to a cross; being both despised and rejected by men.  Jesus, in life, always pointed men to the Father and even in death, He remained the signpost of heaven pointing the way home.

“I am the Truth”, said the One who would soon be accused and slandered by the lies of evil men.  The lies would carry the moment and the Son of God would be turned over to be crucified, but the Truth of God endures long after those men are dead and in the grave.

“I am the Life”, said the One whose dead body would soon be placed in a borrowed tomb.  That dark moment looked like the end until He bodily rose from the tomb on the third day.  Not only did He rise from the dead, but He lives forever and by God’s grace through faith in what Jesus has done for us at the cross, we can, too!