The Symbol of the True Vine — John 15

The Son of God always had a peculiar way of conveying spiritual truths using the visible world. The passage of The True Vine, found in John 15, is no different. The metaphor not only portrays a unique relationship between Christ and his disciples, but a God who symbolically identifies himself as the “True Vine.” Why would Christ use such an image of a plant and it’s fruit? A closer look at the chapter’s content, context and original language could be of assistance to better understand Christ’s purpose for his odd but appropriate comparison.

The Vinedresser, Vine and the Branches

It is Jesus, himself, who reveals the symbols found in John 15:1–17. We have the Vinedresser who represents the Father and cultivates his plants, the True Vine who represents Jesus and the fruit’s vital life source, and the branches who represent the disciples and who determine the result of fruit. The picture to the left is a visual depiction of the relationship between the three.

“Meinate” in Christ

Jesus then turns our attention to the focal point of this passage in the following excerpt:

“4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ” — John 15:4–6 (NKJV)

It’s important to note that the purpose of the branches is to bear fruit. But, how? The original Greek term “μείνατε” (“Meinate”), which means to “abide,” is also used in other areas of the New Testament where it also means to “remain,” “dwell,” “continue,” “endure,” or “await.” Only those who meinate in Christ, can one fulfill their purpose — bear fruit.

How can we know we are abiding in Christ? 1 John 4:13 tells us:

“By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because he has given us of His Spirit.”

Since it is the Spirit who sanctifies, it is only by Him being in us, that we are able bear fruit through our belief in Jesus Christ, the True Vine. Without our belief (abiding) in the Son, there is no work (fruit) of the Spirit. And because we are partakers in the Spirit (Heb. 6:4), we are to share in His holiness (Heb. 12:10) and produce the faith [in Christ] that works (James 2:14–20).

The Branch that Bears No Fruit

A branch that does not meinate in the True Vine will not produce any fruit and by result, will be cut off and thrown into a fire (a possible reference to Hell). However, this does not endorse the idea of apostasy, but rather the concept of election and the perseverance of the Saints. Our author demonstrates this belief in his first letter.

“They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.” — 1 John 2:19

The term “remained” in the scripture above finds itself in the Greek root-word “meno,” which is the same root word for John’s term, meinate, in his gospel. Believers are to continue in Christ, and bear fruit if they truly belong to Him.

Bearing Fruit in the Church

The local church provides numerous opportunities for believers to bear fruit, or works, through their service and love for God and the community. One can simply sign up for the clean-up crew, kitchen duty or media group if one wants to put his faith to action in service to their local church.

Another way to bear fruit is by participating in corporate worship, not only through one’s attendance, but by one’s spiritual present-ness before the throne of God as he gathers with others. This is made possible through the spiritual disciplines that take place during Sunday services, such as prayer, confession, worship and Bible intake (to name a few). It is though these corporate disciplines that one’s faith increases and produces more works. When the Apostle Paul said “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” in his letter to the Philippians, he was strengthened through his abiding in Christ — which produced good works in bringing the Gospel to others. As the prisoner’s faith increased, so did his works (fruit) for the community.

Let us be encouraged and appreciative of Christ’s symbolic passage in John 15. His truth and image of being the True Vine has the power to communicate a unique relationship and faith that is work within us as his disciples that I’m not so sure he could communicate otherwise. Through his symbolic representation, Christ’s identity and symbol as the True Vine will always convey a sense unity within the Godhead and the faith within His believers.

“Symbolism exists precisely for the purpose of conveying the imagination what the intellect is not ready for.”

— C.S. Lewis