LESSONS FROM THE VINEYARD

John 15

Both the Vine and the Vineyard are biblical symbols of Israel.

• Ps. 80:7-16 "Restore us, O God Almighty...You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land..."

• Isa. 5:1-7 "The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel."

• Ezekiel calls Israel a vine. • Hosea 10:1 "Israel is an empty vine..."

But, it appears…

• …that this symbol is never used apart from the idea of degeneration.

STUDY THE IDENTITYI am the true vine, and my Father is

the gardener. v 1

Jesus is the true vine.

• Israel, God's intended vine had never been "true" (faithful, good).

• For its "badness" it had been abandoned.

the Father is the gardener

• He planted Israel - for his possession and pleasure.

• He abandoned Israel.

• He provided a true vine.

We are included in this picture as Branches

• Created to produce fruit.

• Created to be dependant on the vine.

• Evaluated by the "gardener" for whose pleasure we exist.

CHERISH THE INTIMACY

Remain in me, and I will remain in you – v 4

The reality of life as a Branch is that:• You either get

pruned, or clipped completely off, and thrown into the fire.

• But each ‘Branch’ seems to be accountable for the choice of it’s own end.

There is a clear relational imperative

• "Remain in me" (v. 4). "Apart from me you can do nothing" (v. 5b).– We focus the skills, actions, rules, etc. – But Jesus focuses the relationship -- It is primary.

• "Remain in my love" (v. 9b). – We are romantic cripples because we have never

learned to "be" loved. – We want to "feel" the feelings of love, but it’s hard for

us to accept love. – Love is consuming

CHOOSE THE RESULT

While every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be more fruitful. – v 2.

Fruitfulness

• If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. – v 5

Answers to prayer

• If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. – v 7

Joy that is complete

• I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. – v 11

We Know that…

These "I Am" sayings of Jesus can be traced in the furnishings of the Tabernacle

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

The beginning point is always Jesus

• In Him everything comes together.