One of the discourses commonly believed to have been given after the last supper was that of the

True Vine. Matthew Henry says It is generally agreed that Christs discourse in this and the next chapter was at the close of the last supper.1 This I AM teaching instructs us about discipleship and the fruits that come from being a Christian. It is this teaching that reveals Christ Himself as one with the Father, His inexorable link to us as believers, and His fulfillment of prophecy in the Old Testament. When the meal was over and the wine drank, Jesus most likely took the opportunity to teach His inner circle about their link to Him and to those He had chosen in the world. In first century Palestine agriculture was paramount to living and with no exception the grape was a primary crop. Grapevines were also very common in Israel. Water was not generally used to drink but used for cleansing and bathing so wine was consumed in its place at the table. Christ possibly chose this opportunity to teach on the vine. Professor Towns speaks about this event as being during the Upper Room Discourse as well Jesus then went on to explain the relationship between Himself and His disciples in the context of that of the vine and the branches.2 As the Word says I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.3 Mr. Towns tells us in another text the fruit of the vine was in the Passover meal,

Matthew Henry, The Niv Matthew Henry Commentary in One Volume: Based On the Broad Oak Edition (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1999), 400 Elmer L. Towns, A Journey through the New Testament: the Story of Christ and How He Developed the Church (Nashville, Tenn.: THOMPSON CUSTOM PUBLISHING, 2002), 191-192.
3

John 15:1-2 (English Standard Version).

and Christ referred to it in the communion cup.4 And Jesus may have been drawing attention to the cup.5 Not everyone agrees on the time frame or location of this speech but it logically makes sense to follow up a meal and the communion with such a teaching as this. Towns notes three other possibilities as follows; walking through the city look out from the city and see the fires burning in the vineyardsin or near the temple in sight of the golden vine on the temples bronze gate.6 Any of these is possible but the most likely scenario is just after the supper and cup was passed. It is no accident that Jesus chose the imagery of the vine in His discourse to His disciples. . In the Morris text it states In the Old Testament the vine is often a symbol of Israel, sometimes of degenerate Israel.7 There are numerous references to the vine. Israel is pictured as the vine within the Old Testament specifically in Psalm 80:8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.8 Another very pertinent Scripture is found in Isaiah 5. Now the whole of this chapter refers to the vineyard of the Lord but verse 7 points out Israel as the vine or vineyard; For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting;9 In Jeremiah 2:21 we see another reference to Israel as a vine; Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?10 Morris says again Salvation in Christ is meant to result in the saved

Elmer Towns, The Gospel of John: Believe and Live, [Rev. ed. (Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2002), 150-151
5 6

Ibid Ibid 7 Leon Morris, Jesus Is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2012), 119-120.
8 9

Psalm 80:8 (English Standard Version) Isaiah 5:7 (English Standard Version) 10 Jeremiah 2:21 (English Standard Version)

producing qualities of character that accord with their Christian profession11 Israel did not bear fruit so it was punished. Now Christ comes along and refers to Himself as the true vine. In the image of Christ being the True Vine the Reformation Study Bible says this; As elsewhere in the Gospel true means genuine. Jesus is the final, real vine, as compared to Israel, which was a type of foreshadowing the reality.12 It is because Israel was seen to be the bad or false vine due its sin that Jesus is the true vine. As the true vine, Christ wants His followers to know they are connected to Him as branches and therefore must bear fruit. That fruit is to be brought forth in two ways; the first as fruit of the Spirit or growth as a believer and the second as spreading the Gospel message like vines spread out across the globe. AS Matthew Henry says From a vine we look for grapes and from a Christian we look for Christianity.13 The primary reference within this discourse or teaching that Jesus does is the use of the I AM or ergo eimi in Greek. This one statement sums up the complete deity of Christ and demonstrates His relationship to the Father as one. It should be noted however that in the use of this term in this tense that there is a predicate; i.e. I am the true vine14 unlike in instances in the Old Testament where God Himself speaks. In that Jesus is not denying His being the messiah but qualifying His statement. Unlike His claim in John 8:58 of before Abraham was I am15 both John 15 and John 8 use the ergo eimi but John 8 is a direct claim to be God. Through His statements in John 15:1-6 Jesus makes it known that He is directly connected to the Father as the
11

Leon Morris, Jesus Is the Christ: Studies in the Theology of John (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2012), 119-120.
12

R. C. Sproul and Keith Mathison, eds., Reformation Study Bible (Orlando Florida: Fellowship for the Performing Arts, 2005), 1541. Matthew Henry, The Niv Matthew Henry Commentary in One Volume: Based On the Broad Oak Edition (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1999), 401.
14 15

13

John 15:1 (English Standard Version) John 8:58 (English Standard Version)

vine is to the husbandmen; the two are two parts of the same person and one cannot work without the other. Matthew Henry says about the vine it yields Him no fruit unless He works it16 Thus shows us that Jesus in His deity is truly one with God as His statement of I and the Father are one17 reflects. I conclusion the events that probably took place following the last supper during a extended teaching by Jesus involved one of seven I AM statements. This teaching on the nature of the true vine and the vinedresser and branches gives a clear picture of the relationship of Jesus, God and Christians respectively; and their relationship with one another. As the Word tells us in John 15:8; As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.18 Jesus used this language and imagery intentionally to illustrate in terms His disciples would understand. Though as shown repeatedly throughout the Old Testament that Israel was the false vine due to its continual sin against God. Jesus shows us He is the only true vine and linked directly to the Father by explaining Himself in this teaching. John 15:1 shows us this I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.19 Jesus deity is shown through His use of the ergo eimi or I Am statement and he uses it to show us and His disciples what His relationship is to them and God Himself. It is noteworthy that in verse 4 of John 15 that we are to remain in Him and He will remain in us. This is vital to our spiritual heath and well being as branches cannot live without the vine as a vine cannot thrive without a vinedresser. So it is that Jesus in that hour showed us His deity, His link to us and His wondrous connection to our heavenly Father and they are one. Christ fulfills all the prophecies and proves
Matthew Henry, The Niv Matthew Henry Commentary in One Volume: Based On the Broad Oak Edition (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1999), 401.
17 18

16

John 10:30 (English Standard Version) John 15:8 (English Standard Version) 19 John 15:1 (English Standard Version)

He is God in the flesh and the one in the same as the great I Am of the Old Testament.