Jesus: The True Vine – SS1 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

Jesus the True Vine is the picture in John 15:1-8 in which Jesus is the vine, God the Father is the vinedresser and believers are the branches.

• Main lesson: believers must remain united with Jesus to live and bear fruit.
• Type of teaching: an extended picture (allegory) in which each part stands for a person.

Behavioural objectives

1. Explain why Jesus described Himself as the true vine.
2. State who the vine, the vinedresser and the branches stand for.
3. Describe what happens to productive and unproductive branches.
4. List four points on the significance of Jesus as the true vine.
5. State what believers must do to bear fruit.

What are the key terms in this topic?

The key terms are vine, vinedresser, branch, prune, abide and fruit.

• Vine: a climbing plant that bears grapes, grown widely in Israel.
• Vinedresser: the farmer who looks after the vine and its branches.
• Branch: the part of the vine that grows out of the main stem and carries the fruit.
• Prune: to cut away parts of a branch so that it grows more fruit.
• Abide: to remain joined to someone, as a branch stays on the vine.
• Fruit: the good results shown in the life of a believer.

Where is the teaching of the true vine found?

The teaching is found in the Gospel of John, chapter 15, verses 1 to 8.

• Bible passage: John 15:1-8.
• Speaker: Jesus Christ, teaching His disciples.
• Setting: Jesus spoke it as part of His last teaching to the disciples before His arrest.
• Type of saying: it is one of the “I am” sayings of Jesus in John’s Gospel.
• Method: Jesus used a picture from everyday farming life that His listeners knew well.

Why did Jesus call Himself the true vine?

Jesus called Himself the true vine to show that He is the real source of life and fruitfulness for His followers.

• Value of the vine: it was a highly valued plant in Israel because of its beauty and economic value.
• Old Testament picture: the prophets often described Israel as God’s vine (for example Isaiah 5:1-7), so the picture was familiar.
• Source of life: branches live only while they stay on the main stem, so believers live through Jesus.
• Fruitfulness: the vine exists to produce fruit, and Jesus wants His followers to be fruitful.
• The word “true”: it means real and genuine, so Jesus is the real source of life.

Who do the characters in the picture stand for?

The vine stands for Jesus, the vinedresser for God the Father and the branches for believers.

What does the vinedresser do in the picture?

The vinedresser removes useless branches and prunes fruitful ones so that the vine bears more fruit.

1. He takes away every branch that bears no fruit.
2. He prunes every branch that bears fruit.
3. The pruned branches stay on the vine and grow stronger.
4. The branches bear much fruit.
5. The Father is honoured by the much fruit that the disciples bear (John 15:8).

What happens to the branches?

Productive branches are pruned to bear more fruit, while unproductive branches are cut off and destroyed.

What does it mean to remain in Jesus?

To remain in Jesus means to keep a close, living union with Him, as a branch stays on the vine.

• Stay united: believers keep a close, living relationship with Jesus.
• Obey His word: they follow His teaching and commandments.
• Pray: if believers remain in Jesus and His words remain in them, they may ask what they wish and it will be done for them.
• Depend on Him: a branch cut off from the vine cannot bear fruit, and believers can do nothing good without Jesus.

What is the fruit of a believer?

The fruit of a believer is the good character and good deeds that show the life of Christ in him or her.

• Love: loving other people as Jesus loved His disciples.
• Obedience: keeping the commandments of Jesus.
• Joy: the gladness that comes from living in Christ.
• Good works: kind deeds that bring honour to God the Father.
• Winning others: leading other people to follow Jesus.

What is the significance of Jesus as the true vine?

There are four main points on the significance of Jesus as the true vine: relationship, life, care and judgement.

1. Close relationship: Jesus as the true vine shows His close relationship with His followers.
2. Source of life: He gives life to His followers, who cannot survive without Him, the main vine.
3. Care and provision: Jesus provides and cares for His followers so that they can become more fruitful.
4. Blessing and judgement: those who believe in Jesus enjoy God’s blessing and overcome sin and evil, while those who do not believe in Him live sinful lives and face judgement, as dead branches are burnt in the fire (John 15:6).

What lessons can Christians learn from the true vine?

Christians learn to stay close to Christ, accept correction, bear fruit and depend on God.

• Stay close to Christ: regular prayer, Bible study and worship keep the believer joined to Him.
• Accept correction: pruning may be painful, but it helps the believer grow.
• Bear fruit: a Christian must show faith by good conduct.
• Depend on God: success in the Christian life comes from Jesus and not from self alone.
• Live as an example: a fruitful life at home, school and church brings honour to God.

Evaluation

1. Why did Jesus compare Himself to a vine?
2. Who is the vinedresser, and who are the branches?
3. What happens to the productive branches and to the unproductive branches?
4. State two ways in which Jesus as the true vine benefits His followers.
5. Give two examples of the fruit a believer should bear.

Assignment

Write out the four points on the significance of Jesus as the true vine, and explain any one of them in your own words.