by Ptr. Art Calaguas
Shalom.
After our switch last week, we can now take up the next εγώ εἰμι (“I AM”) declaration of our Lord Jesus following the order of occurrence in the Gospel of John. The Lord made this statement in John 15:1 and repeated it in verse 5. Chapter 15 forms part of the lengthy farewell message of our Lord in the Upper Room found in chapters 13-17 of this Gospel.
As part of the immediate context of this “I AM” declaration, recall that the Lord had just told his disciples that he was the way and the truth and the life for all those who place their faith in him (John 14:6). After this, he then speaks of and promises the Spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit (παράκλητος, “parakletos”). The Lord says that the Holy Spirit “abides in you and will be in you” (14:17). Then in 14:25 he says that he has spoken these things while abiding with his disciples. But the παράκλητος, the Holy Spirit, when he is sent, will teach his disciples all things and make them remember all the things he had said to them. This notion of abiding/remaining in our Lord is a very important part of the context of our next εγώ εἰμι statement. This is found in John 15:1 and repeated a few verses later:
Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος ἡ ἀληθινή, καὶ ὁ πατήρ μου ὁ γεωργός ἐστιν·
“I AM the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.”
Then in verse 4, the Lord commands his disciples to abide in him as he in them. He says this 3 times in that same verse and then repeats using (in different forms) the same Greek verb μένω (“meno” meaning remain, stay, abide) in the next following verses (i.e., vv. 5, 6, 7, 9, 10). It is also the same word used as in his earlier statements in John 14:17 and 14:25. In John 15:5 the Lord repeats his I AM statement:
Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος, ὑμεῖς τὰ κλήματα. ὁ μένων ἐν ἐμοὶ κἀγὼ ἐν αὐτῷ οὗτος φέρει καρπὸν πολύν, ὅτι χωρὶς ἐμοῦ οὐ δύνασθε ποιεῖν οὐδέν.
“I AM the vine, you (are) the branches. The (one) abiding in me and I in him, he bears much fruit. For apart from me you are not able to do anything.”
It is now quite clear that the metaphor of the real/genuine/true vine had everything to do with the repetitions of the word abide/remain/stay. It is a well-known fact that a vine supports many branches where the fruit, the grapes are. But if the branches are cut off from the vine, they wither and die. The Lord said so himself in verse 4. But there is another aspect of vine husbandry that the Lord uses in his metaphor. This is about the practice of pruning, which he mentioned earlier in verse 2 to enable the vine to bear more and better fruit in its branches. The Lord says that his disciples are the branches and that the vinedresser/husbandman/vine-grower is God himself. Hence, if the disciples remain in God’s grace, they will accomplish much for the Kingdom. But if they do not abide in the Lord, then they will perish. But the process of pruning can be really painful. A simple search on vine pruning shows that 70%-90% of the original growth is taken away to concentrate growth to have stronger, better fruit-bearing branches and consequently, get greater productivity. And the pruning continues every harvest season. But this is not the only significance of the metaphor.
Vines, vineyards and its fruit, wine are prominently featured in the Bible; both in the Old Testament (OT) and New Testament (NT). The Greek word for vine ἄμπελος (“ampelos”) occurs 9 times in the NT and has its Hebrew counterpart, גֶּפֶן (“gephen”) used 55 times in the OT. The Greek word for vineyard ἀμπελών (“ampelón”) is found 23 times in the NT. In the OT the Hebrew word is כֶּרֶם (“kerem”) and occurs 93 times. Meanwhile, the Greek word for wine οἶνος (“oinos”) has 34 occurrences in the NT. The Hebrew word for wine יַיִן (“yayin”) occurs 141 times in the OT. And these words carry important symbolisms in the Bible.
For one, Israel/Jerusalem is called the vine/vineyard of God. This can be found for example, in Psalm 80:8; Isaiah 5:7; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 15:6; and Hosea 10:1.
Vines, vineyards and wine can symbolize blessings from God as passages such as Genesis 40:9-13, 49:10-11; Psalm 80:8-11, 128:1-4; Micah 4:1-5; and Zechariah 8:11-13 show.
On the other hand, these same words may signify judgment(s) from God as exemplified in Psalm 80:14-19; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21,8:13; Ezekiel 15:1-8; and Hosea 10:1-2.
Hence, vines, vineyards and wine are significant symbols of God’s protection and blessing and also judgment. Since vines are pruned, they also can be significant guides to behavior and the principle of discipline to our loved ones (cf. Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-11).
Our Lord Jesus also used the image of vineyards for judgment when he spoke the parable of the wicked vine-growers in Matthew 21:33-44 (cf. Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-18). This parable in the NT is parallel to God’s prophetic judgment of the bad shepherds in Ezekiel 34:1-10. Our Lord thus asserts that unlike unfaithful Israel (and Jerusalem), he is the true vine of God.
For the fruit of the vine, the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:14-20) and 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 all speak of the institution of the Lord’s Supper at the Last Supper. Part of this is specifically the sealing of the New Covenant with the cup of the fruit of the vine, symbolizing the Lord’s own blood poured out.
Then finally, our Lord Jesus used the metaphor of the vine and its branches to emphasize the kind of organic relationship with His disciples that will truly bear fruit. He said:
Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος ἡ ἀληθινή, καὶ ὁ πατήρ μου ὁ γεωργός ἐστιν·
“I AM the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.”
Ἐγώ εἰμι ἡ ἄμπελος, ὑμεῖς τὰ κλήματα.
“I AM the vine, you (are) the branches.”
He spoke about abiding love and oneness with his disciples (John 15:1-17). Metaphor became reality as they later proclaimed the gospel to the entire known world in their time. Praise God!
This brings to an end our study of the various “I AM” declarations of our Lord in the Gospel of John.
God bless us all.