Have you seen those posts on Facebook that leaving you hanging? You the knows to which I am referring, they go something like, “I can’t believe this! Disgusted.” What this person is doing is hoping for a storm of comments from friends asking, “are you okay?” or “what happened?” or “praying for you!” The person who leaves this type of post will wait several hours, maybe even a day, before making one of two comments. The first comment option goes something like: “I can’t say anything right now. This is a private family matter.” Of course, the first option leaves us asking why they ever made the original post if this was a private family matter. The second option finds the author of the post finally revealing all. The revelation ranges from something quite insignificant to earth shattering. This “vague post” game some embrace on social media is often (but not always) an effort to receive attention and affirmation. So instead of genuine relationship, a person uses manipulation to force relationship, using secretive posts to achieve their goal (attention and affirmation).
I am so thankful that the Lord does not use secrets about Himself to manipulate the church and gain our attention. If the Lord did not gain our attention at Calvary, other methods will only have short term impact and the believer will wander quickly and often.
God is not looking to keep the understanding of His Word a secret! The Word was given to the world to reveal Jesus, not hide Him. O church of God, we need to pursue knowing God as God has revealed Himself to be – and not as how man makes Him to be.
In 1902 two men by the names of Orville and Wilbur began working on something that many said was the impossible. They made great progress discovering different elements that were needed to achieve their ultimate success of making an airplane. Some told the Wright brothers, “If man was meant to fly, he would have been born with wings!” However, it was years (with many failures) before they had perfected their technology and they made their first public flight. When the secret to this new technology was made known the world of transportation was changed forever!
Another man, named Alexander, worked feverishly to change the world of communication. He discovered several key elements regarding communication, but Mr. Bell guarded those discoveries until he had a working model of what is now known today as the telephone!
Once each of these men revealed their secret discoveries, the world was never quite the same from that point on! My friend, God has many glorious truths in His Word; however, He is not looking to keep the understanding of His Word a secret! However, one cannot find something unless he begins looking for it! It is vital that every believer seek to know God as He reveals Himself to be in His Word.
In John 15 we have a passage of scripture that is often looked upon as full of secrets.
Why does Jesus Christ call Himself a vine?
What is the fruit Jesus speaks of that He is glorified in?
How do I bear that Kind of fruit?
What does it mean to abide in Christ?
Consider starting with the context of John 15. John 13 and 14 have already shown us: the concern of the disciples and the comfort of Christ, now we come to … the call of Christ in John 15.
Secret #1 Revealed: The Right Source (v. 1)
The “true vine” is the right source...and the right source supplies the right provision! It is widely believed that this second part of Christ’s farewell speech is a mere continuation of John 13-14. These two previous chapters show us that Jesus Christ had just finished establishing the Lord’s Supper, Communion. When we understand that background, we can better understand Jesus’ “I am the true vine” statement in John 15:1.
Christ has already called Himself:
1. “the bread of life.” in John 6:35.
2. “the Light” in John 8:12
3. “the Door” in John 10:7
4. “the Shepherd” in John 10:11
5. “the resurrection and the life” in John 11:25-26.
6. “the way, the truth, and the life” in John 14:6.
7. And now He says in John 15:1, “I am the true vine.”
So, we need to know that when interpreting scripture, there are some basic rules we must always follow. First, interpret the Bible literally. Second, always interpret unclear passages of scripture in light of the clear passages of scripture. Third, when common sense makes sense seek no other sense. Understanding this foundation of Bible interpretation, we can conclude that Christ is not saying He is a literal door, or literal vine. This title He gives Himself — the true vine —merely describes who He is!
The vine is a n element that would be very familiar to Jewish ears. Christ is setting forth the spiritual oneness of Himself and His people, and His relation to them as the Source of all their spiritual life and fruitfulness.
Here is the secret revealed: Jesus is the true vine that enables the right provision for each of us. This secret is not complex; in fact, it makes total sense. A branch cannot survive unless it is attached to a vine. It will live for a little while not attached, but it will eventually become lifeless, dry, and dead. The confusion over this “secret” is when we chose other sources as the right source.
You and I as believers cannot survive unless we are attached to “THE VINE.” You may say, well I’m surviving okay – but it will only be for a time and then you will dry up, become lifeless, and die away from usefulness for the Lord! Yes, I am in the vine at the time of salvation, but I cannot live as though I have very little to do with the vine when it is my sustenance for gospel living!
So, as has been the case since the garden of Eden, Satan has looked to cause doubt on God’s Word. Is Jesus really the “true vine?” Aren’t there other vines from which we can draw sustenance? Where is the proof that Jesus is the TRUE vine?!
What Jesus Christ is literally saying is, “I, in contradistinction to anyone else, am the vine, the genuine vine, and my Father is the tiller of the soil.” Jesus Christ is the TRUE vine! He is the real deal!
When I was growing up Dorothy Hamill was ice-skating in the Olympics. I remember she had a very specific kind of haircut. After she won her medal in the games, a lot of girls wanted their hair cut like Dorothy Hamill; however, there was only one genuine Dorothy Hamill (and a bunch of look a likes).
Satan would have you believe that what He has to offer is just as good as Jesus Christ – But only Jesus Christ is the TRUE VINE!
Consider this: WHEN SATAN OFFERS YOU:
Lies instead of truth – he is proving that Jesus Christ is the true provision! Consider what Satan whispers in our ears through the media, our peer groups, and our own experiences versus what God says in the Bible:
You don’t need anyone but yourself…versus
“for without me ye can do nothing.” – Jn. 15:5
Do what you want to do
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” – Prov. 14:12
You can’t do that ministry as well as others, so you might as well not do it.
“do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men…” – Col. 3:17-23
God does not love or care about me.
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” – I Jn. 3:16
Do not settle for the counterfeit offer that Satan advertises. Choose truth. Choose Jesus!
So, who is this provision…this sustaining power? Who is the genuine, authentic proof of such provision? It is JESUS CHRIST! “The Vine” said:
He is all powerful. He turned water into wine, healed the woman with the issue of blood, and raised Lazarus from the dead.
“God is all-powerful,” is only comforting when we also realize that God is love and all-wise!
“God is all-knowing,” reveals the lack of shock or surprise in the one true vine. Jesus knew that Peter would deny Him, Judas would betray Him, and the Pharisees would try to trap Him in His own words.
“God is our genuine provider,” provides strong security in an uncertain world. Jesus gave some 5,000 people fish and bread to eat from a small boy’s lunch! Jesus will provide even when logical reasoning says He cannot provide.
You or I do not do what we do because we are good, but because God is good! I have what I have –not because I’m a hard worker – but because God is faithful. He IS THE LIGHT. He IS THE DOOR. Jesus Christ is the true vine – the right source for all I need!
John Sweeny was a personal friend of the well-known hymn writer – Fanny Crosby. One evening after a service, John and Fanny were discussing the blessings of heaven. He asked her if she thought we will recognize one another in heaven. Fanny replied, “I think we will. I think we will know each other better when the mists have rolled away. But the question that is really on your mind is, ‘Fanny your blind. How will you recognize your friends and especially the Lord?’ To which I reply, John Sweeny, ‘I know I will not have a bit of trouble recognizing my beautiful Savior; but just in case I do, I’ll go to the one whom I feel is my Savior and will say, ‘May I please look at your hands?’ John, I will know it’s my Savior by the print of the nails in His hands. At John’s urging Fanny wrote this hymn:
When my life’s work is ended
and I cross the swelling tide
When the bright and glorious morning I shall see
I shall know my Redeemer
when I reach the other side
And His smile will be the first to welcome me
I shall know Him, I shall know Him
And redeemed by His side I shall stand
I shall know Him, I shall know Him
By the print of the nail in His hand.
Do you know Him? Do you know Him personally as your Savior? Do you know Him experientially in everyday gospel living?
It is vital that every believer seeks to know the TRUE VINE. May we the church not reinvent the one true God or add to His word. May we simply know the Lord through His words He gave us about Himself – and live the gospel!