Jesus had been preaching for almost a week in the temple before sitting down and eating Passover with His disciples. I am sure the current teachings of Jesus they heard during the week of were still lingering in the their minds.
The setting: Judas had left the room and Peter had been warned of his upcoming betrayals when Jesus begins to encourage the disciples. This is the setting when Jesus says these words,
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
- John 15:1-5 NKJV
Josephus says, "Above the gate of the Temple were golden vines and grape-clusters as large as a man". The disciples minds quickly went back to the gate where Jesus had been teaching...these large cluster grapes about the size of man (each grape about the size of a mans head). The picture of the vine equaled ancient Israel in the Jewish mindset. Jesus tells his disciples, "I am the TRUE VINE..." Not the temple or Israel.
Jesus is the source (the vine) of what we (the branches) will need to produce fruit (people transformed by the kingdom, word, and demonstration).
No transformation can take place if one does not abide in the vine (Transformation of self and others).
Jesus chose us so that we would bear fruit to God’s glory (John 15:8; 16). This was the same reason that Israel was a chosen people. We are now apart of what God is doing on this earth. If we don’t abide in the Word of God, which is like abiding in Christ, it is impossible for us to bear fruit.
You prove what manner of person you are by what manner of fruit you produce.
That is part of the reason Jesus told us to abide in Him, the true Vine, or else be cast into the fire.
It's time to stop talking about it and do it... Get connected....Produce fruit!
Notice the size of the man of the left in the picture.
Something to think about,
Blessings Ric