What Does John 15:1 Mean?

(1) **I am the true vine.**—For the word “true,” comp. Note on John 1:9. The ideal truth, of which the natural vine is a figure, is fulfilled in Him. The thought is introduced suddenly, and with nothing in the context to lead up to it. The natural explanation of this is, that here, as in other instances, it was suggested by some external object which met the eye. If we suppose (comp. Note on John 14:31) that they were crossing the valley on the way to Gethsemane, there is reason for the idea that they passed a vineyard, that supplied the form in which our Lord’s thoughts are expressed; but the journey itself, during the discourse, is improbable; and the sight of a vineyard is the less likely, as it was night. On the supposition that they were still in the room where they had eaten supper, a vine whose tendrils grew into the room, or the vine carved on the doors of the Temple (Jos. *Wars,* v. 5, § 4; *Ant.* xv. 11, § 3), or the vineyards seen in the distance by moonlight, or the vine suggested by “the fruit of the vine” of which they had drunk, have been suggested. Of these the last has most probability, as bound up with the significance of the cup of which they had drunk that night. We cannot say more than this. The imagery may have followed from some incident, or custom, or remark, now wholly unknown to us. It was, as in the case of the Good Shepherd, familiar to them from the Old Testament, and would have come to their minds from any slight suggestion. (See, *e.g.,* the following passages: Psalm 80:8-19; Isaiah 5:1 *et seq.;* Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 19:10.) It seems to have been expressed also in Rabbinic precepts, *e.g.,* “Whosoever dreameth of a vine-branch shall see the Messiah.” (*Berachoth,* fol. 89.) **And my Father is the husbandman.**—Comp. Matthew 21:33 *et seq.*; Mark 12:1 *et seq.*; Luke 20:9 *et seq.* The thought here is of the owner of the vine, who himself cultivates and trains it.