What does Jesus mean when He says, "You are the branches" (John 15:5)?

Next, He sums up and applies this weighty truth of communion with Him, in its great positive elements, and in strong contradistinction from abandonment of Him. "I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in Me and I in him, he beareth much fruit; because apart from Me ye can do nothing" (verse 5). Nothing more precise. The Lord leaves no uncertainty in a matter so nearly affecting both Himself and them. As surely as He was the Vine, they were the branches. There is, and could be, no failure on His part. It is easy for us to fail in dependence, and to lack confidence in Him. To abide in Him supposes, not merely distrust of ourselves, but cleaving to Him, and counting on Him. Every influence around us is adverse to this; every natural feeling not less so. Faith working by love alone secures it, for self and the world are then alike judged in the light of God. It is not only that we need and cannot do without Him for the least things as truly as the greatest, but He attracts us by His positive excellency. If He is the one source of fruit agreeable to the Father, He cannot be slighted with impunity, least of all by those who confess Him. It is not the grace which gives eternal life in Him of which the Lord speaks, but throughout these verses the responsibility of the disciples. Hence, as we shall see presently, there is danger of ruin, no less than fruitlessness, where one does not abide in Him.

He then introduces further precision of application to themselves, but (that being established) not with the same contrast with the Israelitish formal vine. It is not "I am the true vine," but "I am the vine; ye are the branches": you are mere branches; "apart from me ye can do nothing." Though the source of blessing, Jesus had not yet left the place of subjection, as He received all the Father brought to Him; come to do the will of Him that sent Him (though, equally true, He quickened whom He would). So He was a vine, and they branches; and the Father took away, and purged, according to the wisdom in which He judged of fruit. Christ is not entirely gone out of this character, though passing, as it were, into the source of blessing. Hence, note also, the vine is planted on earth, whereas the Church is set in heaven. So fruit-bearing is on earth, and in every aspect the vine is on earth.

It is, of course, true that we can do nothing "without" Christ; but taking the sentence in this way by itself it scarcely conveys the force of the Lord's words. The context makes all plain: "I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit." So in the previous verse: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." If a branch, therefore, is severed from the tree, it is necessarily fruitless; and, in like manner, if a believer does not abide in Christ, is spiritually disconnected from Him, he will bear no fruit. No doubt the Lord here distinguishes absolutely two classes; those who abide in Him, as those who are really in vital connection with Himself; and those who abide not in Him, as in verse 6, as those who, without life, are only connected with Him by profession. Still it is permissible to point out that even a really converted soul will be fruitless unless found abiding in Christ. What abiding in Him signifies may be gathered from the comparison He employs. A branch is absolutely dependent on the vine, and lives of the vine's life. It is the sap that flows out from the vine into the branch that causes it to bear fruit. So also a believer is fruitful when he is in the maintenance of entire dependence upon Christ, and when He is living of His life, when Christ in him, as his life, flows out through him in his daily walk and ways in service and testimony. If, therefore, anything comes between Christ and his soul, interrupts his dependence, and he is thus "without"* Christ, he can do nothing.

The Lord Jesus begins by alluding to the actual vine. There can be no fruit produced unless the branch abides in the vine. If the branch is severed from the tree there is no life or vitality and therefore no fruit. He then turns from the illustration from nature to the real spiritual meaning for the disciples. Fruitfulness is promoted by abiding in Christ. What does it really mean to do this? It may be more easily understood if we say, 'Keep close to the Lord! Draw all resource from Him.' In the book of Acts 11: 23 one of the Lord's servants, Barnabas by name, exhorted the saints 'that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.' The word 'cleave' is also the same word as 'abide' in the original. Verse 5 carries on the same theme. 'I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing'. The matter of abiding is two way, 'abideth in me and I in him'. Two very important truths come out here. Firstly, it speaks of communion and intimacy. Secondly, 'I in him' suggests that Christ is expressed practically in life. Verse 6 refers to a branch with no vital connection with the vine; we would say in our day, a professor.

The True Vine. — Israel in the Old Testament is likened to a vine (Jer. 2:21), and to a vine brought by God out of Egypt. A branch of it portrayed the royal house, from which after the flesh the Lord was to come — the Man of God's right hand, the Son of Man whom He made strong for Himself (Ps. 80:8-11, 17). But the Lord in our Gospel here presents Himself (15), not as Messiah, the Son of David, a branch, but as the true vine — the stem, of which the Apostles whom He was addressing were the branches, whilst the Father was the husbandman. True blessing and fruitfulness for God depended not now on being children of Abraham by natural descent, able to call Jacob their father; but all depended on vital connection with Christ. He was the true vine here on earth; for, as one has remarked, there are no vines in heaven. No forgiveness is there apart from the blood of Christ (Heb. 9:22) no fruitfulness apart from vital association with Christ. Hence the question of profession comes up, and that of fruitfulness is now brought forward. Branches in a vine there might be which did not bear fruit. Profession of discipleship to Christ there could be, yet lacking in reality. And as the husbandman removes the barren branches of a vine, so the Father, presented here as the husbandman, takes away those who are not real as to discipleship. "Every branch in Me that bears not fruit He takes away" (John 15:2). Here we must note the difference of being in the vine from being in Christ, of which last we are taught elsewhere. And noting the difference will serve to help us to interpret rightly our passage. The being in Christ, or being Christ's, for these mean the same (Gal. 3:28-29), is true only of real children of God. And such come to be in Christ, or Christ's, through the indwelling of the Holy Ghost (Rom. 8:9). Those of whom this is true can never be lost. Of them there is no question of excision from Christ. With the branches in the true vine we are taught it is different. A branch, if unfruitful, will be taken away. So it is plain, that being in Christ and being in the vine are very different matters. And the last indicates profession, which, whether it be real or not, is demonstrated by fruitfulness or the reverse. So Judas, as numbered among the Twelve, appeared as a branch in the vine. But unfruitful, he was to be taken away.

Cleansing. — Not only, however, would the Father remove any unfruitful branch, but He would purge or cleanse the fruitful ones, that they might bring forth more fruit. We all know how in the cultivation of a vine cleansing is necessary. So with the fruitful branches of the true vine. But this purging or cleansing is done by the Father. Such dealing, therefore, is not to be viewed as governmental for something done wrong, and so the individual be suffering from the fruit of his ways. It is the Father's dealing to get more fruit. Now the Eleven were already clean by the word which Christ had spoken to them. Yet the Father would cleanse them, to remove anything which might hinder increased fruitfulness. Was not the Lord here preparing them for that which they might be called to pass through, when He should have left earth? The fruitful and unfruitful branches first spoken of, the next question that would arise would be, How could fruitfulness be assured?

Abiding in Christ. — And now follows an exhortation and an illustration from the figure of the vine and its branches. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing" (4, 5). The illustration of the branch and the vine will help us to understand what abiding in Christ must mean. The branch draws its life, its strength, its nourishment from the vine, being entirely dependent on it for all that it needs in order to be fruitful. So believers are as really dependent on Christ to bring forth fruit for God. "Without Me," says the Lord, "ye can do nothing" (5) — a word to be remembered by each one. The new birth is one thing; fruit-bearing is another. Salvation from the wrath to come is a wonderfully blessed portion; but fruitfulness, it should be remembered, is God's desire for His people, and the Lord would provide for that. To be receivers, without caring to bear fruit, would indicate neglect of God's gracious provision for the outflow of life down here. On the other hand, if we abide in Christ, we know He abides in us. All that we need we can therefore receive. Life in its fulness, wisdom, and strength, all are in Him for us. And he that abides in Him brings forth much fruit. Habitual dependence on Christ will result in fruitfulness indeed. What can the reader and the writer say as to this?

Israel is called a vine in the Old Testament (Psalm 80:8; Isaiah 5:1-8; Jeremiah 2:21; Hosea 10:1) and Christ here in this parable takes the place of Israel and is the true vine. His disciples are the branches. Israel under the law covenant could not bear fruit for God, as the law cannot be the source of fruit-bearing. Fruit unto God can only spring from union with Christ. (See Romans 7:4.) He as the true vine on earth brought fruit unto God. The true believer is as closely united to Him as the branch is to the vine. The branch is in Him and He is in the branch. The life-sap of the vine circulates in the branch. And this life and nature in the believer produces the fruit. Our Lord said: "The Father who abideth in me, He doeth the works." And believers should confess: The Lord Jesus Christ Who abideth in me and I in Him, He produces the fruit. Apart from Him we can do nothing. This vital union with Christ, dependence on Him, the result--fruit unto God, is more fully revealed in the Epistles.

To set forth this responsibility the Lord uses the figure of the vine and its branches. In a vine the fruit is not found in the root and stock, but in the branches; but the vine is the source of the life that enables the branches to bear fruit. The Lord can say of Himself, "I am the true vine" and of His disciples, "Ye are the branches." It is only as we abide in Him that we shall be able to carry out our responsibility to bear fruit for the Father and witness for Christ.

To follow the teaching of the passage we may ask ourselves three questions: (1) What is the fruit of which the Lord speaks? (2) What are the means taken that the true disciples may be fruitful? (3) What is the great end in view in fruit-bearing? What then does the Lord mean when He speaks of fruit? May we not say that fruit is all that in our lives which is agreeable to God? It follows that only that which is of Christ in us can be for the Father's delight. We may therefore say, that fruit is the character of Christ reproduced in the lives of His disciples. We read in Galatians 5:22, that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity, meekness, self-control" (N. Tn.). These are the very qualities that marked Christ in His path down here, and that called forth the Father's expression of pleasure, for the voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I have found my delight." Fruit, then, is not simply preaching and teaching, or activity in different forms of service, or in this passage even souls won for Christ through the preaching, but rather the beautiful qualities of Christ seen in the souls that are won. Alas! it is possible to be very active in Christian service and yet exhibit very little of the character of Christ in the life, and, therefore, bring forth but little fruit for the delight of the Father. Moreover, let us remember that what goes up to God as fruit, goes out to man as testimony. These two thoughts are expressed by the Lord's words, "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples." The life that glorifies the Father and delights His heart becomes a testimony to the world that we are Christ's disciples. That we are truly His disciples will be far more manifest by a little meekness and gentleness, than by any amount of activity. Mary's quiet dependence upon the Lord, that led her to sit at His feet and hear His word, brought forth fruit that was far more pleasing to the heart of Christ than all Martha's sincere energy. We are not all called or gifted to take an active part in preaching or teaching, or many other forms of service; but it is open to all — the youngest as the oldest believer — to express in our life the beautiful traits of Christ, and thus bring forth fruit for the Father and testimony before men. Christ, personally, is no longer on earth; but God desires that Christ, morally, should still be seen in His people. In the measure in which this is true there will be fruit and testimony.

But the vine has branches; these are the disciples, and indeed all who attach themselves to Christ, and profess His name. There is an immense difference between salvation and fruit-bearing, between being a branch of the vine and a member of Christ's body. To fail in seeing this difference is to lose the instruction of John 15, and, more serious still, to imperil the peace of conscience which those are entitled to enjoy who rest upon Christ and His work. When I think of salvation, I think of grace; but when fruit-bearing is before my mind, I think of responsibility. Every branch in Him should produce fruit: only thus are they manifestly His disciples; and fruit can only be borne as the result of abiding in Him. Where are we without Him? "Apart from Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Thus are we taught the ever-needed lesson of dependence. It is ours to count on Him and draw upon His fulness of grace that the new man may develop himself in the power of the Holy Ghost. "Much fruit" is His desire, not merely a little here and there: anticipating thus the perpetual fruit-bearing in the glory of His presence (Rev. 22:2).

The Father is glorified in us thus, and we walk in the enjoyment of His love, keeping the commandments of Christ. The Father's hand is upon His own — ever in love — to increase their fruitfulness: "every branch that beareth fruit He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." Purging is oftentimes painful and grievous, and we are prone to miss the divine mind as to it when experiencing it; but love orders all for the divine glory and the soul's welfare. Things spring up in us, and quietly develop and grow, of which perhaps we are but little conscious, but which, nevertheless, would seriously retard our progress in moral conformity to Christ's image, if permitted to go on. We are under the care of the Husbandman. The saints are God's husbandry (1 Cor. 3:9), and the pruning knife is graciously and in love applied. Precious dealings! needed because of the deceitfulness of the heart while passing through this present scene.

But all the branches are not true men, for profession, not life, is the subject here; and the reality of profession is shown by fruit. "By their fruits ye shall know them." Therefore the Lord proceeds to say, "If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." Note, the language is general, "If a man." The Lord does not say to the eleven, "ye," as in vers. 4 and 5; of their reality there was no doubt, the Lord Himself having just pronounced them clean through His word. He had spoken differently in chap. 13, when washing their feet, — Ye are not all clean — for Judas Iscariot was then present; but the traitor had gone out, and all who remained were true, however failing. Judas Iscariot was a sample of the class of whom the Lord now speaks; he had not abode in Him; to his own eternal loss and ruin. More of such are found in John 6. His sayings were "hard" to them. They went back, and walked no more with Him, even though He, and He only, had the words of eternal life.

The vine and the branches are not a picture of the church (which did not even exist when the Lord spoke these words). Disciples, those who profess to follow Christ, are branches and, as such, expected to bring fruit. If 'a man' does not remain in Christ he will end up in the fire (v.6). How then can a true disciple bring fruit? This can only occur through dependence and obedience (abiding in Him, and keeping His commandments).