July 7 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

When our Lord Jesus Christ says “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” He uses imagery well-known to the disciples and to every Jew. Vineyards were prominent in the hill country of Judea where the natural contours of the land provided excellent slopes and terraces. The common grapevine is mentioned in Scripture as early as the time of Noah. And remember the spies who brought back large clusters of grapes from Canaan? The harvesting of grapes for wine was an important part of Israel’s economy. In the Bible the vine symbolizes peace, prosperity and a settled habitation.

In the Old Testament the people of Israel are called and referred to as the Lord’s vine. Think, for example, of Psalm 80: 8, “You have brought a vine out of Egypt; You have cast out the nations, and planted it.” Think also of what you find written about Israel in Isaiah 5. There the Lord says, “Now let me sing...a song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard on a very fruitful hill. He dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine.” (5:1-2)

The passages that refer to God’s people as a vine uncover disappointing things. The people of Israel are to be punished because they don’t bring praise to God’s name. This is why the Lord continues in Isaiah 5, “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?” (5:3-4)

In John 15 our Lord Jesus uses this imagery to refer to the relationship between Him and His disciples. The true Vine and its branches represent the relationship between Christ and the church of the new covenant. Jesus binds Himself to His church consisting of Jews and Gentiles. When Jesus says, “I am the true vine,” we must not think the people of Israel are no longer a vine at all. Jesus isn’t denying continuity with the past but a fundamental change is about to take place. The association of vine and branches will no longer be found in the ministry connected to temple and synagogues, but in local congregations throughout the world where Christ rules as Head. Are you paying attention to Christ’s work in His vineyard?