Entry
Vine, vinedresser, branch / Abide in me
What did Jesus mean
Stay connected.
Where did Jesus say this
John 15:1–2 — “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 does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
John 15:4 — “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”
A quick sidenote
Vine: Jesus is the vine (the connection/source that keeps the branch alive).
Vinedresser: God is the vinedresser (he helps the vine by pruning it, supporting it, and helping it to grow).
Branch: People are the branches.
Fruit: Love, goodness, and meaning (felt, shown, and produced by people) → sap, water, nutrients (given by the metaphorical vine / Jesus).
Abide: In modern English, abide often insinuates a form of control or obedience. “Abide in me” → “Follow these rules.” However, in Greek, the word abide comes from menō, which means to remain or stay (often in context of a home). Translation: Make your home here with me. Stay here so I can feed you love, as a branch (the person) is fed nutrients from the vine, and the vine (Jesus) is maintained by the vinedresser (God).
And I in you: It’s bi-directional. Jesus is inside you. When you choose to stay connected and “abide” (make your home) in him (with him), he too will make a home inside you. It’s a partnership, a marriage, a friendship.
What Jesus did not mean
That you will die or cease to exist if you do not abide in him.
If you choose not to follow Jesus, it doesn’t mean you will wither up and die. It doesn’t mean you won’t find good things in your life. It doesn’t mean you can’t be happy, find meaning, or love.
However, it will be different from what you can achieve and feel when you are connected to Jesus. Through this connection, you can transform your mind, body, and soul. You can learn control, improve your character, make better choices, and positively impact the world and people around you. It is a daily choice (and transformation) that helps you flourish and allows you to meet your true self. The best version of yourself.
Imagine a fish in a small bowl. They could be in a vast ocean. But they’re stuck swimming circles.
Imagine an athlete who stops training. They could be running, playing, or performing. But now they get winded walking down the stairs.
Imagine a musician who stops playing. They could be making music, learning new songs, and re-playing their favorites. But now all they hear is the radio.
In all 3 situations, you don’t die. You don’t become nothing. But you do become less than what you could be. And in the process, your heart yearns for something more.
A quick sidenote
This also does not mean that the branch (person) cannot return to the vine (Jesus). The branch/vine metaphor makes this more confusing than it has to be. Instead, think about the fish in its bowl. It could be dropped into a bigger source of water. Think of the athlete. They could choose to start training at any point. Think of the musician. They could pick that flute back up any day of the week.
Where to start
Pray (talk) to Jesus.
As it is with most of Jesus’ ramblings and weird metaphors that no one can understand, the best starting point (or solution) is just to start talking to Jesus.
Ask him for help. Ask him for guidance. Ask him to show you better choices.
Benefits
Love, goodness, and meaning. Endless and always flowing. Bi-directional.
You get a built-in partner for life who has your best interests at heart.
Also said as: I am the vine, you are the branches · the vine and the branches · abide in me · I am the true vine · apart from me you can do nothing