The Vinedresser Approaches
by Rev. Kirby Williams
The vital importance of bearing fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven.
Text: John 15:1-2
Date: 07/21/2019, the Traditional service.
Series: "John: Encountering Love" Part 141
Description:
As Jesus begins the second part of His Upper Room Discourse, He launches into an epic allegory to describe the relationship between His disciples, Himself, and the Father. This allegory will dominate the opening section of this part of the discourse, so we will discuss it for several weeks. In this introductory message we will concentrate on the allegory itself and particularly the work of the Vinedresser, who determines whether branches on the Vine are fruit-bearing or not. Those that bear fruit He prunes so they will bear more fruit. Those that bear no fruit He cuts away and disposes. We will apply this hard-hitting metaphor to Judas and the Jews as well as to ourselves and the church. Ultimately we should all carefully inspect ourselves in the mirror of Scripture to see if indeed we are bearing fruit for the Kingdom of Heaven, because-- the Vinedresser approaches!
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, John 15:1-2.
A. Context
1. The second part of the "Farewell Discourse", John 14:31.
2. Where the words were spoken.
B. The allegory of the True Vine.
1. The Vine and the Vinedresser, vs. 1.
a. The last "I AM", John 6:48, 8:12, 10:9, 10:11, 11:25, 14:6, Ex. 3:14, John 8:58.
b. The "vine".
c. The "true" vine.
i. The "vine" in the Old Testament.
• Representative of God's people, Psa. 80:8-10, Isa. 5:1-2.
• A negative connotation of judgment, Psa. 80:12-13, Isa. 5:4-7.
ii. A new metaphor for the Vine.
iii. Jesus as the Vine that exclusively produces good fruit.
d. The Vinedresser.
i. Identifying the earthly vinedresser.
ii. Identifying the Heavenly Vinedresser.
2. The work of the Vinedresser, vs. 2.
a. Rounding out the metaphor.
i. The branches.
ii. The fruit, Gal. 5:22-23, John 14:15, Lev. 11:45.
b. The work of the earthly vinedresser.
i. Trimming the vine.
ii. Pruning the plant.
c. The work of the Heavenly Vinedresser.
i. Removing the dead wood.
• A necessary evidence of salvation, John 14:15.
• Preserving and protecting the Vine, Matt. 24:14.
ii. Pruning the good branches.
iii. A twofold process.
• Dead twigs are removed, 1Pet. 2:1, Eph. 4:22-24.
• Healthy twigs are pruned.
C. Interpretation
1. The example of Judas and the diseased branches of Israel, John 14:30.
2. The eleven disciples.
III. Application, Matt. 7:16.
IV. Conclusion
