John • #7 of 7 "I AM" Statements

Along with the 7 signs that John emphasizes in the Gospel of John, he also presents 7 "I AM" statements, that also give us a window into the character of Jesus. Each of these statements are uttered by Jesus Himself, and each also tells us specifically of something we need to know about Him.

For a review of the names of God, and the significance of His name "I AM", click here... NAMES

• Here is a list of all 7 of the I AM statements.

They are...

► I AM #1 • I AM the Bread of Life - Jesus ELIMINATES HUNGER → John 6:26-58

► I AM #2 • I AM the Light of the World - Jesus ELIMINATES DARKNESS → John 8:12-9:5

► I AM #3 • I AM the Door of the Sheep - Jesus ELIMINATES DEATH & DESTRUCTION → John 10:1-10

► I AM #4 • I AM the Good Shepherd - Jesus KNOWS US → John 10:11-19

► I AM #5 • I AM the Resurrection and the Life - Jesus is the SOURCE OF ETERNAL LIFE → John 11:24-27

► I AM #6 • I AM the Way, and the Truth, and the Life - Jesus is THE WAY TO THE FATHER → John 14:1-6

► I AM #7 • I AM the True Vine - Because of Jesus WE WILL BEAR FRUIT → John 15:1-11

• I AM #7 • I AM the True Vine - Because of Jesus WE WILL BEAR FRUIT

John 15:1-11 → 1“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

• Jesus starts this last "I AM" statement with the idea that Jesus is the true vine, in contrast to Israel, the fruitless vine. There are several ideas about this, but I'm going to focus on the one where the vines and branches connected to the "true vine" is talking about believers.

• In this scenario, what gives life to the vine is Jesus, the "true vine" or what supplies life to the rest of the plant.

• God the Father "is the vinedresser" or the one who tends the vine.

2Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

• I don't want to over simplify these principles, or say that in every case, there is a specific action taken by God. These are principles, demonstrated by the analogy of vines.

• When Jesus is taking about a branch "that does not bear fruit", that could correlate to Christians, who for whatever reason, have stopped producing fruit. Whether they have slipped back into sin so severe that they are creating a negative testimony, or have become so confused they are creating confusion within the church, I'm not sure. I'm just guessing that there are times when a person's life has spiraled and God just takes them home. I think it would be dangerous though, to try and analyze and assume that a believer who died prematurely was in sin. It's not up to us to make those judgements. That's God's job.

• Regardless of when or how this may occur, I do still think this part is talking about believers because Jesus is talking about "every branch IN ME" so I think this part of His comments are referring to believers.

• Pruning though is something that happens to even the best branches. It seems to me that it should be just the exact opposite. It seems like a branch that is producing should be left alone so it can get longer and thicker and produce all that much more. But that's not the way plants like that work. They produce the best, when they are regularly trimmed. So constant clipping is needed to make sure there are no resources being wasted on non-producing parts of the plant.

3You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

• The word "clean" in Greek comes from the same root word for "prune". This verse gives us the idea that the Word, which Jesus had "spoken to you" should be sufficient to keep us clean and/or pruned. That nothing more severe need happen to keep us producing.

4Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.

• Jesus now introduces this concept of "Abiding". It's a two-way street. "Abide in Me, and I in you." The word "abide" in the Greek carries the concept of remaining, or dwelling, or continuing, or enduring, or lasting. It's a connection that allows for and provides nourishment. If we are connected, we will produce fruit. What that fruit looks like, I'm not sure. Growth in our own lives, helping others to grow, reaching out to people to get them grafted into the vine.

• Those who are not abiding, who are not connected, are like dead branches that just need to be picked up and discarded, and eventually burned up. It's a sobering analogy for those who don't know Jesus.

7If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

• When Jesus says to "ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." I don't think He means to ask for a new car. I think the context is within the bearing of fruit. If we are abiding, we can ask to bear more fruit, and God will help us to achieve that, as it brings Him glory, and also marks us as followers of Jesus.

9Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

• A significant benefit to abiding is that we will be in total communion with Jesus, as He is with the Father. Living within His love aids us in staying true to Him, and following His commands.

11These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

• Jesus finishes this section with "joy". His desire is that "My joy may be in you", and that it is full. He wants us to feel the tremendous sensation of knowing we are doing the right thing, in the right time, in the right way.

• The ultimate sign of any believer is that we are bearing fruit. A lot of believers I've met in the 50+ years that I've been a follower of Christ, have spent a great deal of time trying to figure out what their spiritual gifts are. There's quite a bit of discussion in theological circles about whether or not some of the "gifts" are even still in use today. But I think our focus should be more on the "fruit of the Spirit" rather than the gifts of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25 says "22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."

• Seems to me if we were focusing on producing fruit, our gifts would become obvious. And ALL of the fruit is something that we ALL can produce.

• Let's make some grapes!

“Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995

by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org”