God, the Vine-Dresser

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 bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you (John 15:1-3).

Addressing the Father as the vine-dresser does not diminish the Person of Jesus Christ as the vine. As stated many times, Jesus Christ is equal with the Father in essence, nature, character, and purpose. In His incarnation, Jesus was made a little lower than the angels, that through His suffering we might be saved. (Hebrews 2:6-9) What is man that You are mindful of him, or the Son of Man that you take care of Him? You have made Him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned Him with glory and honor, and set Him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under His feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. Following His death and resurrection, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:9-11). 

The point of the metaphor is not to define the relationship between God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son in the Godhead, but to demonstrate the Father’s care for His Son and His people. Christ came in the form of a servant and took the position of dependency upon the Father in His incarnation. Like a vine-dresser to his vineyard, the Father watched over the Son who grew up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground (Isaiah 53:2). He prevented Joseph from divorcing Mary before Jesus was born (Matthew 1:18-20), warned them to flee to Egypt to escape the decree of death upon newborn males in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:13), etc.

Three aspects of the Father’s care for the Son parallel that of the vine-dresser and the vine: (1) His loving care. He tends to every aspect of the life of the vine and the branches that are joined to it. (2) His watchful care. He is careful to notice daily the condition of the vine and each branch of the vine - watering, training, pruning, fertilizing, etc. (3) His faithful care. The vine is not neglected, nor are the branches allowed to become unprotected and unproductive, nor are the vine and branches vulnerable to be taken away and possessed by another.

My Father is the vinedresser. He does not give to others the work of caring for the vine and its branches, assuring us of the greatest, most loving, and faithful care. (John 10:27-30) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one. Amen.

Pastor