John 15:5-7 5I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him, this one bears much fruit, because apart from me, you are not able to do anything. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
Jesus makes explicitly clear in verse 5 the application of his metaphor. This verse repeats the key ideas expressed thus far in the chapter, with the missing element of the farmer’s part, which is assumed in verse 6. Jesus uses the same “I am” statement as verse 1 and emphasizes the relationship between himself and his disciples. The main theme has been bearing fruit. The opening statement in this verse states the natural and expected situation of a branch, which is to be part of the plant of which the vine is the source of life and stability.
When a branch remains attached to the vine, it will grow, thrive, and bear the intended fruit. This branch will not bear just some fruit, but much fruit in an abundance of harvest. This fruit has not been fully described in the extended metaphor. Verse 7 implies this fruit to be the product of prayer. Bearing fruit requires the nourishment and sustenance of the vine.
The end of verse 5 introduces extends the problem of not bearing fruit of verse 2. In verse 2, the farmer creates the perfect situation to bear fruit. In application, God the Father gives grace and reveals his will so that disciples will be able to bear fruit through responding in faith. Verse 6 gets deeper into the issue of those followers who lack faith and choose not to obey the Father’s will. This problem is stated as not abiding in Jesus.
The branch stays connected by faith, but without faith, the connection is severed. John’s Gospel provides several examples of this, including Judas Iscariot and Jews like the Sanhedrin, who refused to believe. The sequence of the imagery is significant. First, the branch no longer or never remains in the vine, representing the relationship of faith. Second, the branch is cut off, withers, and is thrown away because it has no life, representing no hope of eternal life. Third, the branch is thrown into the fire, representing judgment (5:19). The relationship of faith is crucial, not only for bearing fruit but avoiding the Father’s judgment. The key thought of these verses is the need to remain in Jesus through faith in him as the Son of God and obedience to his words as the true revelation from God. Jesus makes the choice clear once again.
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