Commentary on the Gospel of
Vine-ing the Branch
Jesus compares the relationship between himself and a disciple to the relation between vine and the branches. Why does he choose the example of vine? Well, he ordinarily uses examples from the everyday living contexts of his listeners so that they can easily understand his message. Yet another possible reason is the unique relation vine has with its branches. Unlike other plants or trees, there is no definable, distinguishable break between vine and its branches. You never know where the stem ends and the branch begins. The stem IS the branch. Anyone who is in Christ is so: There is no definable point in him or her where Christ ends and the other begins. When we abide in him, it is Christ who abides in us all the way. This is what impelled Paul to say, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).
