Jesus as the true vine : an invitation to abide in Him

Abstract

This essay sets out to concentrate on one of the images of Jesus as presented in the Fourth Gospel, namely Jesus as the true vine (Jn 15, 1-11). This image forms part of Jesus' last discourse, in which He invites His disciples to abide in Him. This image will be explored by means of the Old Testament imagery of the vine as a symbol of Israel, followed by Jesus' words in Jn 15. Here, the Fourth Evangelist helps the reader to delve into his presentation of the person of Jesus Christ, a Son of God in relation to His Father. The passage forms part of John's dualism, that is, a contrast between those, who already believe in Jesus and those, who do not.