Observation 1: How Christ Is a Vine, and Only the True Vine

First, Christ, he is a vine. To explain this first. Adam indeed was a vine, planted in Paradise, to bear all mankind upon, but he turned a wild one, he proved not the true vine. God planted him (to allude to that, Jeremiah 2:21) a noble vine, a holy and right seed, but he degenerated, and so have all grafted on him, and so bring forth nothing but grapes of Sodom, as Isaiah speaks.

But second, God the Father having many branches of chosen ones, that grew by nature on this cursed stock of Adam, whom yet, as verse 16, he had ordained to bring forth fruit, that is, to spring and spread forth in the earth in all ages, and then to be transplanted to Heaven, the paradise appointed for them; the earth being but the nursery of them for a while: hence therefore he did appoint his own Son to be a new root, as into whom he meant to transplant them, and ordained him to be that bulk, and body, and chief branch which they all should grow out of, who is therefore called the root of David, Revelation 22, and that righteous branch, Jeremiah 22:6.

Whom therefore 3. he planted as a root here on earth with us, and clothed with a human nature, a weak and mean bark and body, and a rind and outside, such as ours is; that so both root and branches might be of the same nature, and homogeneous: which nature of ours in him, he likewise filled with his Spirit (as with juice and sap) without all measure, that so he might fructify, and grow into all those branches appointed to be in him, by communicating the same spirit to them.

And 4. although he was of himself the fairest cedar that ever the earth bore, yet in relation to those multitude of branches he was to bear, he chooses to be a vine, which is of all trees the lowest, the weakest, and of the meanest bark, and outside of any other, only because of all others it is the most plentiful of branches, and runs out and spreads its bulk in branches; and those, of all branches else of any other trees, the most fruitful, it is therefore called the fruitful vine (Psalm 128:3), and for that reason only does he single out this comparison, as suiting with his scope, showing therein his love; that as he condescended to the lowest condition, for our salvation, so to the meanest resemblances for our instruction, yet so as withal he tells us, that no vine, nor all the vines on earth were worthy to be compared, nor to be so much as resemblances of him.

For he, and he alone is the true vine, that is the second observation.

For take those choicest excellencies in a vine, for which the comparison here is made, as more particularly, that of fruitfulness either in boughs or fruit, and it is but a shadow of that which is in him. As God only is [I am that I am,] and all things else have but the shadow of being: so Christ alone has only all the excellencies in him in the true real nature of all things to which he is compared. So in like manner he is said to be bread indeed (John 6:55), and verse 32, the true bread from heaven. Manna, and all other meat, and all that sweetness which is in meat, is and was but a shadow to that which he affords. He excels and exceeds all things he is compared to, in what they have, and they are but shadows to him (Hebrews 10:1).

First therefore, never any vine so fruitful. All our fruit is found in him (Hosea 12). If you abide in me, you shall bring forth much fruit. He has juice to supply you with every grace, to fill you with all the fruits of righteousness, which if the branches want, it is for want of faith in themselves, to draw from him, not want of sap in him.

Secondly, this he is at all times, has been in all ages, thus flourishing; this root never withers; is never dry or empty of sap, it is never winter with Christ. Every branch, says the second verse, that is, every one that has born fruit in any age, bears all its fruit in him: branches in him fear no drought (Jeremiah 17:8).

Thirdly, for largeness of spreading, no such vine as this: He (as the Psalmist says, Psalm 80:11-12) sends out his boughs to the sea, and his branches to the rivers: all the earth is, or has been, or shall be filled with them.

This is to persuade us to take Christ alone, and make him our all in all, because in him all excellencies are supereminently found. All creatures are not enough to serve for comparisons to set him forth, and when they do in part, for some particular thing that is the most excellent in them, yet therein they are but shadows (Hebrews 10:1). He only is the truth, he is the true light (John 1). The Baptist, Moses, and all lights else were but as twilight, but a shadow: so he is the true bread, the true vine, he has really the sweetness, the comfort, the excellencies of them all. The like may be said of all those relations he has taken on him; so he only is a true Father, and husband, etc., and the love and sweetness in all other fathers and husbands are but a shadow to what is in him.

First, Christ is a vine. Let me explain this. Adam was indeed a vine, planted in Paradise to bear all mankind upon him, but he turned wild — he proved not to be the true vine. God planted him (to use the language of Jeremiah 2:21) as a noble vine, a holy and pure seed, but he degenerated, and so has everyone grafted onto him, producing nothing but grapes of Sodom, as Isaiah says.

But second, God the Father had many branches of His chosen ones growing by nature on this cursed stock of Adam. Yet He had ordained them, as verse 16 indicates, to bring forth fruit — that is, to spring up and spread through the earth in every age, and then to be transplanted to heaven, the paradise appointed for them. The earth is only a nursery for them for a time. Therefore, the Father appointed His own Son to be a new root, into whom He would transplant them. He ordained Christ to be the trunk, the body, and the chief branch from which they would all grow. This is why He is called the root of David in Revelation 22, and that righteous branch in Jeremiah 22:6.

Third, the Father planted this root here on earth with us, clothing Him with a human nature — a weak and ordinary outer body like ours — so that both root and branches would share the same nature and be of one kind. This human nature He filled with His Spirit (as with juice and sap) without measure, so that Christ might bear fruit and grow into all those branches appointed to be in Him, by communicating that same Spirit to them.

And fourth, although Christ was in Himself the most glorious of all who ever lived on earth, yet in relation to the vast number of branches He was to bear, He chose to be a vine. The vine is of all trees the lowest, the weakest, and the plainest in its outward form. But of all trees, it is the most abundant in branches, spreading out and running its trunk into branches more than any other. Those branches are, of all branches on any tree, the most fruitful. It is therefore called the fruitful vine (Psalm 128:3). For that reason alone Christ chose this comparison as fitting His purpose, and in doing so He showed His love: just as He humbled Himself to the lowest condition for our salvation, so He stooped to the most ordinary illustration for our instruction. And yet He makes clear that no vine on earth is worthy to be compared to Him or even used as a true likeness of Him.

He, and He alone, is the true vine — and that is the second observation.

Take those most excellent qualities of a vine for which the comparison is made — especially its fruitfulness in both branches and fruit — and it is only a shadow of what is in Him. Just as God alone is 'I Am That I Am,' and all other things have only a shadow of being, so Christ alone possesses in their true and full nature all the excellencies He is compared to. So in the same way He is called bread indeed (John 6:55), and in verse 32, the true bread from heaven. Manna and all other food, and all the sweetness found in food, were only a shadow of what He provides. He surpasses and exceeds everything He is compared to, and they are all but shadows of Him (Hebrews 10:1).

First, then, no vine was ever so fruitful. All our fruit is found in Him (Hosea 12). If you abide in Me, you will bring forth much fruit. He has the nourishment to supply you with every grace, to fill you with all the fruits of righteousness. If the branches lack anything, it is for lack of faith in themselves to draw from Him — not for lack of sap in Him.

Second, He has been this way at all times and in every age — always flourishing. This root never withers; it is never dry or empty of sap; it is never winter with Christ. Every branch, as the second verse says — every one that has ever borne fruit in any age — bears all its fruit in Him. Branches in Him fear no drought (Jeremiah 17:8).

Third, for breadth of spreading, there is no vine like this one. As the Psalmist says (Psalm 80:11-12), He sends out His boughs to the sea and His branches to the rivers. All the earth is, has been, or will be filled with them.

This is meant to persuade us to take Christ alone and make Him our all in all — because in Him all excellencies are found in their fullness. All created things together are not enough to serve as comparisons to describe Him. Even when they do, in part, for some particular quality that is most excellent in them, they are still only shadows (Hebrews 10:1). He alone is the truth; He is the true light (John 1). John the Baptist, Moses, and every other light was only twilight, only a shadow. So He is the true bread, the true vine — He possesses in full reality the sweetness, the comfort, and the excellencies that all these things suggest. The same can be said of all the relationships He has taken on. He alone is a true Father, a true husband, and so on. The love and tenderness found in all other fathers and husbands is only a shadow of what is found in Him.