Monday 24 August 2026

Psalm 107:33-43

Background
John 15 is a passage about discipleship, what it means to follow Jesus, where the roots of discipleship lie and what the consequences of discipleship might be. It begins with this affirmation by Jesus, "I am the true vine" (meaning he was the ultimate source of spiritual life and nourishment).

In the way John reports the "I am" sayings of Jesus in his gospel it is clear that he had reflected deeply on the teaching of Jesus. Using his own life experience, he had distilled them into the wisdom that is embodied in his gospel.

The Early Church was having to establish itself in a world of competing religions and was seeking ways to mark the difference between itself and Judaism. 'The vine' was seen as a way of talking about God’s people. Those within Judaism would understand that they were the vine, uniquely. For John to write of Jesus as 'the true vine' he is establishing a shared root of belief between Christianity and Judaism but emphasising the alternative of the truth and uniqueness of having faith in Jesus.

Faith in Jesus is the pathway to belonging to the true vine; to being the true people of God. John was establishing a unique selling point, creating a distinction between Christianity and Judaism. In the course of this passage he is, also, radically claiming that only through faith in Jesus can you find acceptance from God.

To Ponder:

• Today we recognise antisemitism as wrong and inappropriate. It would be easy to interpret this section of John’s Gospel as antisemitic. Stating "I am right, or true", and "You are wrong or false" doesn’t make a comfortable paradigm in which to recognise and value diversity. Are there ways in which we can continue a dialogue where difference is recognised without invoking a debate about what is right or wrong?
• What sort of language can we use to invite people to follow Jesus without having judgement and condemnation as the alternative?

Bible notes author: The Revd Malcolm Peacock
The Revd Peacock is Superintendent Minister of the Mid Glamorgan Mission Circuit. He has a deep and abiding interest in Celtic theology and believes those who are minorities or feel themselves marginalised should be given a voice to speak for themselves.