John 15:1-11

Probably one of the more familiar and much-loved passages in the Bible. Whole books have been written on it; entire theologies of the Christian life have been built on its themes. The conversation is thought to have taken place as they walked from the upper rom in Jerusalem to the Kidron Valley and across the Mount of Olives. They would have seen the Herod’s Temple and the great golden vine that adorned the door to the sanctuary. The grape vine was a common theme in Jewish culture. The cultivation of vineyard was important to the life and economy of Israel and its symbolism had it precedent in the OT (Psalm 80:8-9; Isaiah 5:1-7.) The grape vine was the “national symbol of Israel.