Today we have the last of the seven 'I AM' statements that Jesus makes of himself in John's gospel. 'I AM' is the very name of God, the name that Moses heard from the voice that spoke to him from the burning bush. Each 'I AM' statement expresses an aspect of God as seen in Jesus. Today He tells us He is the "True Vine". It is a kind of parable. Jesus is the vine plant and His Father is the "vinedresser", the one who tends and makes sure the plant has nourishment for its life. The followers of Jesus are the branches on the vine. Like the branches of any tree, they derive their life and nourishment from the parent plant. But their existence is not to be purely passive. Each branch on the vine is meant to produce a harvest of grapes (and perhaps we have seen, at least in pictures, vines truly laden down with bunches of juicy grapes). Any branch that fails to bear fruit will be lopped off as useless.

It is a clear picture of our relationships with Jesus. It is not enough devoutly to follow Him. We are expected to pass on to others the richness of life which He gives to us. Otherwise we are useless branches, fit only for the fire. So I may ask: Am I a branch with lovely green leaves which people can only admire or do I have fruit which others can be nourished with?