Charles Ellicott Commentary John 15:1

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." — John 15:1 (ASV)

I am the true vine.—For the word “true,” compare with the Note on John 1:9. The ideal truth, of which the natural vine is a figure, is fulfilled in Him. The thought is introduced suddenly, and with nothing in the context to lead up to it. The natural explanation of this is that here, as in other instances, it was suggested by some external object that met the eye.

If we suppose (compare with the Note on John 14:31) that they were crossing the valley on the way to Gethsemane, it is reasonable to think they passed a vineyard, which would have supplied the form for our Lord’s expressed thoughts. However, the journey itself during the discourse is improbable, and the sight of a vineyard is less likely, as it was night.

On the supposition that they were still in the room where they had eaten supper, several sources for the imagery have been suggested: a vine whose tendrils grew into the room; the vine carved on the doors of the Temple (Josephus, Wars, v. 5, § 4; Antiquities, xv. 11, § 3); vineyards seen in the distance by moonlight; or the vine suggested by “the fruit of the vine” of which they had drunk.

Of these suggestions, the last has the most probability, as it is bound up with the significance of the cup of which they had drunk that night. We cannot say more than this.

The imagery may have followed from some incident, custom, or remark now entirely unknown to us. It was, as in the case of the Good Shepherd, familiar to them from the Old Testament and would have come to their minds from any slight suggestion.

(See, for example, the following passages: Psalms 80:8–19; Isaiah 5:1 and following; Jeremiah 2:21; Ezekiel 19:10.) It seems to have been expressed also in Rabbinic precepts, for example, “Whoever dreams of a vine-branch shall see the Messiah” (Berachoth, folio 89).

And my Father is the husbandman.—Compare Matthew 21:33 and following; Mark 12:1 and following; Luke 20:9 and following. The thought here is of the owner of the vine, who Himself cultivates and trains it.