The grapevine (vitis) is a stem-tendril climbing plant which belongs to the flowering plant family, Vitaceae. It has short and thick woody stems that twist and knot, together with heart-shaped leaves that can grow up to 15cm in length. Edible berry fruits, which we know as grapes, grow in clusters on the vines.
As a product of the grapevine, grapes are one of the most popular fruits in the world. In the year 2019/2020, global grape production amounted to about 23.38 million metric tons! As expected, grapes have many uses and by-products. It can be consumed as a fruit (fresh or dried), or made into other products such as jam, juice, vinegar, wine, etc.
Besides the fruit, grape leaves are edible too. They are most commonly used in Mediterranean recipes. Grape leaves also have medicinal properties which help to facilitate the circulation of blood. The leaves possess antiplatelet properties that prevent the formation of thrombi, which are responsible for many strokes.
Grapevine in the Bible
No plant is mentioned more times in the Bible than the grape and its products. God first used the vine as an illustration of Israel, and subsequently Christians.
The first mention of the plant is in Genesis 9:20-21. After the flood, Noah began to provide for himself and his family. He planted many things, and among them was a vineyard. It is also the first mention of drunkenness in the Bible. In Numbers 6:1-6, the law of the Nazarite forbids them to eat or drink anything from the grapevine.
Other notable grape/grapevine references:
· Deuteronomy 32:32 – A bad vine illustrates the wickedness of man
· Psalm 80:8-19 – Israel was compared to a vine
· Jeremiah 2:21 – Israel started out as a nobel vine but they chose to pursue false gods and idolatry
· Revelation 14:18-19 – The grape harvest is associated with the judgment of God
The vineyard is used in many references, parables, and analogies, because it was something familiar and relatable for people then:
· Isaiah 5:1-7 – Parable of the Vineyard
· Matthew 20 – Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard
· Matthew 21:33; Mark 12:1; Luke 20:9 – Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers
The scriptures emphasize several features of the grapevine that should help us understand its use.
1) The structure of the plant
The grapevine spreads and climbs far and high. In Genesis 49:22, Joseph was likened to a fruitful vine. “Joseph is a fruitful bough, A fruitful bough by a well; His branches run over the wall.”
2) Maintenance of the plant
Pruning is essential if the vine is to produce grapes. The Greek word for prune and cleanse is the same – καθαίρω. It controls foliage growth and ensures fruit production and quality.
John 15:1 states, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser”. God prunes and hedges just like how a vinedresser maintains his grapevine. Ultimately, judgment is in His hands and we have to continue bearing good fruits that belong to the true vine.
Of the many pictures of the relationship between God and His people, the vine and branch emphasizes the complete dependence on Him and need for constant connection with Him.
John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”
If the branch isn’t connected to the vine, it is impossible for it to bear grapes. As Christians, we cannot bear fruit if we do not abide in Jesus.
As we read in John 15:6, there is a strong warning from Jesus that if anyone does not abide in Him, “he is cast out as a branch and is withered”. A branch only has life when it is connected to the vine. It is key for our spiritual lives that we stay close to Jesus and abide in Him.
As we think of ourselves as branches connected to the true vine, let us reflect further about our spirituality. Are we the branch that has fallen off the vine and onto the floor, waiting to be cast out and burned? Are we the hidden branches that bear no fruit, waiting to be pruned and hedged in due time? Or are we the branches that stay connected to the true vine, bearing much fruit and continuously spreading our vines?
Ultimately, real fruitfulness is only determined over an extended period of time and it is an ongoing process. How can we ensure we continue to bear fruits and stay connected to the true vine? We need to keep working on our relationship with Christ just like how Mary knew Jesus’ true heart (John 12:1-8). There is also a need to be reflective daily – How is my relationship with Christ today? How am I feeling about my faith today? May we continue to abide in Christ throughout our lives by focusing on His Word.