Suppose someone asks you, who are you, you would tell your name. Some times the question will be: What are you? Jesus confronted with this question many times during his ministry. Even Jesus’ disciples said among themselves: “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” (Mk.4,41, Mt.16,13). John the baptist asked him whether he was the one to come.
Kajaphas, the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” (MK. 14, 61) Pilate asked Jesus: „are you the king of the Jews? (Joh. 18,33).
In many occasions Jesus said many times who he was. As Jesus told the soldiers who came to arrest him, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. Jesus said to the Samaritan woman that he is the Messaiah. To the question of the high priest whether he is the Christ Jesus said , Yes.
From the different expressions of Jesus about himself there originated the “I am” words of Jesus. The “I am words” of Jesus are the trademark of the Gospel of John. They explain the mission and message of Jesus.
In today’s Gospel Jesus said. “ I am the vine ” (Jn15:5). During the last supper with his disciples Jesus said it. It was the farewell sprach of Jesus. Important themes of his farewell speech were unity, love, relationship, friendship, belongingness etc. Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. God the father is the winemaker. The branches should bring good fruits. The removing of the branches which do not bring good fruits is difficult, but needed, true and consistent. Without belonging to the vine the branches can not bring fruit. Jesus expresses the intimate relationship of the disciples with him and with God the Father. This way of narration encourages us to be in good relationship with Jesus and with God and to continue the work of Jesus.
The concept of vine and branches was common among the people of Israel and it was understandable for the disciples of Jesus.
In the Old Testament Israel was considered as branches of vine and vineyard. Now Jesus says that he himself is vine and his disciples are branches. That means what has been handed over through the tradition of the people of Israel is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the guide, he is the fulfilment of the revelations and traditions of Israel through the centuries, he is the way to the Father and through intimate relationship with Jesus we will be able to attain salvation.
The most important sentence in today’s Gospel is the words of Jesus: “I am vine, you are the branches.” This sentence belongs to the ‘I am words’ of Jesus. The other „I am words“ of Jesus are: “I am the bread of life” (Jn 6,41.48.51), I am the light of the world (Jn. 8,12 ), I am the door” (Jn 10,7,9), I am the good shepherd (Jn 10,11.14 Ich), I am resurrection and life (Jn. 11,25), I am the way, truth and life (Jn 14,6).
„Bread“, „Light“, „door“, „shepherd“, „way“, „vine“ and the words like „Life“ and “truth“ are the words that Jesus uses to designate and explain himself. These „I am words“ of Jesus convince us about the person of Jesus, his mission, message, his relationship to the Father, his vision and goal of life, his promises etc.
Let us open ourselves to the person and message of Jesus. Let us be like the branches of vine and remain in intimate relationship with Jesus.
Fr. Joseph Pandiappallil MCBS