‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. (John 15: 1-5)

Jesus suggests he is as a seed. Or he is the sower of God’s seed. Or he is the vine that proceeds from the seed.

Jesus is our source for - or connection to - the realm of God.

In this realm we have our origin. From this source we receive what we need to grow. Cut off from the seed we shrivel and die.

The introduction of the vine analogy – which is consistent with Mark 12 – is a helpful corollary to the seed parables.

A seed of grain is separate and depends entirely on its context. It can be a fantastic seed, but if it lands on a rock or there is no rain, tough luck.

Grapes are not alone.

A grapevine will flourish in harsh conditions. The best wines are often produced from rocky hillsides where little else would grow.

In the Medoc – one of the premier wine regions of France – the topsoil is sandy, almost a gravel. The hot dry summers would stunt or kill most grain crops.

But grapes do very well. Wine connoisseurs agree that old vines produce the best vintages in seasons that are hot and dry.

Difficult conditions encourage the vine to dig deep to find whatever moisture is available. The same conditions that would burn off a seed grain will produce the finest grapes.

Is the realm of God like a vineyard?