I Am Because You Are October 22, 2025 Devotional

JOHN 15:1 | ¹ I am the true vine, and my Father is the        vinegrower.

PSALM 80:8-9 | ⁸ You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. ⁹ You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.

Jesus claims to be the true vine. This “I AM” statement has vertical and horizontal implications. Horizontally it references God’s relationship with Israel. In the Psalms and prophets the nation of Israel is presented as God’s vine, whom He plants and tends as the vinedresser. Every Israelite, by birth and circumcision, is joined to the ethnic vine, automatically a part of the covenant, but since Israel broke the covenant, by disobedience, disloyalty, and idolatry God sent His Son to be the true Vine. Jesus fulfills, sums up, and represents the nation, as its Messiah and King. He obeys the commands Israel violated, establishes the justice the prophets longed for, brings the healing and grace sufferers and sinners needed, is the good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep, and He broadens God’s reach beyond Israel fulfilling the promise to Abraham that through Him all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Now anyone, by faith, can connect to the great divine Vine.

How do you connect Christianity and Judaism?

Gracious God,

We thank You for all You have done through the people of Israel. We ask Your blessing on our Jewish brothers and sisters, especially those who do not know Jesus as Messiah.

Amen.