Divine Injunction in John 15: 1-4 and Its Relevance to Sustainable Development in Nigeria

Abstract

The New Testament books are full of divine injunctions which were uttered for the purpose of spiritual growth of the readers. They are supernatural commands needed to be obeyed to achieve specific goals. Lawrence Richard like other scholars refers to them as deific, exquisite, hallowed and sacred. The text for consideration in this paper is one of the seven “I am sayings” of Jesus in the Gospel of John. “I am the true vine” (John 15:1). Sustainable spiritual development is key to the survival of life of people as challenges confronting individuals in the contemporary world keep on increasing on daily basis. The symbolism of the “True Vine”, used by Jesus Christ to describe the place of his life and mission on earth vis-a-vis the state of humans that necessitated God to incarnate Himself in the person of Christ, is very significant in Johannine The-ology. The “Vine” in Israel is a unique plant which everybody appreciates, in the sense that it serves both religious and economic purposes in the land of Is-rael. It is a “Metaphor” that Jesus Christ chose to describe the importance of his mission on earth. In Johannine Theology, the relationship between the “True Vine,” The Vine dresser, and the Branches is pertinent and vital to the understanding of the role of Messiahship in the salvation of human souls. The message in this text on the role of these three important Theological figures is essential to the sustainability of the spiritual development of Jesus’ followers and sustainable development in Nigeria especially among the leaders and the led.