Jesus’ parables connect with the Old Testament and transform them from the inside out. So the prophet Isaiah says that the people of Israel are “God’s vineyard.” Jesus comes along and uses the same imagery saying that his father is the vinedresser and furthermore–he (Jesus) is the vine.

In other words, Jesus is the source of life and love in the midst of the vineyard.

His idea that he is the vine and we are the branches is a revolution in religious thought. Every other religion or philosophy takes a different approach. Jesus turns all of them upside down. He stands every other religion on it’s head and yet fulfills every other religion. Read more.