It was when Christ was about to take leave of His disciples that He gave them the beautiful emblem of His relation to believers. He had been presenting before them the close union with Himself by which they could maintain spiritual life when His visible presence was withdrawn. To impress it upon their minds He gave them the vine as its most striking and appropriate symbol. {5T 230.1}

(230) Det var, da Kristus stod i begreb med at skulle tage afsked med sine disciple, at han gav dem det skønne sindbillede på sit forhold til de troende. Han fremstillede for dem den inderlige forening med ham, ved hvilken de ville kunne holde det åndelige liv ved lige, når hans synlige nærværelse var ophørt. For at indprente dette i deres sind benyttede han vintræet som det mest slående og passende sindbillede.