Jesus' statement is radical. The vine was a symbol of Israel (Psalm 80:8-11). Jesus is saying that he is the place God's people will find their life. We need to be attached to the true vine and take our spiritual sustenance from it — as followers of Jesus, our nourishment must come from him. When people are in Christ, they will find themselves tended and cared for by God himself. This concept is both radical and comforting. Jesus reminds us that God cares for the sparrows, so he surely cares for us. The Father knows the number of hairs on our heads. He knows what we need before we ask for it. God is not a God far off, but a God up close and personal. He knows us and wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives.