15:2

Boice escapes the difficulty of interpretation by translating cuts off (airo) as "lifts up", certainly one of its meanings. He argues, "This translation makes better sense of the passage in every way, and in addition it is much better theology. First , the emphasis of this opening section of the parable is, quite rightly, upon the care of the vine by the Father. It would be strange, granting this emphasis, if the first thing mentioned is the carrying away of unproductive branches. But it is not at all strange ot emphasize that the vine dresser first lift the branches up so that they may be better exposed to the sin and so the fruit will develop properly"

John by Kenneth O. Gangel quoting Boice: Boice, IV, p.228

15 intro

Boice gives an idea what may have occasioned Jesus parable of the vine and its branches. Since the proceeding chapter ends with "Come now, let us leave," it would seem that the Lord and his disciples left the upper room at this point and began that quiet walk across the city of Jerusalem down into the Kidron Valley that brought them to the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. If that is the case, they may have passed the great golden vine that decorated the door to the Holy Place of the temple or they may have passed the vines that grew close to the great walls of the city.

The Gospel of John vol.4 p. 1159, James Boice