Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-09-02
JESUS THE TRUE VINE.
Or. JOHN HALLS NOTES ON THE
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.


Sunday, Sept. 5-Golden Text: 'I Am
tho Viao, Ye Are the Branches.''
John xv, I-I0.
The language of this lesson is moro than
usually familiar. Perhaps its meaning differs
somewhat from the common impression.
Let US try to know it, and look for Gods bless
ing with it.
Some have supposed that the company
Jesus and the disciples-going down tho
steep, outside the wall, saw vine which sug
gested this figure. Others have imagined a
vine on the wall and its branches by tho win
dow bringing up this image; others think @the
fruit of the vine' suggested the figure, But
the far greater likelihood is that Jesus had in
mind the new dispensation he was bringing
in, and was rather teaching his disciples what
they had to do in it than setting out the SIM
pie and great truth regarding union with him
which is elsewhere taught. John xiv, 10l
Now the Hebrews were used to the vine as a
description of their church and natior-"a
vine out of Egypt" in Ps Xxx, s; "the vine
yard of the Lord of hosts" in Isa- v, z; "a
noble vine," in Jer. ii, 81, Ezck. xix, 10, etc.
But Q) Israel was typical Of Gods whole
church, with Jesus at the head. C2l Israel was,
according to Hos. x, /, an "empty vine,"
and so removed. 1t is with reference to the
real fruit to Be brought forth that Jesus says,
al nm the true vine" If lie had simply meant
to show that soul must be in him to bear
fruit, as u branch in the tree, it would have
been enough to say,"I am a vine" or like
vine. But 'true" implies tho reality as dis
f.ot,, txr,1o- onI fU1Iroc inst
may say, "Christ is the true paschal lamb. :"
(See John vi, 32) He joins himself and tho
church in one for reasons that will appear.
This is not surprising. 1t is only in another
form the truth of Christ the head, and the
whole body joined to him, as in Eph. iv,
I4-16. He is as such the true Israel, the true
Gseed Of Abraham" For the purpose of being
O blessing to all the world, he and his people
are one. So he represents the Father as hus
bandman to him, and his people as in him.
This, of course, is not of him as the Son of
God, but as one with his Church. OF him by
himself God is not the husbandman But lie
cares for the mystical body of which he is the
head (See Cor, iii, 81
This should be noted at the outset. The
need of soul being joined to Christ for sal
walton, they had learned ". B. He is now
teaching them concerning the church they
were to found Jesus and his church make
one great tree, for which the Father cares
While the words include spiritual truths we
all need to know, they were meant first and
most for the men who were to represent him
after he was gone.
". II am the true vine" The Hebrew
economy was the shadow. The substance is
noI LntI t,, nlyIn In
covenant and giving His Son planted this
vine, and as Il "husbandman" wines were
what grain crops now are) cares for the vine
be planted, prunes it ". p, desires ii to be
fruitful vs., throws away the dead, useless
branches ". y, does all that is for the good
of the tree ". q, and has credit when much
fruit is borne So the Father w. 3 does with
bis people.
va. Tho "branch" may be section of the
church, or a family, or an individual. If it
bear not fruit (see for "fruit" Heb. xii, II;
Gal. v, 2s-2S), it is taken away. The candle
stick Of q fruitless church will be removed
| tftgv. ii, 81. Ungodly families like Jeroboam's
are broken off. Faithless individuals like
Judas, who had "gone out" and who was
probably in Christ's mind, go to destruction.
(See Matt. vii, 81 Rev. iii, 1-3; Acts j, 17-2OJ
So the question, Is such and such denomi-
nation q branch of the church! is not SO
important as this, Is it fruitfuls So family
in the church, bearing no fruit, will be taken
away-lose its advantages So a dead pro.
fessor will be cast out.
| So also the fruit bearing branches are
purged, cleansed, as by trials, to make them
more fruitful. (See as proofs and examples
Rev. iii, 10; Heb. xii, IL; Ii Pet /, 81 This
is the training we need.
v. 3. Tho disciples had been trained
Hclean"-so as to be fit for their place
| through the teaching h had given them
| They were engrafted, had believed his word
and been in part made good spiritual men by
it (See Pet. i, 22.)
| v. a. That this is the meaning is clear from
v. 4, In connection with V. z. keep believ
ing what have told you; so let me by my
words abide in you" This word from him
in them is counterpart of the union between
branch and stem in the vine Cut off the
branch and there is no fruit. Take God:
word out of mems hearts and they obey self
the world and the devil. (See John iii, q
and Gal ii, 20.)
V. s. emphasizes this and drops the figure
"without me-" etc. See Hos. xiv, s, 'fron
me is thy fruit found" Take, as an example
of this, Paul in Phil. i, II.
v. 6 expands the idea of v. 2, "taketl
away" They need not wonder at Judas
course. When a man, no matter what liz
professed, no longer believes in Christ's word
be no more does Christ's work. He is like
the withered, dead branches which mer
gather and burn. tSee Matt. iii, 10l On tht
other hand
w. q, il they have his word in them, they
are of one mind with him and shall ask and
get what they will It is safe to give thi
privilege to those who believe as God says
| It is like leaving the keys with son or a tru,
servant. "He will do nothing but what
would do" says the trusting parent or master
v. 8 is to be read thus: II have been glori
flying my Father on the earth, but, as yor
know, / am going away You remain here
as YOU preach, live and work as have done
you glorify my Father, and will thus be seer
to be my disciples-to be continuing what
had in hand, under my teaching" (See Phil
Ii, II and John viii, 31l Then our Lord give
instructions as to duty, privilege and cncour
|ascment in the place which he has shown
them they are to occupy.
V. q. ''rhe Father loved me, made me hi
representative to men so I have loved 70,
and make you my representatives. Continu
We in my love" (See Jude XXX, 2l.) So goot
father dying might say to his boys, "Yo,
know how loved you, and what wished Il
havo you be and do. Keep on that same lin
always"
| v. 10 expands this idea. The way to abid
In the Saviour's love is to do his will. St
jesus, as Gods righteous servant, abode ii
his love. He could look up and say, No
my will but thine be done" "The cup tha