Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-09-03
JESUS TIE TRUE VINE.
DR.. JOHN HALLS NOTES ON THE
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.


The language of this lesson is more 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 the
steep, outside the wall, saw a vine which sug-
gested this figure. Others have imagined
vine on the wall and its branches 10y the 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 dispcnsation he was bringing
in and was rather teaching his disciples what
they had to do i'll it than setting out the sim
pie and great truth regarding union with him
which is elsewhere taught. John xiv, 49,
Now the Hebrews were used to the vine as
description Of their church and nation-"a
vine out of Egypt" in I's. Xxx, s: "the vine
yard of the Lord of hosts" in lisa V. :: IA
noble vne." in Jer ii, 81, Eek xix 10, etc.
But a. Israel was typical of Gods whole
church, with Jesus at the head (3) Israel was,
according to Hos. x, l, an empty vine"
and SO removed. 1t is with reference to the
real fruit to be brought forth that Jesus says,
~ am the true vine" If he had simply meant
to show that a soul must he in him to bear
fruit, as a branch III the tree, it would have
been enough to say, al am vine or like a
vine. But true" implies the reality as dis
tinguished from types and figures, just we
may say, Christ is the true paschal lamb p"
(See John vi, 81 He joins himself and the
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 i'll Eph. iv,
14-16 He is rs such the true Israel the true
"seed of Abraham" For the purpose of being
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 he
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 a 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 gone.
V. l. Il am the true vine" The Hebrew
economy was the shadow. The substance is
now here God the Father in making the
covenant and giving His Son planted this
vine, and as u "husbandman" wines were
what grain crops now are cares for the vine
he planted, prunes it ". p, desires it to be
fruitful w. -, throws away the dead, useless
branche, ". g. does all that is for the good
of the tree ". ., and has credit when much
fruit is borne. So the Father ". s. does with
his people
V. 2 The branch may be "A section of the
church, or "a family, or an individual. If it
bear not fruit see for fruit Heb xii II ;
Gal. V. 1913. it is taken away. The candle
stick of frutless church will he removed
REV ii, -. Ungodly families like Jeroboam 5
are broken Off. Fathless individuals like
Judas, who had gone out" and who was
probably in Christ's mind. 60 to destruction
tSee Matt vii, n; Rev. iii, Ii: Acts j, 11-2OJ
So the question, Is such and such a denomi-
nation branch of the church. is not so
important as this. Is it fruitful. So a family
in the church, bearing no fruit, will he 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 proofs and examples
Rev iii. 10: Heb. xii II; ii Pet ii, 81 This
is the training we need.
V. 3. The disciples had been trained
"cleann-so as to be fit for their place
through the teaching he had given them
They were engrafted had believed his word,
and been in part made good spiritual men by
it (See Pet. i, 22l
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 Gods
word out of mems hearts and they obey self,
the world and the devil (See | John ill., "a
and Gal. ii, 2OD
V. s. emphasizes this and drops the figure,
"without me-" etc. See Hos. xiv, s, from
me is thy fruit found" Take, as an example
of this, Paul in Phil. i, II.
V. & expands the idea of V, 2, "taketh
away" They need not wonder at Judas
course. When man, no matter what he
professed, no longer believes in Chrsts word
he no more does Christs work. He is like
the withered, dead branches which men
gather and burn. (See Matt III, 10J On the
other hand
". y, if they have his word in them, they
are of one mind with him and shall ask and
get what they will. 1t is safe to give this
privilege to those who believe as God says.
1t is like leaving the keys with a son or true
servant He will do nothing but what
would do, says the trusting parent or master
v s is to be read thus: Il have been glori
flying my Father on the earth but as you
know, am going away. You remain here
as you preach, live aud work as | have done
you glorify my Father, and will thus be seen
to be my disciples-to be continuing what
had in hand, under my teaching" (See Phil
i, II and John viii, 81 Then our Lord gives
instructions as to duty, privilege and encour
agement in the place which he has shown
them they are to occupy
V. 8. "The Father loved me, made me his
representative to menr so | have loved you
and make you my representatives. Continue
We in my love" See Jude Xxx, 81 So a good
father dying might say to his boys, "You
know how loved you, and what wished tC
have you be and do. Keep on that same line
always"
V. 10 expands this idea. The way to abide
In the Savour's love is to do his will. Sc
Jesus as Gods righteous servant abode in