The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1886-09-04
JESUS TIE TRUE VINE.
DR.. JOHN HALLS NOTES ON THE
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Lesson y of the International Series For
sunday, sept. 5-Goiden Text: IL Am
John Nv, I-IG

~
the Vine, Yo Arc tho branches"
John Nv, 1-IG.
Tho language Of this lesson is nore 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 disciplcS-going down the
steep, outside tho wall saw vine which sug-
G2stai this figure. Others have imagined Il
vine on the wall and its branches by the win.
dow bringing up this image others think tho
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 in 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 vino as u
description Of their church and nation--"a
vine out of Egypt" in Ps Xxx, 5; 1.-THE vine
yard of the Lord of hosts" in lisa. V, :; n
noble vine" in Jer. ii, 81, Eek. xix, 10, etc
But ~ Israel was typical of Gods whole
church, with Jesus ut the head. CT Israel was,
according to Hos. x, l, an comply Vine
and so removed. 1t is with reference 10 the
real fruit 70 We brought forth that Jesus says,
II am the true vne' If he had simply meant
to show that soul must be IN hun 10 bear
fruit rs Il branch in the tree, it would have
been enough to say, Il am vine, on like a
vine. But true implies the reality a dis
tinguished from types and figures, just as we
may say, Christ is the true paschal lamb. y
See John vi, 3al 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 Jim, us in Eph. iv,
l4-l6. He is as such the true Israel the true
seed of Abraham For the purpose of being
a blessing to ali the world, he and his people
are one. So he represents the Father rs bus
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 10y
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 Tho
need OF soul being joined to Christ for sal
walton, they had learned ~. 3. ho Is now
teaching them concerning the church they
were 70 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 I've was gone
V. II am the true vine The Hebrew
economy was the shadow The substance is
now here. God tho Father in making the
covenant and giving His Son planted this
Il,,uI ,np win
what grain crops now are cares for the vine
he planted, prunes it ". y, desires it TO be
fruitful ". -, throws away the dead, useless
branches ". y, does all that is for the good
of the tree ". ., and has credit when much
fruit is borne 50 the Father w. y docs with
his people.
V. .. The branch" may be a section of the
church, or a family, or IN individual Il II
bear not fruit lsee for fruit Heb. xii, IL;
Gal. V, 2t23), it is taken away. The candle
stick of a fiutless church will be removed
Rev. ii, y. Ungodly families like Jeroboam's
are broken off. Faithless individuals like
Judas. who had gone out" and who was
probably in ChriSt's mind, 60 to destruction.
,Se4. Matt. vii, III Rev. iii, Is; Acts j, 1920
So the question, Is such and such denomi-
nation n branch of Tie church: is not 50
important as this, Is it fruitful. SO family
in the church, bearing no fruit, VIII be taken
away-loSe its advantages. So dead pro
fessor will be cast out.
SO also the fruit bearing branches are
purged, clconSel as 10y trials, to make them
more fruitful Sec Us proofs and examples
Rev. iii, 10; Heb. xii, II; ii Pet. /, - This
is the training we need
v 3. The disciples had been trained
"clean'-so as to be fit for their place
through the teaching he had given them.
They were enarafted, had believed his word,
and been in part made good spiritual men by
it. C5oe Pet i, Pr
V That this i, the meaning is clear from
v A. in connection with V. I. Keep beiieV'
ing what 1 have told you; so let me 10y 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 10 fruit. Take Gods
word out of mems hearts and they obey self,
the world and the devil. (See John III, "A
and Cad. ii, 2Ol
V. ). 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. /, H.
v. Il expands the lI"a oi " - Iaht'i
away" They need not wonder at Judas
course. When a man, no matter what ht
| protested, no longer believes III Christ word
he no more does Christ's work He is like
the withcred, dead branches which mer
gather and burn (See Matt. iii l0) On thu
| other haui
| ". y. if they have his word in them, they
are of o9c mind with him and shall ask and
| ret what they will. 1t is safe to give TIL.
| nriyiletc to those who believe rs God says
| IL is like leaving the keys with son or tru,
servant. He will do nothing but what
would do, says the trusting parent or master
| Y. is to bo read thus: Il have been glorl
| fying my Father ON the earth, but, rs yot
know, am going away You remain here
rs Won preach, live aud work as have done
You slorily my Father. and will thus be seer
! to be my dsciplos-to be continuing what
had in hand, under my teaching tSee PM
| i, II and John viii, 81 Then our Lord give
, instructions as to duty, privilege and encour
asement in the place which he has shown
them they are to occupy.
V o THE Father loved me, made me III
representative to men 50 | have loved yo'
and make YOU my representatives. Conunu
We in NV love" See Jude xX, 2l.l no goo'
father diving might say TO his boys, y OF
know how loved You, and what l wished u
N.gNy,f N