The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-10-22
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

SUBJECTS: i. PARABLE OF THE VINE Il
FRIENDS AND FOES OF CHRIST.
i. CHRIST THE VINE
We find our Savior having a farewell talk
with his Disciples. Tho circumstances we're
sad indeed. Last words are very precious
Christ never before conversed so fully, teRdcrly,
aud cOnfdentially. His teachings at that in
terView have always been dear TO the Church.
No one can tell how much comfort they have
been to our world. In the darker, sadder
hours of life Christians turn to the chapters Of
st. Johns Gospel which give account Of Christ's
last night with the Twelve.
/. Data.
This parable is given only by Sc. John. See
10: lilo, inclusive. The author heard 10 pro-
omits mentioning it. Other illusions in hZ-
uratiye way are made to the Vine. This is
specially so in the Old Testament.
2. References.
Verse 1. Christ Vine. Pa, so s-11; Gen,
40: IL. ~, %; Is, 3: 1T; Jer., 2: q. Com
pare untrue vine in Deu., 81: %. Father Is
Husbandman. Is. %: 2 3; 81 g.; Cor, 8:
.. Christ is our life. 2 Pet, /: 4.
Verse 2 Take away. st. Mt, Is: 10.
Purgeth. Is, /; p; Eph., 5: &C. Fruit.
Gal 8: %. %; Eph., 3: 9. Contrast st. Mt, 81:
10; st. Mark, 4: 10. Christians are branches.
See verses l and 5 Of the lesson.
Verse B. Ye are clean. 10: 10. Clean through
the word. II: IL; Eph., 81 %; Pet, %
Verse g. Abide ia Ne. 8 81; Rom, 8: 35-
80; Col, l: %; John, 2;6 Compare verse
10 Of the lesson.
Verse s. Much fruit. Hos. 1877; Phil, 1:
ii. We can do nothing without Christ. Acts,
:l2; Phil, &: -. Christians are branches.
Verses and 5. Ro, 12:5 Cor. 10: II; -:
H. 20. 81; Eph., g. 80; Col, 2: 10.
Verse 6. Cast forth and WitEered. 50. Mt,
3 TO- 7:l9; st. Lu., 8: Is.
Verse7. Ask what will. v. Is; Ia I3, II;
1923 If We abide in Christ we can ask. Ps,
Go: Ia
Verse 8. Father glorifsd by fruit. St. Mt,
ZIG; Phil, 1: IL. SO (by fruitfulness) shall
ye DO my disciples. 8: 81; 13: 80.
Verse 8. Father hath loved me- 1898. "a,
26. have loved you. V. 10; Eph, 3: 1s, 10 !;
Rev., l 5. Continue in my love. WI; j.,
q %; Jude, 90. u.
Verse TO- Keep my commandments. IA Is
2l-23; Cor, Z: 10; TIL, 4 4. 2; 2P., 9: 81 !;
j., D; 3: 2l-2l; 5: 3; Rev, %: IA. have
kept my Fathers. C., 4: 81; 8: %; IL: 49, so;
II: 81; 1874 Is. AZ: Ia; 50. ut, 3: 1917.
3. Time
We date March II, A. d. 20, Thursday night
The Passover was being celebrated. This was
the night before ChTist's erueifxion. We study
! an event which happened 1852 years ago.
History in general is profitable. The history
and biography Of Christ are particularly
fayorite subjects for study.
4. Place
The words Of chapter ID were spoken In the
large Upper-rOOm on probably Mount Zion,
Jerusalem, where Christ partOOk Of the last
passover and instituted the Holy Communion.
st. Nix, II: Is, and st. L., % r. The city
was tremendously crowded and every TT place
was hired.
Because in verse 81 Of chapter II Christ said /:
Arise, let Us go hence" many have held Christ
spoke these words after leaving said room
and when on way thence to Gethsemane. Bot
Is l shows plainly Jesus did not leave the
room till after the prayer Of chapter II. When
Christ said arise " 4:3I) the Apostles may
have risen, and the words following may have
been spoken while all stood ready to set out for
the Garden. 0lshausen, Meyer Glass, Pearce,
Afford, Stier, Lamke, Doddridgs, Kuinoel,
Marsh, Knapp. TittmanD, Bloomfield, DIR.
James Strong. say Christ uttered the words in
the upper room. LANCE, G0det say on way 70
Gethsemane.
5. Speaker.
We study words spoken by our Savior The
address begins with chapter IL In the New
Testament we find many figures for Christ, {. a.,
Rock, Mamma, Door, Shepherd, etc Our lesson
represents him as Vine. Regarding him
thus, his followers are branches Of the Vine.
Thou art the parent Vino;
IL we tire branohes ba,
Each light should brightly shine,
Each life should bear the sign
vi fellowship with Thee.
Thou art the parent Vine:
III fruits Thy branches bear,
The glory all is Thine:
We, As the tendTils. Irvine
Around Thy fostering care.
Thou art the parent Vine:
Fen In eaTth's desert soil,
May we through dews divine
Drink la fresh strength, nor pine
Beneath the weight of toll.
Thou art the parent Vine;
In heavens fair vintage day,
May We at call Of Thine,
In fAirer yestments shine.
And tune the victOrs Law
Christ is the. true Vine. There are other
vines. false religions, vain trusts. Christ is
The Truth. The life Of the branch depends on
the vitality Of the Vine. We cannot trust in
the deceptive. There may be some comfort in
the belief of an error which promises good, but
when one has sifted dogma and proved it to
DO true his reliance has foundation, his comfort
is assured.
Branches will be strong or weak a. thew de-
pend from u vine which is vigorous or shrunken.
When we conceive fully the thought of Christ's
power we see the secret of Christians endur-
ance and resistance. They partake of the om-
impotence of the Vine. Jesus has all power.
Nothing can pluck US from our source of
strength.
@. Hearera
Christ addressed his IL Apostles. We sea
from -: 80 that Judas had left the upper-room
The11 were branches. They represented the
whole Church, including all modern believers.
Christians to-day are branches. There must
have been impressive silence and sadness.
Though the disciples could not fully compre-
bend all that Christ's final interview meant. it
IS quite clear they forecast events accurately
enough to experience trepidation and grief.
z. Notes.
We see the intimate relation Of Christ TO his
followers. Think OF the branches. See how
they cling TO the Vine. Nothing can intervene
without decay and death. The currents of life
must flow freely from the Vine into the
a.