Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-05-12
BY E. r. WALKER, D. D.
Commentary .

| After our Lords institution of the
Supper and washing of the feet of
His disciples. to teach them the great
| lessons of humility and the need of
thorough publication from the defile-
ment of sin, the Master announced to
His disciples that one of them was
going to prove traitor; that even one
who was then eating with Him should
lift up his heel against Him. He gave
| this announcement that further proof
| might be afforded the company that
He was indeed the Messiah.
EXPLANATORY.
Time: A. D. SO.
Place: Jerusalem.
We have here a part OF that most
struction Of our Lord given to His
disciples in that upper room of the last
supper. the night before the crucifix-
ion. And John alone reports this doc
trine, which may be considered the
Holy OF Holes Of all Christ's teach
ings.
am the true vine,-Ths vine is
among the most interesting OF all
plants. furnishing the most vivid SYM
bolism. frequently used in the Scrip
ture for Illustration. It's stock and
stems are not very beautiful-rather
rough and sometimes unsightly; yet its
foliage is rich. fresh, vigorous. spread
ing; while its fruit Is luscious and
abundant. And herein we have illus
tration of Jesus. He was born of
lowly though royal parentage brought
up at Nazareth, where it was thought
there could be nothing good; and when
seen there was no desirable beauty in
His bare stock. But in foliage He
was most attractive, In His doctrine
and works; and in the fruit of His
holy life He was the richest and
sweetest man that ever lived, the
fairest among ten thousand, and al
together lovely. Israel was frequent
ly likened to a vineyard; but it
brought forth only wild grapes; still
tho Lord held to the figure, and would
have it worthily fulfilled. Some one
has said that "since God was con-
strained to give His vineyard UP to
ruin, He separated for Himself this
vine, and designed 1t to be a new be-
ginning from which a great increase
should take Its RISE" Jesus was the
true vine because He was what He
was designed to be, and what He pre-
fessed to be. He bore grapes instead
Of thistles. and sweet fruit rather than
bitter-and my Father is tho husband
man. The vinedresser-the one who
takes special care Of the vine. So the
heavenly Father has special care of
His dear Son, and OF all connected
with Him. He guards and keeps and
tends, and trains and beautifies and
enrlches and glorifies Jesus in the
earth, as Jesus lives to the Fathers
glory, bringing forth fruit unto Him.
Every branch in me that beareth not
fruit-That looks like an impossible
ity; for 1t would seem that every
thing connected with Jesus would of
necessity be fruitful-He taketh away
and every branch that Dearest fruit,
Is the fruit of those who are in
Christ? Clearly it is spiritual fruit, for
1T 1s spiritual relation. THE fruit
OF the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long
suffering. gentleness. goodness, faith
Cor fidelity, meekness, temperance
.He Purgeth it,-That does not mean !
pruneth, as some people interpret.
Pruning is referred to when we read
above of the taking away of the
fruitless branches; but here the sense
Is cleanseth, and this is the word
used in the revised version-that IL
may bring forth more fruit. That
love may be perfect; Joy full; peace
abundant; long suffering until seven
ty times seven; gentleness that makes
great; meekness that reviles not again:
goodness that does good unto all men:
that is ever true; temperance
that keeps under the whole being, and
brings into subsection to the will of
God. Then there Is to be good fruit
age in the salvation of others. and
their union with Christ. Here is a
promise that should make the heart of I