The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-05-10


Than Of his outward show; which,
God he knows,
Seldom or never jumpeth with the
heart.
Richard Ill, iii. l.
Second Quarter. Lesson VII. John Nv.
lib. May -, 1917.
JESUS THE TRUE VINE.
Here Is another example of how Je-
sus loved his disciples to the end. He
was within an hour Of his betrayal, but
his thoughts were upon his followers,
not upon himself. He knows how soon
and cruelty his enemies will close in
upon himself. but he uses the last
hours to confirm his apostles. The
parable of the Vine is one means. 1t
is the affirmation of perpetual and
close union, in spite of impending and
violent separation. There
are some who believe that after the
supper and before the agony in the
garden, Jesus spent some hours of the
night with his disciples in the temple.
If so, the figure of the vine may have
been suggested by the golden vine
which Herod the Great had placed
there above the golden gate; or some
vineyard on the road may have given
the hint. 1t is not necessary, however,
to imagine any immediate suggestion,
as the vine was the national emblem,
woven everywhere into prophecy, song
and other literature of Israel. 1t was
also one of the most familiar and beau
tiful of natural objects, the king of
fruits in Palestine, source of wealth,
joy, and strength to the people. In
every respect it was worthy of the dig
nifed and emblematic use Jesus made
of it on this occasion
Jesus opened his parable with a males
tic ego, II am the Vine, we are the
branches. 1t is as if he had said, GAS
you surround me now and hang upon
me, so shall it be and much more so,
even when l am bodily absent from
you" But his language has a much
wider sweep than that which would
embrace the little company of his dis
ciples then present. In
this figure of speech, Jesus asserts in
the strongest possible manner his fun
damental relation to humanity. He
is sole Source of spiritual life and
fruitfulness. Abiding in the stock
(Jesus) and pruned by the husband
mand 1.-THE Father, the branches (the
disciples) live and bear fruit. Verse
~ Apart from the stock the branches
wither. VERSES 5, g. The words of
Jesus are the instrument by means of
which the branch is pruned. His ex-
ample and ideals of character and
duty apprehended, admired, and
realized make genuine disciples, whose
lives honor and commend the God
they serve. Verse 81 He whose de-
liberate and perpetual choice is to
MAINTAIN a vital union with Christ,
and who to this end treasures his
words in memory, is in the way of Sc
curing the things that are needful for
his growth, comfort, and usefulness.
Verse ~ The love of Christ for his
disciples is analogous in greatness,
fervency, and constancy to the love
which the Father has for the Son. A
measurement great beyond all finite
comprehension. Verse 10) In con-
clusion Jesus defines his object in
speaking these words to his disciples.
1t is that his joy may remain in them
AS the fellowship of the Son with the
Father gives him infinite delight, so
the conscious union of the disciple
with the Master is source of blissful
content, Up to the measurement of
the disciples capacity it can fill him
with joy. Verse ~ 1t
would be difficult to conceive of figur-
alive language used more skillfully or
powerfully. The alIegory is extended
in every possible way, the analogy be-
ing drawn out at every practicable
point. The substance of it is the as
sertion of the spiritual oneness of
Jesus and his followers, and his rela-
ton to them as Source of spiritual
life and fruitfulness.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
At the very moment of impending
separation, Jesus speaks to his dlsci-
Piles of union which they might
maintain with him as intimate and
persistent as that which maintains
between branch and vine. 1t is anoth-
er MaY of saving to them az OF not