Evening star., 1925-01-31
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.
THE VINE AND THE
BRANCHES.-John, xv.1-27.
Golden Textile that abideth
In Me. and I in him, the same
beareth much fruit.-John, xv.5.
Palestine is a land of vineyards and

Palestine is a land of vineyards and
vines. There are two ways for US to
| consider meaning of the vine. In one
case we can study the vine and fol-
low 1t out through it's branches, or
we may begin with the tip Of the leaf
and trace IL back to its connection
with the vine. One shows how one
becomes many; the other reveals the
| many becoming one. Both OF these
processes are found in the life of the
vine Its life flows both outwardly
and fnwardly. The vital fluid is drawn
/ up from the soil to be diffused through
| the ramif1cations of the vine and
branches. and there is a return tide
| OF aerated element from the leaves to
build up the central structure. When
Jesus spoke of the vine and the
branches He indicated the twofold
nature of all spiritual life-its tend
ency outward from Him to His own,
| and inward from the branches to the
vine, or from every Christian to
Christ
This parable is big in meaning and
has been used to teach many things
which the Master did not intend to
teach. It's primary meaning was to
impress upon His apostolic band the
secret of success in Christian life. 1t
clearly points out the source. support
| and service of a spiritual life. He
| had comforted them by the assurance
| that although He was going away
from them, He would be present with
| them through the abiding presence of
| the Holy Spirit, and through them He
planned TO carry on His work. He.
by the use of the vine. is pressing
home similar lesson. Evidently He
wished them to understand that the
| hnal outcome of His life and labor
depended upon their bringing forth
fruit as a result of their vital union
with Him, that would not be destroy
ed by death. The impending separa-
ton, He insisted. could not destroy
| their relationship because they were
Unexpectedly incorporated into Christ
Union With Christ.
| Union with Jesus was vital. 1t was
| real. Ten times He refers to their
abiding, or dwelling deep, in Him.
| The close relationship was well illus
| trated by the vine. Its continuity W as
| evidently not to be destroyed by the
| approaching trial that would test
i their faith. The Master depended
| upon that spiritual relationship to
| impart His life unto them and through
| them to the woad. Christ and the
Christians are one. just as the vine
| a from
| Him the Christians are powerless
| Death would not destroy Him, and
| therefore il could not interfere per
manently with His relationship with
| His own. He understood the weak
| ness of His apostles. He knew the
| ignorance and slowness of their
| hearts, the narrowness and, often, the
! unworthiness of their motives, and, in
| the face of all this, He declared that
l o 49, -
| of the vine OF God. He knows all
who have become one with Him to-
| day. He understands our faults, fail
| ures and farawayedness of life. yet
| He has made us partakers of His life
! IN a close and constant relationship
| that is real and vital. as much as that
| enjoyed by these, whom He called
! His branches.
The union is a living one. II is a
| spiritual connection in which love
| pure, simple, infinite, is revealed Our
/ life In Christ was born of the Fa
| theirs love for the world. If we are
to dwell deep in Him, SO that from
| Him there flows to US the vital san
| or the spiritual vine, we must abide
| in His love. He desires our affection
| and friendship. No one can measure
| the wealth of love that Jesus poured
| out upon and into the hearts Of His
| disciples in an effort to assure in re-
| turn from them their love. During
His days in the flesh our Lord com
forted Himself and glorified Himself
in His Fathers love He points out
by referring to Him as the Husband
| man, the fact that the unity existing
| between the Master and all who love
| Him is a oneness, which necessarily
results in a oneness of their relation
TO God. In Christs relation to Him
| He is the Son, and we come through
our life in Jesus to possess the privi-
| leges of sons Of God, TO pass on to
all who enjoyed the abiding union
| with Him all the fullness of the Fa-
] Tiers love to Himself