(1) “I AM the true Vine, and My Father is the Husbandman. (2) Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit, He taketh it away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit. (3) Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. (4) As the branch can not bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in Me. (5) I am the Vine, ye are the branches; he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit; for apart from Me ye can do nothing. (6) If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (8) Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and so shall ye be My disciples. (9) Even as the Father hath loved Me, I also have loved you; abide ye in My love. (10) If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. (11) These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. (12) This is My commandment, that ye love one another, even as I have loved you.”
Golden Text.—“Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” Verse 8.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What symbol does Christ use to represent Himself in this lesson? Then what position does the Father hold? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) What does the Husbandman do with unfruitful branches? And what with those that bear fruit? Verse 2. Note 2. (3) With what does the Lord cleanse, or sanctify, His followers? Verse 3; chapter 17:17. Note 3. (4) What instruction is then given to believers? Wherein lies the importance of this instruction? Verse 4. Note 4. (5) How is this instruction emphasized in Verse 5? Note 5. (6) What is the consequence of not abiding in Christ? What is done with branches that are cut off from the Vine? Verse 6. Note 6. (7) What blessing and privilege comes to those who abide in Christ? Verse 7. Note 7. (8) How can believers best glorify the Father? Verse 8; chapter 8:31. Note 8. (9) How strong is Christ’s love for His disciples? Then where should they abide? Verse 9. Note 9. (10) How may they abide in His love? In this what example do they follow? Verse 10. Note 10. (11) Why does Jesus speak these things to us? Verse 11. Note 11. (12) What comprehensive commandment does He give to us? Verse 12. Note 12.
NOTES.
1. Israel was a vine brought out of Egypt, and planted in Palestine; but it was plucked by strangers, and ravaged by wild beasts (Ps. 80:8-16); and the Lord permitted its burning and cutting down because it brought forth “wild grapes” (Isaiah 5). But here is introduced the true Vine, whose fruit will be “unto life eternal” (John 4:36).
2. The fruit that is expected of a branch of the true Vine is the “fruit of the Spirit,” which we are told is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control.” Gal. 5:22, 23. It often takes considerable pruning to produce such fruit in the human life; but a meek submission will be amply repaid in happy results. And a branch that can not be made to bear good fruit would better be cut off.
3. Jesus had been cleansing and purifying His disciples for three and a half years, through teaching them the Word of God and exemplifying it in His life.
4. To abide in Christ is to cling tenaciously to the Word which He taught. It contains the instruction of His Spirit, which He has given for our guidance in the truth and for our comfort in trouble.
5. Apart from Christ is the condition of one who deviates from the Word. The enemy is ever placing before us the temptation to modify the Word of God—to take something away here, or add something there—to make it more in harmony with our natural inclinations. This temptation is especially strong in connection with the commandments of God, and the ordinances that Christ has instituted.
6. Verse 6 makes personal application to the individual. The man that abides not in the Word by which he is purified for good works (Titus 2:14) will be literally cast into the fire. Mal. 4:1-3; Rev. 20:7-9.
7. Verse 7 contains the secret of effectual prayer. With the wisdom of the Word, and the promptings of the Spirit, will come the knowledge of how to ask and for what to pray.
8. Bearing an abundance of the fruit of the Spirit will always glorify God in presence of those with whom we associate. This verse 8 is equivalent to Matt. 5:16: “So let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
9. The intensity of Christ’s love for His disciples is well expressed in verse 9. It is even as that of the Father toward Him. We can not comprehend or fathom such love, yet it is accessible to the disciple of Christ. Surely it is worth seeking, and worth abiding in when found.
10. In verse 10 we have the secret of abiding in the love of Christ. It is found in keeping His commandments. His commandments are the same as the Father’s commandments; for He did not come to destroy even “one jot or one tittle” of these (See Matt. 5:17, 18; Rom. 3:31); and, “I and my Father are One” (John 10:30).
11. The Lord designs that His people shall be a joyful people. This is possible by entering into His joy through a hearty obedience of His Word. Remember that it was through disobedience that our first parents lost this fulness of joy, and it is made possible to us again through the obedience of Christ (Rom. 5:19). So if obedience was essential to Adam’s fulness of joy, it is none the less essential to the Christian’s joyfulness to-day.
