After rising from the Passover supper, Jesus speaks of how the disciples will fare after His death.
First, He speaks of their connection with Him in verses 1-17.
Then, He speaks of their position in the hostile world in verse 18ff.
Jesus says: “ I am the true vine.” (Verse 1)
He tells us that all the vines of the earth are pictures of Himself. He is the divine reality of which they are the created expression. They all point to Him. They all preach Him. They all reveal Him. If you would know Jesus, then study the vine.
Come and gaze on the heavenly vine till your eye turns from all else to admire Him. Jesus is not merely like a vine - He is more. He is the actual. He is the original. He stands forever in contrast with all those who are not real, but only pretending vines. Jesus alone embodies the complete will and purpose of God while others only pretend to reveal.
The vine is the living Lord who speaks, and gives, and works all that He has for us.
Jesus alone can reveal Himself. He gives His Holy Spirit to open eyes to gaze upon Himself. He opens the heart to receive Himself. He must Himself speak the word to you and me.
And what are we to do if we want the mystery, in all its heavenly beauty and blessing, opened to us? We are to bow down and be still. We are to worship and wait until the divine Word enters our heart. We are to wait until we experience His holy Presence with us and in us.
The overshadowing of His holy love will give us the perfect calm and rest of knowing that the Vine will do all we need.
He who speaks is God. In His infinite power He will enter into us. He is the crucified One who has won for us a perfect righteousness and a divine life. He has won this for us through His death. He is the glorified One. And from His throne He gives us His Spirit to make His presence true and real in us.
He speaks. Listen! Listen, not only to His words, but listen to Him as He whispers to us day by day: “ I am the true vine! All that the vine can ever be to its branch, I will be to you.”
Christ is about to teach His disciples about their being branches. We are also going to learn that lesson. As important as it is to know about the Vine and the Gardener, it is vitally important for us to realize the truth about the branch.
So let us learn what a branch is and what it teaches us of our life in Christ.
A branch is simply a bit of wood brought forth by the vine for the one purpose of serving the vine in bearing fruit. It is of the very same nature as the vine and has one life and spirit with it.
THINK OF THE LESSONS THIS SUGGESTS:
First, It Suggests A Lesson Of Entire Consecration.
The branch has but one object for which it exists. It has one purpose to which it is entirely given. It is to bear fruit the vine wishes to bring forth. So, the believer has but one reason for his existence on earth, and that is for the heavenly Vine to bring forth His fruit through him.
Happy is the soul that knows this. “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance...” ( Galatians 5:22). Happy is the soul that says, “ I have been redeemed and I live for one purpose and that is to bear the fruit the Vine desires to bring forth.”
Second, It Suggests A Lesson Of Perfect Conformity.
The branch is exactly like the vine in every aspect. It has the same nature. It has the same life. It is in the same place. It has the same work. In everything they are inseparably one. As believers, we need to remember that we are partakers of the divine nature, and that we have the very nature and spirit of Christ in us. We must remember that our one calling is to yield ourselves to a perfect conformity to Christ.
So the branch is a perfect likeness of the Vine. The only difference is: the One is great and strong and the source of strength, and the other is little and feeble ever needing and receiving strength. Even so the believer is to be the perfect likeness of Christ. “ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” ( Philippians 2:5 )
How long have you been in the Vine? Are you becoming more like Christ?
Every day we should be “ More Like The Master!”
Thirdly, It Is A Lesson Of Absolute Dependence.
The vine has its storage of life and sap and strength, not for itself, but for the branches. The branches are and have nothing but what the vine provides and imparts. The believer is called to a life of entire and unceasing dependence upon the Vine which is Christ. Day and night Christ is to work in us all we need. All our need is supplied. “ Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.” ( Matthew 6:33 )
In The Fourth Place It Is A Lesson Of Undoubting Confidence.
The branch has no care. The vine provides all. It has but to yield itself and receive. It is the sight of the truth that leads to the blessed rest of faith, which is the true seed of growth and strength. “ I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” ( Philippians 4:13 )
What a life that would come to us if we would only be content to be branches! We try to be the Vine. This is how we foul up our lives.
Learn the lesson! We have but one thing to do: Only be a branch!
Christ is the Vine that gives all. And the Husbandman, the mighty God, will through the Vine make the branch what it ought to be! Only a Branch!
Sermon By Dr. Harold L. White
Email Dr. White at hleewhite@aol.com