A NEW SERIES OP SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS ■FROM THE GOSPEL OF JOHN ■ SUGGESTED and APPROVED b? the FUNDAMENTALS COMMITTEE Exposition of the Lesson, Including Lesson for Juniors Suggestive Comment . . . . . . T. C. Horton B$ Prominent Ministers
JULY 8, 1923 THE VINE AND BRANCHES—John 15:1-16 Golden Text: "If ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” .(John 15 : 7)1 Outline:
The union is perm anent (John 14:19) “Y e t a l i t t l e w h ile , a n d t h e w o r ld s e e th m e n o m o r e ; b u t y e s e e m e ; b e c a u s e I liv e , y e s h a ll liv e a ls o .” (John 17:21) “ T h a t th e y a l l m a y b e o n e ; a s th o u , F a t h e r , a r t in m e , a n d I in th e e , t h a t th e y a ls o m a y b e o n e in u s ; t h a t t h e w o r ld m a y b e lie v e t h a t t h o u h a s t s e n t m e .” (Eph. 5:30) “ F o r w e a r e m e m b e r s o f h is b o d y , o f h is fle sh a n d o f h is b o n e s .” He is th e Head; we are th e body; He died; we died w ith Him. He was buried; we were buried w ith Him. He arose; we arose w ith Him. He as cended; we ascended w ith Him. He is in th e heavenlies; we are seated there also (Eph. 2:4-6.) “ B u t G o d , w h o Is r ic h in m e r c y , f o r h is g r e a t lo v e w h e r e w ith h e h a t h lo v e d u s , “E v e n w h e n w e w e r e d e a d in s in s , h a t h q u ic k e n e d u s t o g e t h e r w ith C h r is t (b y g r a c e a r e y e s a v e d ) ; A n d h a t h r a i s e d u s u p t o g e th e r , a n d m a d e u s s i t t o g e t h e r in h e a v e n ly p la c e s in C h r is t J e s u s .” The vine is an Old Testament em blem for Israel (Psa. 8 0 :8 ). Israel was inferior to Egypt, Nineveh, Baby lon, in antiquity, extent, science, m ili tary power. She was exalted only in bearing fruit. But she had become a degenerate vine (Jer. 2 :2 1 ). God had fenced her, gathered out th e stones, bu ilt tow er and wine-preSs (Isa. 5 :2 ). W hat more could He do? Jesus Christ was a tru e Israelite. He was more than a member of Israel; He was a Vine planted in the e a r th - ^ the Word made flesh. He was the tru e Vine, th e tru e L ight, th e tru e Bread,
(1 ) Abiding in Him for Life. (2) Abiding in Him for Power. (3 ) Abiding in Him for F ru it. In trodu ction : In th e 14th chapter Jesus has spoken to His disciples words of consolation-— has calmed and comforted th e ir hearts. They had arisen from th e table where they had eaten th e L ast Supper and, while they are standing, Jesus dis courses to them. He is giving them now a farewell message. W hat depths of meaning would lie i n 'i t ! Have you ever stood by th e bedside of th e dying and listened to th e ir farewell words? This is such a message— a message from His h ea rt to th eir h earts— a mes sage of closest fellowship. (1) ABIDING IN HIM FOR L IFE . Jesus is the tru e Vine, and His fath er is the Husbandman. How quickly they must have sensed th e meaning of His words! The F ath e r— th e H usbandm an-^ th e owner; not a h ired vine-dresser. He planted'—LHe possesses—He cultivates. Jesus is the subject of the F a th e r’s care. He is the Vine and every believer is a branch. There is only one Vine, but th ere are many branches. The life of th e vine permeates and flows through every branch. We are united to Him, one w ith Him, as He is One w ith the F ath er. The branch grows out of th e vine; th e vine grows into th e branch.
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