THE PARABLE OF THE VINE

Newsletter 195 - May 29, 2010

Bob Mills

In Dallas this parable would possibly have been the Parable of the Branches. As we drove across the city recently, many piles of branches littered the curbs. Home owners were tidying up misshaped or damaged trees from the recent high winds.

Jesus chose to use vines, which have to be pruned every year to keep them bearing good fruit.

John 15:1-11 (King James Version)

GOD IS THE HUSBANDMAN AND CHRIST IS THE VINE.

This is the basic unit. I remember seeing vines that, I was told, husbandman, and they still bore fruit. God the Father, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are the totally reliable, unchangeable constants in the parable.

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. (Psalm 80:91, Isaiah 5:1, Ezekiel 19:10, Matthew 21:33, Matthew 15:13, Romans 11:17, 1 Corinthians 3:9)

CHRISTIANS ARE THE BRANCHES

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

The caretaker knows just where and how to cut the branches back years ago, we were involved in restoring a badly neglected church building. It’s front steps were flanked by two rose bushes that had not been pruned for years. At the time, I was reprimanded when I cut away masses of tangled growth, but later the same person came to thank me for the results were unbelievable that it could be the same plants.

For the Christian, represented by the branches of the parable there are several parallels. The branch draws all its strength and life from the vine. Without that vital source, we are dead. We have no life apart from Christ, and no power apart from the Spirit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (John 13:10, John 17:17, Ephesians 15:26)

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. (John 6:56, John 15:4-7, 1 John 2:6)

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:16)

THE BARREN BRANCHES ARE DESTINED TO DESTRUCTION

Like those barren branches the Christian who neglects his source of Spiritual strength, must expect to be reprimanded and cut back. The final destiny of a fruitless person is the judgment and destruction. He knows what the fruit is, but has chosen the fruit of the world and in so, the destiny as well. That fruit is shown in Galatians 5:22-25.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (John 15:2)

THE FAITHFUL HAVE THE POWER OF THE FATHER BACKING THEM UP

7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (Matthew 7:7, John 15:16)

8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; (Galatians 5:22-25) so shall ye be my disciples. (Matthew 5:16, John 8:31)

9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. (John 3:35, John 17:23-23)

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. (John 14:15, John 8:29)

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 17:13, John 3:29)

THE JUDGMENT TIME WILL BE A TIME OF REJOICING FOR THE FRUITFUL

God has prepared the time of rejoicing for the wedding feast of Christ and His bride, the church.
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RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010


MAY

30th. Sunday – 1 Samuel 28, 29, John 20, Psalm 68:20-27

31st. Monday – 1 Samuel 30, 31, John 21, Psalm 68:28-35
JUNE

1st. Tuesday – 2 Samuel 1, 2, Acts 1, Proverbs 14:1-9

2nd. Wednesday - 2 Samuel 3, Acts 2, Psalm 69:1-12

3rd. Thursday – 2 Samuel 4, 5, Acts 3, Psalm 69:13-28

4th. Friday - 2 Samuel 6, 7, Acts 4, Psalm 69:29-36

5th. Saturday – 2 Samuel 8, 9, Acts 5:1-16, Proverbs 14:10-18

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

John 15:12
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Bottle of Red, Bottle of White...

she saw an elderly Navajo woman walking on the side of the road. As the trip was a long and quiet one, she stopped the car and asked the Navajo woman if she Sally was driving home from one of her business trips in Northern Arizona when would like a ride. With a silent nod of thanks, the woman got into the car.

Resuming the journey, Sally tried in vain to make a bit of small talk with the Navajo woman. The old woman just sat silently, looking intently at everything she saw, studying every little detail, until she noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Sally.

'What in bag?' asked the old woman. Sally looked down at the brown bag and said, 'It's a bottle of wine. I got it for my husband.'

The Navajo woman was silent for another moment or two. Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder, she said, 'Good trade.'