So the character of a husbandman implies the cultivation of existing powers, not a transformation so that one plant should bring forth different kinds of fruit. God watches over Christ so as to develop by His providence the true glory of the Humanity. He does not seek to make the manhood of Christ fruitful in any way contrary to the nature of man. Christ's human nature was fitted to germinate in every form of humanity. It possessed the virtues necessary for every individual character, so that His righteousness might really be adequate to all the needs of all times and all ages. The new regenerate Humanity should derive its completeness from the moral nature of Christ, cherished by the providence of God as the great Husbandman.^
2. The Husbandman is also the Father. — When the vine- dresser, in the literal sense, deals with his plants, he finds that they are filled with a life and purpose quite independent of himself. He has to impose his own purpose upon something not wholly suited either for it or for his methods ; and so, it may be, he impairs its natural vigour. But God is the Creator as well as the Gardener ; and there is not in His creatures any real purpose or meaning other than His own.
(1) The Husbandman who cultivates this " plant of the Lord " is the very Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. " My Father." The relationship does not belong to the vine as a vine, but to the Person of Him who assumes the humanity which the vine
* R. M. Benson, The Final Passover, ii. (pt. ii.) 6.
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symbolizes. Thus is brought out the relation of Christ personally to God as Father, and in His created nature to the Divine Providence as moral governor. While culture is according to law, it is nevertheless a personal watchfulness that is exercised. So God does not merely leave Christ to go through the world anyhow. There was a real fatherly care with which He assigned all the events of His life as He, in His iniinite wisdom, knew to be most suitable for the development of His personal predestination,
^ A husbandman cares for the plant as a living thing. The Father cares for the spiritual Vine as having the life of Heaven. As it is the Body of His only begotten Son, He cares for it with all the love which He has for His only begotten Son.^
(2) God, the Husbandman, is our Father through Christ. The Father is the source and spring of redeeming grace through Christ. Many people think — at all events, they feel — that Christ is their friend, but that God the Father is stern and unbending, almost resentful, ready to swoop upon them for every offence, like an eagle upon its quarry ; if the Son did not restrain Him, He would take a positive delight in visiting condign punish- ment upon sinners. That is a mistaken conception of the disposition of God the Father. True, He is just, and cannot look with any degree of allowance upon sin ; but the Son is also just, as is shown by more than one stern rebuke that fell from His lips. However, the truth we now wish to make clear is that God the Father is wondrous kind, filled with love, moved by compassion, and so desirous of our well-being that the scheme of redemption had its inception in His heart, and that, of His own volition, He sent His Son into the world to bring it back to Himself.
Surely, if anything could reconcile us to the culture that the Husbandman imposes upon us it is the name He bears. "My Father," says Christ; and if Christ's Father, therefore also our Father. For He Himself has taught us so to think of God : " I ascend unto my Father, and your Father ; and to my God, and your God." Whatever, then, the discipline of Christian life may be — however sharp and hard to bear — of this we may rest satisfied, that it is such, and only such, as a Father's heart suggests, and as a Father's hand may execute.
^ R. M. Benson, Tlie Final Passover, ii. (pt. ii.) 9. ST. JOHN (2) — 13
194 THE TRUE VINE
^ Does not Christ Himself always tell us about a Father, not a Judge ? Why should you not take His own way of it ? " The Father " is the key to God's character, and to all true knowledge of Him ; and it is only when we understand that that we cease to fear, and love becomes possible.
Perhaps you have gathered hard thoughts of God from some person whom you have believed to be good and religious ; but much religion is harsh in its character, and you should try to get rid of any such impression, and to think of Him as He is in Christ. " He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" ^
And so, encompass'd with our flesh. He came, Thy Son, Thyself — to make less far and high The distant Godhead. Now Thy heavens declare No far Creator, but a Father there ! ^
3. The Husbandman and the Branches. — The vine existed to bear fruit. It was useless for anything else. Ezekiel brought home that thought to the exiles in Babylon. " What is the vine tree more than any tree, the vine branch which is among the trees of the forest ? Shall wood be taken thereof to make any work ? or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon ? Behold, it is cast into the fire for fuel : the fire hath devoured both the ends of it, and the midst of it is burned ; is it profitable for any work ? " The sole glory of the vine was its fruitfulness.