The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 2 — Section 270

HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vere. 1-8.-The vine and the branches. If these words were spoken in the house, they may have been suggested by a creeping, clinging vine trained against the wall ; if upon the footpath, by the vineyards on the slope of Olivet; if in the temple, by the ,golden ;vine wrought upon the gates. I. THE VINE IN ITSELF IS A SUITABLE EMBLEM OF CHRIST. Its beauty, as planted, trained, or trellised; its grateful shade; its fruit, whether fresh and lusciollS or dried; its wine," that mak.eth glad the heart of man; "-all render it not only interesting, but suitable to set forth in symbol the excellence of the Redeemer, his nobility, beauty, preciousness, and use to man. Palestine was a land of vineyards: witness the grapes of Eshcol '; Judah binding his foal to the vine, etc. Hence most naturally the vine was used in Old Testament Scripture as an emblem of the chosen nation, and hence Jesus in his parables put the nobJe·plant to the same use. No wonder that our Lord applied to himself and to his people a designation so instructive. II, THE VINE IS_ AN El\lBLEM OF OHnlST, ESPECIALLY AS THE SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL LIFE. 1. He is the divinely appointed Root and Stem upon which the branches depend; the Superior with which they, the inferior, aro related in dependence. 'l'he vine-stock survives even if the branch be cut off and left to die. We are dependent upon Chri:;t; he is not dependent upon us. 2. A close aud vital union joins the branches to the viue, and Christians to their Lord. The life which is naturally Christ's becomes ours through our union by faith with him. 3. Yet it is a mutual indwelling. As Jesus himself hM said, "I in you ; yon in me." What condescension and kindness in this marvellous provision of Divine wisdom! III. THE BRANCHES ARE INDEBTED TO THE VINE FOR THEffi FRUITFUL...'<ESS; SO ARE CHRISTIANS TO THEIR LORD, The branches of the living vine evince the life and health of the plant first by their vigour, their verdure, their luxuriance, their comeliness; signs of spiritual life are manifested in the Church of God by the peace, the cheerfulness, the spiritual prosperity, of its members. But the great aim of the husbandman's care and culture is that fruit may be yielded in abundance. What shall we understand by spiritual fruit, the fruits of the Spirit? 1. Perfection of Christian character, 2. Abundance in Christif\n usefulness. . IV, 'l'HE TREATMENT OF UNFRUITFUL AND FRUITFUL BILI.XCIIES FIGUUES TR.I.T OF THE NOMINAL AND Tim TIEAL DISCIPLES OF CHUIST, 1. 'l'he cause of unfruitfulness ia 280 tt'IiE GOSPEL AClCOUDING TO ST. JOHN. [ort. xv.1-27.