Page 18 - September 2023 - Truth & Tidings

t first glance, a branch is not and consider the profound and practical
the most exciting or meaningful instruction the Lord gave them about be-
Aof metaphors in the Bible for a ing branches and bearing fruit in a hostile
believer. But as with many words and world.
truths in Scripture, the deeper you dig, The Picture that Portrays
the more interesting they become. In the The vine, with its branches and grapes,
OT, remember that the golden lampstand was a familiar sight in Israel and pro-
in the tabernacle was formed to look like vided an instructive and relevant picture
a tree with branches. We also read of the for spiritual truth. The disciples would
fruitful branch, the beautiful branch and remember that in the OT the vine, along
the Righteous Branch. The NT speaks of with the olive and fig tree, was used to
the natural branches, and the one we will symbolize Israel in their relationship,
look at here in John 15, the vine branch. representation, and role in the world for
It is a metaphor the Lord Jesus specifi- Yahweh. Here, the Lord Jesus, in one of
cally chose for His final message to His His great “I AM” statements, refers to the
disciples and, among other things, gives vine as well, but He applies it in a very dif-
invaluable insight in answering the ques- ferent way. Now, neither His people Israel
tion, “Who am I as a believer in Christ?” in the past nor His Church yet to be is the
In this metaphor, the Lord Jesus reveals vine, but He is! The Son is the true vine,
God’s essential purpose and unique the Father is the vinedresser, and they/we
means to produce in our lives Christ-like are the branches.
attitudes, behavior and character, just like
a vine produces grapes on its branches. The Connection that Counts
It is one of the most intimate and in- Our lives and our world are made up
structive scenes in the Gospels between of connections. They are essential for any
the Lord Jesus and His disciples as He complex object, organism or organization
gathers them for the last time. With the to function and flourish. Just as a branch
shadows of Calvary looming, an amaz- is connected to the vine, so we have our
ing time of fellowship and teaching by spiritual link to Christ. This link not only
the Master with His students unfolds. secures and assures our present and ulti-
The lesson came in two sessions: one in mate salvation, but it also bestows and car-
the warmth of the upper room, and the ries the divine stream of spiritual life into
other, that we will notice here, in the brac- us, by which we can now produce the true
ing chill of the night air as they walked to grapes of Christian life and testimony. We
Gethsemane. How would this little band are connected to the true and only source
of earnest but faltering disciples ever we need to be a fruitful branch.
survive, let alone thrive, as the Savior The Pruning that Produces
departed from them via the cross? My uncle and aunt used to occasion-
Let’s walk with them on their journey ally visit our home for a day of rigorous

274 TRUTH kTidings September 2023