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Me this night： for it is written； I will smite the shepherd； and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad。〃 Matt。 26：31。 The disciples listened in sorrow and amazement。 They remembered how in the synagogue at Capernaum； when Christ spoke of Himself as the bread of life； many had been offended； and had turned away from Him。 But the twelve had not shown themselves unfaithful。 Peter； speaking for his brethren； had then declared his loyalty to Christ。 Then the Saviour had said； 〃Have not I chosen you twelve； and one of you is a devil？〃 John 6：70。 In the upper chamber Jesus said that one of the twelve would betray Him； and that Peter would deny Him。 But now His words include them all。
Now Peter's voice is heard vehemently protesting； 〃Although all shall be offended； yet will not I。〃 In the upper chamber he had declared； 〃I will lay down my life for Thy sake。〃 Jesus had warned him that he would that very night deny his Saviour。 Now Christ repeats the warning： 〃Verily I say unto thee； That this day； even in this night； before the cock crow twice； thou shalt deny Me thrice。〃 But Peter only 〃spake the more vehemently； If I should die with Thee； I will not deny Thee in anywise。 Likewise also said they all。〃 Mark 14：29； 30； 31。 In their self…confidence they denied the repeated statement of Him who knew。 They were unprepared for the test； when temptation should overtake them； they would understand their own weakness。
When Peter said he would follow his Lord to prison and to death； he meant it； every word of it； but he did not know himself。 Hidden in his heart were elements of evil that circumstances would fan into life。 Unless he was made conscious of his danger； these would prove his eternal ruin。 The Saviour saw in him a self…love and assurance that would overbear even his love for Christ。 Much of infirmity； of unmortified sin； carelessness of spirit； unsanctified temper； heedlessness in entering into temptation； had been revealed in his experience。 Christ's solemn warning was a call to heart searching。 Peter needed to distrust himself； and to have a deeper faith in Christ。 Had he in humility received the warning； he would have appealed to the Shepherd of the flock to keep His sheep。 When on the Sea of Galilee he was about to sink； he cried； 〃Lord； save me。〃 Matt。 14：30。 Then the hand of Christ was outstretched
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to grasp his hand。 So now if he had cried to Jesus； Save me from myself； he would have been kept。 But Peter felt that he was distrusted； and he thought it cruel。 He was already offended； and he became more persistent in his self…confidence。
Jesus looks with compassion on His disciples。 He cannot save them from the trial； but He does not leave them comfortless。 He assures them that He is to break the fetters of the tomb； and that His love for them will not fail。 〃After I am risen again；〃 He says； 〃I will go before you into Galilee。〃 Matt。 26：32。 Before the denial； they have the assurance of forgiveness。 After His death and resurrection； they knew that they were forgiven； and were dear to the heart of Christ。
Jesus and the disciples were on the way to Gethsemane； at the foot of Mount Olivet； a retired spot which He had often visited for meditation and prayer。 The Saviour had been explaining to His disciples His mission to the world； and the spiritual relation to Him which they were to sustain。 Now He illustrates the lesson。 The moon is shining bright； and reveals to Him a flourishing grapevine。 Drawing the attention of the disciples to it； He employs it as a symbol。
〃I am the true Vine；〃 He says。 Instead of choosing the graceful palm； the lofty cedar； or the strong oak； Jesus takes the vine with its clinging tendrils to represent Himself。 The palm tree； the cedar； and the oak stand alone。 They require no support。 But the vine entwines about the trellis； and thus climbs heavenward。 So Christ in His humanity was
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dependent upon divine power。 〃I can of Mine own self do nothing；〃 He declared。 John 5：30。
〃I am the true Vine。〃 The Jews had always regarded the vine as the most noble of plants； and a type of all that was powerful； excellent； and fruitful。 Israel had been represented as a vine which God had planted in the Promised Land。 The Jews based their hope of salvation on the fact of their connection with Israel。 But Jesus says； I am the real Vine。 Think not that through a connection with Israel you may become partakers of the life of God； and inheritors of His promise。 Through Me alone is spiritual life received。
〃I am the true Vine； and My Father is the husbandman。〃 On the hills of Palestine our heavenly Father had planted this goodly Vine； and He Himself was the husbandman。 Many were attracted by the beauty of this Vine； and declared its heavenly origin。 But to the leaders in Israel it appeared as a root out of a dry ground。 They took the plant； and bruised it； and trampled it under their unholy feet。 Their thought was to destroy it forever。 But the heavenly Husbandman never lost sight of His plant。 After men thought they had killed it； He took it； and replanted it on the other side of the wall。 The vine stock was to be no longer visible。 It was hidden from the rude assaults of men。 But the branches of the Vine hung over the wall。 They were to represent the Vine。 Through them grafts might still be united to the Vine。 From them fruit has been obtained。 There has been a harvest which the passers…by have plucked。
〃I am the Vine； ye are the branches；〃 Christ said to His disciples。 Though He was about to be removed from them； their spiritual union with Him was to be unchanged。 The connection of the branch with the vine； He said； represents the relation you are to sustain to Me。 The scion is engrafted into the living vine； and fiber by fiber； vein by vein； it grows into the vine stock。 The life of the vine becomes the life of the branch。 So the soul dead in trespasses and sins receives life through connection with Christ。 By faith in Him as a personal Saviour the union is formed。 The sinner unites his weakness to Christ's strength； his emptiness to Christ's fullness； his frailty to Christ's enduring might。 Then he has the mind of Christ。 The humanity of Christ has touched our humanity； and our humanity has touched divinity。 Thus through the agency of the Holy Spirit man becomes a partaker of the divine nature。 He is accepted in the Beloved。
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This union with Christ； once formed； must be maintained。 Christ said； 〃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。〃 This is no casual touch； no off…and…on connection。 The branch becomes a part of the living vine。 The communication of life； strength； and fruitfulness from the root to the branches is unobstructed and constant。 Separated from the vine； the branch cannot live。 No more； said Jesus； can you live apart from Me。 The life you have received from Me can be preserved only by continual communion。 Without Me you cannot overcome one sin； or resist one temptation。
〃Abide in Me； and I in you。〃 Abiding in Christ means a constant receiving of His Spirit； a life of unreserved surrender to His service。 The channel of communication must be open continually between man and his God。 As the vine branch constantly draws the sap from the living vine； so are we to cling to Jesus； and receive from Him by faith the strength and perfection of His own character。
The root sends its nourishment through the branch to the outermost twig。 So Christ communicates the current of spiritual strength to every believer。 So long as the soul is united to Christ； there is no danger that it will wither or decay。
The life of the vine will be manifest in fragrant fruit on the branches。 〃He that abideth in Me；〃 said Jesus； 〃and I in him； the same bringeth forth much fruit： for without Me ye can do nothing。〃 When we live by faith on the Son of God； the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives； not one will be missing。
〃My Father is the husbandman。 Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away。〃 While the graft is outwardly united with the vine； there may be no vital connection。 Then there will be no growth or fruitfulness。 So there may be an apparent connection with Christ without a real union with Him by faith。 A profession of religion places men in the church； but the character and conduct show whether they are in connection with Christ。 If they bear no fruit； they are false branches。 Their separation from Christ involves a ruin as complete as that represented by the dead branch。 〃If a man abide not in Me；〃 said Christ； 〃he is cast forth as a branch； and is withered； and men gather them； and cast them into the fire； and they are burned。〃
〃And every branch that beareth fruit； He purgeth ＇pruneth＇ it； that it may bring forth more fruit。〃 From the chosen twelve who had followed
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Jesus； one as a withered branch was about to be taken away； the rest were to pass under the pruning knife of bitter trial。 Jesus with solemn tenderness explained the purpose of the husbandman。 The pruning will cause pain； but it is the Father