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〃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 who applies the knife。 He works with no wanton hand or indifferent heart。 There are branches trailing upon the ground； these must be cut loose from the earthly supports to which their tendrils are fastening。 They are to reach heavenward； and find their support in God。 The excessive foliage that draws away the life current from the fruit must be pruned off。 The overgrowth must be cut out； to give room for the healing beams of the Sun of Righteousness。 The husbandman prunes away the harmful growth； that the fruit may be richer and more abundant。
〃Herein is My Father glorified；〃 said Jesus； 〃that ye bear much fruit。〃 God desires to manifest through you the holiness； the benevolence； the compassion； of His own character。 Yet the Saviour does not bid the disciples labor to bear fruit。 He tells them to abide in Him。 〃If ye abide in Me；〃 He says； 〃and My words abide in you； ye shall ask what ye will； and it shall be done unto you。〃 It is through the word that Christ abides in His followers。 This is the same vital union that is represented by eating His flesh and drinking His blood。 The words of Christ are spirit and life。 Receiving them； you receive the life of the Vine。 You live 〃by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God。〃 Matt。 4：4。 The life of Christ in you produces the same fruits as in Him。 Living in Christ； adhering to Christ； supported by Christ； drawing nourishment from Christ； you bear fruit after the similitude of Christ。
In this last meeting with His disciples； the great desire which Christ expressed for them was that they might love one another as He had loved them。 Again and again He spoke of this。 〃These things I command you；〃 He said repeatedly； 〃that ye love one another。〃 His very first injunction when alone with them in the upper chamber was； 〃A new commandment I give unto you； That ye love one another； as I have loved you； that ye also love one another。〃 To the disciples this commandment was new； for they had not loved one another as Christ had loved them。 He saw that new ideas and impulses must control them； that new principles must be practiced by them； through His life and death they were to receive a new conception of love。 The command to love one another had a new meaning in the light of His self…sacrifice。 The whole
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work of grace is one continual service of love； of self…denying； self…sacrificing effort。 During every hour of Christ's sojourn upon the earth； the love of God was flowing from Him in irrepressible streams。 All who are imbued with His Spirit will love as He loved。 The very principle that actuated Christ will actuate them in all their dealing one with another。
This love is the evidence of their discipleship。 〃By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples；〃 said Jesus； 〃if ye have love one to another。〃 When men are bound together； not by force or self…interest； but by love； they show the working of an influence that is above every human influence。 Where this oneness exists； it is evidence that the image of God is being restored in humanity； that a new principle of life has been implanted。 It shows that there is power in the divine nature to withstand the supernatural agencies of evil； and that the grace of God subdues the selfishness inherent in the natural heart。
This love； manifested in the church； will surely stir the wrath of Satan。 Christ did not mark out for His disciples an easy path。 〃If the world hate you；〃 He said； 〃ye know that it hated Me before it hated you。 If ye were of the world； the world would love his own： but because ye are not of the world； but I have chosen you out of the world； therefore the world hateth you。 Remember the word that I said unto you； The servant is not greater than his lord。 If they have persecuted Me； they will also persecute you； if they have kept My saying； they will keep yours also。 But all these things will they do unto you for My name's sake； because they know not Him that sent Me。〃 The gospel is to be carried forward by aggressive warfare； in the midst of opposition； peril； loss； and suffering。 But those who do this work are only following in their Master's steps。
As the world's Redeemer； Christ was constantly confronted with apparent failure。 He； the messenger of mercy to our world； seemed to do little of the work He longed to do in uplifting and saving。 Satanic influences were constantly working to oppose His way。 But He would not be discouraged。 Through the prophecy of Isaiah He declares； 〃I have labored in vain； I have spent My strength for nought； and in vain： yet surely My judgment is with the Lord； and My work with My God。 。 。 。 Though Israel be not gathered； yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord； and My God shall be My strength。〃 It is to Christ that the promise is given； 〃Thus saith the Lord； the Redeemer of Israel； and His Holy One； to Him whom man despiseth； to Him whom the nation
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abhorreth； 。 。 。 thus saith the Lord： 。 。 。 I will preserve Thee； and give Thee for a covenant of the people； to establish the earth； to cause to inherit the desolate heritages； that Thou mayest say to the prisoners； Go forth； to them that are in darkness； Show yourselves。 。 。 。 They shall not hunger nor thirst； neither shall the heat nor sun smite them： for He that hath mercy on them shall lead them； even by the springs of water shall He guide them。〃 Isa。 49：4； 5； 7…10。
Upon this word Jesus rested； and He gave Satan no advantage。 When the last steps of Christ's humiliation were to be taken； when the deepest sorrow was closing about His soul； He said to His disciples； 〃The prince of this world cometh； and hath nothing in Me。〃 〃The prince of this world is judged。〃 Now shall he be cast out。 John 14：30； 16：11； 12：31。 With prophetic eye Christ traced the scenes to take place in His last great conflict。 He knew that when He should exclaim； 〃It is finished；〃 all heaven would triumph。 His ear caught the distant music and the shouts of victory in the heave