“I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 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”— John 15:1-4.
CHRIST, as the true vine, supersedes Israel, the empty vine (Hos. 10:1), which brought forth no fruit for Jehovah. He had nurtured and cared for this vine, which should have been a testimony for Himself (Isa. 5:1-7), but it brought forth wild grapes, unpalatable and obnoxious to God. He brought this vine out of Egypt (Psa. 80:8), and at one time it bade fair to bring forth fruit to His glory (9-11), but, alas, sin and selfishness blighted it and it was cast away as a worthless thing. In its place a new testimony is introduced. Christ Himself takes the place of Israel to bear fruit for the Father through His people here on earth. As we live in hallowed fellowship with Him, we produce that fruit in which the Father delights.
“My soul is now united to Christ the Living Vine;
His grace I long have alighted, but now I know He’s mine;
I was to God a stranger till Jesus took me in:
He freed my soul from danger, and pardoned all my sin.
By floods and flames surrounded, I still my way pursue;
Nor shall I be confounded with glory in my view.
Still Christ is my Salvation; what can I covet more?
I fear no condemnation, my Father’s wrath is o’er.”