Christ the True Vine

    CHRIST THE TRUE VINE

    Egw eimi h ampelov h alhqinh "I am the true Vine," Joh 15:1, and Joh 15:5, "I am the [1] Vine."

    [1] A Vine, in Latin, Vitis, quia lenta, because flexible, from vieo, to bind with twigs; or as Scaliger says, ex ferendo Vino, because it bears wine. It is called in Greek ampelov, from the adverb ama, una, cum, together, with; of the Hebrew XXX, ham, cum, and phlov which in the Ioniam dialect signifies wine, It is called in Hebrew XXX kerem, a Vine or vineyard, or, XXX, gephen, &c.

    IN this text the Lord Jesus Christ is pleased to express what he is to his Church and people, by the elegant metaphor of a Vine; the nature and properties of which, with the parallels and disparities follow.

    METAPHOR

    I. THE Vine seems not so lovely, stately, and amiable to look upon as some other trees; it is not so high and lofty as the cedar, nor to be compared for strength to the oak; nor for beauty to the palm or fir-tree.

    PARALLEL

    I. JESUS Christ in his state of humiliation, did not appear in that outward glory, pomp, and magnificence, which the proud grandees of the earth glitter in, Mt 8:20; he was not entertained with the royalties of imperial palaces, (for his kingdom was not of this world, Joh 18:36.) He was looked upon in comparison of the mighty men, who are compared to the cedars of Lebanon, and oaks of Bashan, as a poor, mean, and contemptible shrub; as the prophet foretold: "He shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness, and when we shall see him, there is no beauty, that we should desire him," Isa 53:2-3.

    METAPHOR

    II. The Vine nevertheless hath a more honourable name given to it than other trees. The Lord's choicest plantation (the Church) is expressed by it; and therefore it is dignified with the title of goodly and noble, Eze 17:8; Jer 2:21; Ps 80:9.

    PARALLEL

    II. "Jesus Christ hath a name above every name," Php 2:9; he infinitely excels whatsoever is good, great, and glorious in angels, saints and men, Heb 1:14. The splendour and stateliness of monarch's courts is nothing in comparison of that inexpressible lustre and majesty that surrounds him. The heavenly luminaries are dim to him; he is the royal offspring of heaven, of the sublimest extraction. "When he bringeth the first-begotten into the world, he saith, and let all the angels of God worship him," Heb 1:6.

    METAPHOR

    III. The Vine gives large shoots, grows much in its young and tender age, and brings forth fruit in a short time after it is planted.

    PARALLEL

    III. Christ, when in his young and tender age, grew much in favour both with God and man, Lu 2:52; and when he was twelve years old, disputed with the learned doctors, "Hearing them and asking them questions; and all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers," &c. Lu 2:46-47.

    METAPHOR

    IV. The Vine wonderfully abounds with sap, and inward virtue, bearing and nourishing many large branches, which spread exceedingly; yet all partake of its root and fatness, (as it is said of the olive-tree,) Ro 11:17, where there is enough to feed all, and make them flourish and bear fruit abundantly.

    PARALLEL

    IV. Jesus Christ is full of life and divine virtue; the treasuries of his communicable grace are immense and unspeakable; "All wisdom and knowledge are hid in him," Col 1:19. "In him all fulness dwells," Joh 1:14. His people, mystically united to him, are his branches; them he supplies with spiritual quickening, nourishment and growth, and though scattered over many kingdoms and nations, his protection environs them round about, provides a sufficient supply for their spiritual wants, which is to be found no where else. "If a man abide not in me (saith he) he is cast forth as a branch that is withered," &c., Joh 15:6.

    METAPHOR

    V. The Vine is a most fruitful plant. A great naturalist[2] tells us of one stock, one single Vine planted by the empress Livia, that yielded 12 amphoras (that is, 108 gallons of our measure) of good wine yearly. There are sometimes found hundred of grapes upon one cluster, several clusters upon one branch, "and abundance of branches upon one stock. The scripture, when it would express plenty, borrows a term from the Vine, which denotes increase. "Thy wife shall be as a fruitful Vine upon the walls of thy house," Ps 128:3.

    [2] Pliny lib. 14. c. 4.

    PARALLEL

    V. Christ, the spiritual Vine, is not only a green, spreading, and flourishing plant, but also exceeding fruitful; he was so in his life, "Going up and down doing good," both to the bodies and souls of men; fruitful in his death. In that cluster there is much choice fruit; as atonement, reconciliation, redemption, victory over sin and Satan, the abolishing of the law, and establishing the everlasting righteousness: he was fruitful in his resurrection, ascension, intercession, &c. The graces of the Spirit, holy ordinances, and promises of eternal life, are all fruits of this heavenly Vine; from him is all our fruit found, Ac 10:38; 1Co 13. Da 9:24; Ho 14:8, See the metaphor Light.

    METAPHOR

    VI. The Vine brings forth pleasant fruit, sweet and delightful beyond others; it is said to "Make glad the heart of man," Ps 104:15. "Give wine to those that are of heavy heart; let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more," Pr 31:6-7. "When the new wine languisheth, the merry-hearted do sigh; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone," Isa 34:11.

    PARALLEL

    VI. The Lord Jesus brings forth the most pleasant and desirable fruit. "I sat down under his shadow with great delight," saith the spouse, "And his fruit was pleasant to my taste," Song 2:3. No cup so refreshing as the cup of divine consolation. No wine nourishes or quickens the body so much as the love of Christ, peace with God, reconciliation, pardon of sin, justification, adoption, &c., Eph 2:1,5-6. These blessed fruits of this mystical Vine do cheer, feed, and enliven a drooping and languishing soul, Ps 34:8.

    METAPHOR

    VII. The Vine yields profitable fruit: "The blood of the grape," (as it is called, De 32:14), is a great strengthener and supporter of nature. Paul advises Timothy to drink a little wine for his stomach's sake, and often infirmity, 1Ti 5:23. The good Samaritan is said to pour in oil and wine into the wounds of the man that fell among thieves, Lu 10:34.

    PARALLEL

    VII. The Lord Jesus yields fruit every way profitable. All the good that soul or body is capable of receiving, flows from him, and is the fruit of his love, purchased by his death, and communicated by his word and Holy Spirit: it warms, supports, and strengthens the souls of his people. His grace is of a healing, quickening, and vivifying nature, 2Th 2:17; Ro 1:5, and Ro 5:11; 2Co 4:1; Eph 2:5,8; Ps 103:4. See metaphor wine and ointment, &c.

    METAPHOR

    VIII. The Vine is a shadowy plant, its spreading branches and large leaves afford a delightful and refreshing shade, and is therefore used for covering of pleasant arbours.

    PARALLEL

    VIII. Jesus Christ is a shadow to his Church, "A hiding-place from the wind, and a cover from the tempest; as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land," Isa 32:2. He defends from the rage of Satan, from sin, from the fury of man in the heat of persecution; yea, from the wrath of God, by which (were it not for the interposition of this blessed Screen or Shade) we should be scorched, burnt, yea, utterly consumed, 2Sa 12:2-5; Isa 53:5; La 3:22. See Rock, Apple-tree, &c.'

    METAPHOR

    IX. It is a very soft and tender plant; so that if it be cut, bruised, or any ways wronged, it will abundantly weep and bleed out its sap and moisture, as naturalists report.

    PARALLEL

    IX. Christ, the spiritual Vine, Lu 19:41, (being affronted, rejected, and abused by the rebellious, obstinate, and unbelieving Jews) when he approached and beheld the city, "He wept over it, was grieved for the hardness of their hearts," Mt 23:37; but more especially when he came under the execution of divine wrath for man's sake, and in his stead, which he did willingly undergo, Isa 53:7. How did his bruised and abused body sweat, as it were great drops of blood, until he yielded up his blessed life and precious Spirit for us? Lu 22:44.

    METAPHOR

    X. An eminent writer[3] saith, that the tears of the Vine (like gum congealed in the stock of it) dropped into dim eyes, remove the little clouds that begin to gather there, drive away darkness, and clear the sight; and further saith, Quid possit vitis, et alia quæ fundit, sermone explicare nemo potest; that no tongue could sufficiently tell the virtues of the Vine. The like says Plin. lib. 14. 1.

    [3] Hieron. Tragus in his Com. de Slirp. lib. 3. p. 1059.

    PARALLEL

    X. The grace of Christ, the spiritual Vine, is precious eye-salve, which removes those thick clouds of darkness and ignorance that are upon the understanding, Rey. 3:18, by which a soul spiritually comes to have a clear prospect of those never-fading glories of the other world, and plainly discerns the gilded follies and transitory vanities of all things here below. In a word, no tongue can sufficiently exalt the transcendent virtues of this ever-blessed Vine.

    METAPHOR

    I. THE Vine is a plant of an earthly extract; the choicest and goodliest are only the plantation of men.

    DISPARITY

    I. CHRIST is of an heavenly original and extraction, "A Vine of God's own planting," Joh 15:5, who prepared a body for him, and appointed him to the work of redemption, Heb 10:5. He is "The true Vine, and God the Father is the Husbandman," Joh 15:1. No other could plant so noble a Vine as Christ is.

    METAPHOR

    II. The Vine is not always green; the leaves fall off in winter. You may look for fruit when the vintage is gathered, and find none.

    DISPARITY

    II. Christ, the spiritual Vine, perpetually flourishes, always abounds with fruit, and knows no winter; "He is the same from generation to generation, yesterday, to day, and for ever," Heb 13:8, without variation, or shadow of turning, Jas 1:17: there is always a full vintage, that never diminishes, withers, nor decays, never grows old, but ever remains in full growth and absolute perfection.

    METAPHOR

    III. The fruit of the Vine taken to excess, is offensive to God, hurts and injures the soul, breeds diseases and destructive humours in the body, bereaves men of reason, intoxicates the brain, &c.

    DISPARITY

    III. The fruit of Christ, the spiritual Vine, never hurts any; no danger of surfeit here; the more you eat and drink the better it is; here is no fear of excess. The wine of consolation neither gluts nor inflames, nor intoxicates, but nourishes, and feeds the soul, still begetting a sharper appetite for more.

    METAPHOR

    IV. The fruit of the Vine diminishes, by gathering cluster after cluster you may soon strip it of all.

    DISPARITY

    IV. All the believers in the world may partake plentifully of the fruit of the spiritual Vine (the Lord Jesus) every day, yea, every moment; there's enough for millions, and to be taken freely, yet the store is never the less. How many have been nourished thereby since the beginning? yet it is as full as ever, and so will ever be, Mt 5:6, and Mt 11:28; Isa 55:1.

    METAPHOR

    V. The fruit of the Vine is only good for the body.

    DISPARITY

    V. The fruit is good for the soul; it comforts and revives the inward man.

    METAPHOR

    VI. The Vine wants support; unless it be underproped, it falls, being not able to bear the weight of its own branches.

    DISPARITY

    VI. Christ, the spiritual Vine, is of excellent strength and ability to support his spiritual branches, (the saints) and needs no help from any other.

    COROLLARIES.

    I. FROM this metaphor we may learn what an infinite blessing and unspeakable mercy the Lord Jesus Christ is to his Church, and all true believers; how helpless saints are of themselves; for the branches cannot stand without his divine support, nor bear fruit, unless this blessed root communicates sap and nourishment to them, Joh 15:4.

    II. It shows what a sweet and blessed union there is between Christ and believers; such a relation as is betwixt the root and branches; it is a mystical (yet the nearest and most real) union.

    III. It shows, that our whole dependence ought to be on Christ; for he only can uphold us, as the root does the branches: "Without him we can do nothing," Joh 15:5; we can neither grow, bear fruit, nor stand firm in a boisterous and tempestuous season nor suffer for his name; but with his help we can do all.

    IV. It shows that Christ is very sensible of all the wrongs, injuries, and outrages that are done to his saints: they that lay hold on, and offer violence to the branches, come very near the tree; such "touch the apple of his eye," Ec 2:8. And let believers be sweetly comforted from hence; that under all their decays, and want of more grace, there is abundance of more sap and spiritual nourishment in the root and body of this blessed Vine, which (according to the nature of the metaphor) shall in due time be communicated to all the branches, that are truly grafted in him which shall revive them, and make them flourish both with leaves and fruit, to the glory of God and their own eternal happiness.

    This humble plant calls for our imitation:

    This noble plant deserves our adoration:

    Its early fruit provides us early food;

    Its plenty stores us with what's rich and good:

    Its pleasing sweetness gratifies our taste;

    Its profit fills us without fear of waste;

    Its shadow shelters from extremes of heat,

    (Circling the Church) his choicest cabinet;

    A tender plant; How can we then abuse him?

    An eye-salve; healing all the blind that use him.