這是約翰福音最發人深省的其中一章經文。在第十三章，基督用替門徒洗腳的榜樣，讓我們知道祂要不斷潔淨我們的污穢。在第十四章，祂為到祂的離去安慰信徒，並應許祂必定再來。來到第十五章，基督告訴我們，祂是葡萄樹，我們是葡萄樹上的枝子──是永遠連著祂的。還有比這更清晰的圖畫，可以勾劃出祂與我們的關係是何等親密嗎？

基督並非說：「我是根，你們是枝子」；祂是說：「我是葡萄樹，我是整棵葡萄樹；我是完全和完整的，你們乃是我的一部分。」這個真理豈不是很寶貴嗎？

因此，枝子若要結出葡萄，就必須容讓葡萄樹的汁液在它裡面流通；這樣才能結出果子。我們如何將這個道理應用在自己身上呢？

我們的主用了「常在」這個字詞，來道出實踐這個真理的竅門。基督在第10節為我們作出清楚的解釋：我們若遵守祂的命令，就常在祂裡面了。這就是說，我們只有遵從基督的話，行祂所喜悅的事，我們與祂的相交才能保持暢通無阻。

基督亦因此稱我們是祂的「門徒」(8節)。祂對祂的門徒，究竟有甚麼期望呢？祂期望我們的生命能結出聖靈的果子和甘心事奉的果子，以致讓神得著榮耀。基督一直以來的最大的心願，豈不是讓神得著榮耀嗎？

最後，讓我們每位信徒都反躬自問：我們做人的最大心願，是否要讓神得著榮耀？抑或，我們總是追求自己的榮耀？

禱告：

主啊，求你教導我懂得每天遵行你的話，以致我可以真正住在你的裡面。

Day 24

BRANCHES OF THE TRUE VINE

John 15: 1 - 10

1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

Message

These are wonderful chapters of John's gospel. In the thirteenth chapter Christ shows himself as the one who will keep on cleansing us as we need it. In the fourteenth chapter he speaks words of comfort and tells of his coming again. In the fifteenth chapter Christ is the vine and we are the branches - part of that vine. Could he give us any clearer picture of how close we are to himself?

Christ did not say. 'I am the root, you are the branches'. He said, 'I am the vine, the whole vine. I am everything and you are part of me.' Isn't that a wonderful truth?

So that the branch can bear the fruit of the vine, it must be open to allow the sap of the vine to flow through it. Then there will be fruit. How does that apply to us?

Our Lord uses the word 'abide'. It can mean to 'remain in a certain place' but in verse 10 Christ clearly says that to obey him is to abide in him. It means to remain in uninterrupted fellowship with Christ. We can only know his continued fellowship as we obey his words and do those things that please him.

Christ also called us his disciples, learners or followers (v.8). But what does he say about us as disciples? He tells us that as the fruit of the Spirit and the fruit of sacrificial service is seen in our lives, God will be glorified. Isn't that what Christ was and always is most interested in? That was his continual motive.

One final question. Is the glory of God always our one desire or is our own glory what we want tall too often?

A PRAYER:

Lord teach me how to obey your Word day by day so that I may truly abide in you.