THE BRANCH … CAST FORTH AS A BRANCH

In yesterday’s meditation we saw how our Lord is the true vine, who brings joy to the heart of the Father through reproducing Himself in His people, the branches that bear fruit. The only part of the physical vine that is of use is the fruit. Its foliage, flowers and wood are of no commercial value. One cannot use its wood to make furniture or even a peg to hang objects on; it is not very useful even as firewood, Ezek. 15. 3, 4.

The only purpose of the branches is to bring forth fruit. Some, including myself, suggest that the branch which ‘beareth not fruit’ in verse 2, represents a false profession, and the branch is taken away. Others, considering the statement ‘every branch in me’ would see the taking away or lifting up as the loving hand of the husbandman, raising the branch from the earth, providing support and conditions more conducive to fruit-bearing.

In verse 5, we have a branch that clearly abides in the Lord, and He in him. So, because he is dependent on the Saviour, he brings forth fruit in abundance, thus bearing witness to the all-sufficiency of Christ. How we ought to realize, not just theo­retically but in our daily practical experience, that without Him we can do nothing! There will never be a time in our lives when we can operate without His grace, goodness and power.

When we come to verse 6, the language changes and the Lord seems to drop the metaphor and, speaking directly, He says, ‘If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned’. Notice that the Lord here was not referring to any of the eleven. He has described them earlier as clean, v. 3; the traitor had already left the room. The person intended here is one who is obviously not a believer.

This could be one who abides not in the doctrine of the Christ, 2 John 9, denying His deity, virgin birth or sacrificial work. Or, it could be one who deliberately removes himself from walking any longer with Christ, John 6. 60. He has never been born again and has never accepted Christ as Lord. Away from the vine, a branch is withered, thrown away and burned.