God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.—1 John 5:11
The Divine Husbandman planted a goodly vine upon the hills of Palestine. But the people of Israel despised this root of heavenly origin. In a rage they cast it over their vineyard wall; they bruised it, and trampled it under their indignant feet, and hoped that they had destroyed it forever. The Husbandman removed the broken vine, and concealed it from their sight. Again he planted it, but in such a manner that the stock was no longer visible. The branches hung over the wall, and grafts might be joined to it, but the stem itself was placed beyond the power of human beings to reach or harm.
To this world, dark with the shadows of sin, sorrow, and death, came the Son of God with the light of pardon, peace, and immortal life. “As the Father hath life in Himself, so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself.” But the world hated Christ because His perfect purity was in such contrast to their own vileness. They rejected and crucified the Lord of life. God raised Him from the dead, and hid Him from mortal view; but He is still the Saviour of humanity. He is still the vine-stock, the source and sustainer of spiritual life. Still may grace, strength, and salvation be derived from His fullness. Though the Vine itself is unseen, its branches are visible. While Christ is removed from human sight, His life and power are manifested in His followers.
Grafts may still be united with the Vine. As the severed branch, leafless, and apparently lifeless, is engrafted into the living stock, and, fiber by fiber, and vein by vein, drinks in the life and strength of the vine until it buds and blossoms and bears fruit, even so may the sinner, by repentance and faith, connect himself with Christ, become a partaker of the divine nature, and bring forth in words and deeds the fruit of a holy life.
Jesus “has life in Himself,” and this life He offers to impart freely to souls that are dead in trespasses and sins. Yea, He shares with them His purity, His honor, and exaltation. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God.” The sapless branch, engrafted into the living vine, becomes a part of the vine. It lives while united to the vine. So the Christian lives by virtue of his union with Christ. The sinful and human is linked to the holy and divine.—The Review and Herald, September 11, 1883.
Further Reflection: Has anyone ever told me that they saw Jesus in me?
From Jesus, Name Above All Names - Page 293
Jesus, Name Above All Names