THE WEEK OF TRINITY XVII - SUNDAY

LESSON: LUKE 14:1‒11

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of Mine that bears no fruit, He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If a man does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:1‒7

Two main points must be considered in this Gospel. One is a point which all the Gospels have in common, and the second one is something special.

The first point, the point which all the Gospels have in common, is that they portray Christ for us, showing us who and what He is, and what we should expect from Him. In this respect the Gospels all teach us faith and love. They continually remind us of the importance of faith.

The man who had dropsy illustrates this point. He had heard something of the Gospel beforehand. Some report had probably reached him of how the Lord Jesus Christ was such a friendly, good, and kind man, helping everyone and sending no one away without help and consolation. Had he not heard such a report about Christ, he would hardly have followed Him right into the Pharisee’s house. He must have received information on Christ and heard something very encouraging about Christ and believed it.

SL 11:1674 (1‒2)
AE 79:154‒161

PRAYER: Your promises and assurances, O Lord, are always most encouraging. Stir up within our hearts the faith and trust always to accept Your promises and assurances in all confidence, for Your mercy and truth’s sake. Amen.