Jesus had acted the part of a kind Father to his disciples: what did he say as he was about to leave them? Did he promise to return to them again? In what manner? When was this fulfilled? Will you give some account of the circumstances? What evidence have we that Jesus is now present with his people? What great work does he now perform among men? Has this change been produced in your heart? What did Jesus declare was evidence of love to him? Who then proposed an inquiry? What was it? How did Jesus reply to it? Is the presence of Christ and his Spirit a great privilege? Do you enjoy this privilege? What is the evidence that men do not love Jesus? On what authority did Jesus speak? Jesus had told them some things: what promise did he make his disciples respecting their further instruction? Does this afford us assurance of the truth of the New Testament? What did Jesus give as a parting token of his love? Can all the wealth and pleasure of the world give this? Which do most persons prefer; worldly pleasure, or the peace of Jesus? Which do you prefer? How did Jesus say they would feel at his leaving them, if they had true love for him? For what had he told them these things? How would it produce this effect? Whom did he call the prince of this world? What did he say of him? For what was Šatan permitted to exert such an influence ? Was Jesus then willing to suffer for the honor of God? Should all be? Can we be Christians without this disposition? LESSON XVI. Jesus represents Himself as a Vine, and his People as Branches. CH. XV. 1-7. 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the worl which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in me, and 1 in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 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. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Or what had Jesus been discoursing in chap. 14? With what promises had he comforted his desponding disciples? 1 He now wishes to impress their minds with a sense of their intimate relation to, and dependence upon, himself: what does he tell them he is? Of what had they just partaken ?— Matt. 26: 27. Whom did Jesus represent as taking care of the vineyard? 2 CHRISTIANS are called branches: what is done to such as do not bear fruit? What do you understand by a Christian's bearing fruit? How do men treat the dead branches of trees or vines? What is done to such as bear fruit? 3 WHAT does Jesus say of his disciples? What effect would the instructions of Jesus have upon us, if received and obeyed? How had Jesus cleansed his disciples, as a vinedresser would his vineyard? 4 WHAT does he now command his disciples? What do you understand by abiding in him? If, in spring, you cut a branch from a fruit-tree, will it not wither and die? Can Christians bear good fruit unless they are united to Christ? How are his people united to him? - Acts 26: 18. Is there such a union between Jesus and your soul? 5 JESUS again speaks of himself: under what figure? What does he call his disciples? Who does he say bears much fruit? What without him will be their condition? 6 WHAT will be the consequence of not abiding in Christ? What effect has the cutting off a branch from a tree? What is done with the dead branches? Is a dead branch useful or hurtful to a tree? What will be the condition of such as apostatize from the faith? Matt. 8:12. 7 WHAT promise does Jesus make to his disciples? On what condition is this promise made? Who will be able to ask according to the will of God, those who abide in him, or such as live far from him? What is said respecting this promise? 1 John 5:14. GENERAL QUESTION. What instances can you name of answers to prayer recorded in the Old Testament? LESSON XVII. Jesus continues his Conversation with his Disciples. CH. XV. 8-16. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father, I have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. WITH What promise did the last lesson close? Do you recollect the condition of that promise? 8 By what means did Jesus say that God would be glorified? Was this an object dear to Jesus? Would this be evidence of their discipleship? What is the nature of the love of Christ towards 9 How had the Father declared his love for his Son? Matt. 3: 17. To what did Jesus exhort his followers? How has he shown his love for us? Rom. 5:6. 10 WHAT assurance does he give on this subject? · Whose example does he introduce? Whose commands had he kept? 11 WHAT two objects had Jesus in view in this conversation? To whom does the first relate? To whom the second? What characters must we possess that Jesus may always look on us with pleasure? 12 WHAT command did Christ give his disciples? Would obedience to this increase their happiness, or not? In obeying this command, whose example would they imitate? What command had he before given on this subject? Matt. 5:44, 45. Can you recollect occasions when you have disregarded this command? If you think much of this command to love others, what effect will it have on you? 13 WHAT is the strongest evidence of love which men can give? Has Jesus given this evidence of his love for us? What were their feelings for whom he came to die? What return have you made to Jesus for such unparalleled love? 14 WHAT does Jesus call his disciples? On what condition may they bear the appellation of his friends? Do you desire such an honor? How can you attain it? 15 WHAT were the apostles called? - Matt. 10:24. Acts 16:17. Was this an honorable title, do you think? What does Jesus now say to his disciples? |