Dean Burgon Silenced - Visible Church Shrivels

Dean Burgon is one of the few churchmen to see through the fallacies behind the modernist, anti-Christian scholars who rejected the evidence in favor of their dreams and ambitions.

He is not easy to read, since he fires broadsides in every paragraph. After combing through the literature on the subject - including several bumper stickers - I can consolidate the arguments with some ease.

The A Team is agnostic, atheist Westcott and Hort, champions of Tischendorf, who "discovered" the fraudulent Codex Sinaiticus and promoted the fake Codex Vaticanus. They failed on a global scale to issue a successful Revised KJV in the 19th century, but their successors raised their clumsy efforts from the dead and established these three phonies as the ultimate authorities on the Greek New Testament.

The B  Team is Burgon, a remarkable scholar who blasted away at the entire scheme to substitute the Tischendorf-Westcott-Hort departure from the Majority (Traditional, Byzantine) text of the KJV.

Cutting off Mark 16 at the end of verse 8 is the work of the A Team. Burgon noted that the A Team's idea means the other codices are wrong, along with the very early evidence of Mark 16 ending at verse 20. Moreover, Codex Aleph (Sinaiticus) and Codex B (Vaticanus) had no children. The Majority Text has 5,000 or more! The vastness of the Majority Text evidence is considered a weakness by the A Team. (Pause for laughter to fade away)

Matt the Fatt Harrison, Concordia Publishing House, Mirthless Mark Schroeder, and ELCA all side with the A Team. Moreover, they mock the King James Version while holding the deceptions of the Tischendorf-Westcott-Hort cell immune from all criticism.

Readers may download, save, and distribute 

The King James Version - linked here. 

The complete title is The King James Version: Apostolic Texts, Precise Translation versus Fraudulent Texts and Heretical Translations.

The print version is available here, but can be obtained free from me.

Rain, Mulch, and Flowers

After Sassy got her chicken at Patricia and John's house, we came home, rolled out the garbage barrels (aka bird feeders), and did some watering.

Sometimes the rain is sparse, so I watered the new Bee Balm and the Calla Lilies, which are in bloom again. I dumped the last barrel over containing rainwater and emptied the 21st century barrel boasting a drain hose at the bottom and a critter fence at the top. 

Rain water is always good because of its lack of chlorine and abundance of useful nitrogen. I had two new roses which looked like they would never sprout. I kept watering them, especially on windy days and snipping some stem off to wake up the roots. The red turning to green leaves are the sign of roses rooting and reading to grow. I gave them daily doses of rainwater and that first red leaf and stem came out, so I did a little more sprinkling.

Phoenix required a paper bag or cardboard box to keep roses from drying out in the hot wind. I also got used to sprinkling the canes on windy days. 

The mulch works several ways to improve the garden. All organic matter will convert to soil over time. Mulch shades the soil, which plants appreciate. Mulch harbors delicious insects and other creatures to feed the birds and their young. Ultimately, the wood which uses nitrogen at first will release it into the soil as decay happens. 

Cardboard with wood mulch on top will last a long time.

I also use mulch to mark new plants and those which respond to more care. Joe Pye is so large that it creates a weed free zone around it. Bee Balm is so eager to spread that it requires little care once it gets established.

All this comes from the creation of our world by the Word of God, and the perfect engineering which adjusts, repairs, and builds up all life.

Does ELDONA Still Deny Baylor University Is a Babtist School?

Baylor Grants First Charter to LGBTQ Student Group

The group’s copresident calls the move “baby steps” for the 175-year-old Babtist university.

By Bekah McNeel

April 27, 20224

Illustration by Texas Monthly; Getty

Second-year senioBrit LaVergne has been trying to get an LGBTQ student group chartered at Baylor University since her freshman year. She’s now the president of Gamma Alpha Upsilon, and its unchartered status has made it difficult or impossible to secure meeting space, to voice concerns to the administration, and to be a presence among other student groups.  

Complexity Suggests Creation

 

 "The Calla lilies are in bloom again. I carried them on my wedding day..."  

A new thunderstorm is rolling in, just after we transplanted Hostas, planted Calla Lilies in bloom again, and installed red Bee Balms for the Military Gardening Group. I got a tempting email about Calla Lilies and planted a few where Blackberries had dominated, on the side of the house. They bloom repeatedly if watered often. Christina loved having them inside, and we saw the movie where Katherine Hepburn made them famous.

 Calla Lilies

The Hostas were moved last fall, because they were sun scorched in the rose garden, began this year as giant plants and continue to grow. They are probably fertilized by the green fence, where birds roost while waiting for their next meal. That fence began with a row of logs and was planted by birds. Two Elderberries were planted there but the birds did the rest.

Now the Hostas have shade most of the day. Some of their kin are still appearing in the rose garden, and I planted some blue and striped Hostas under and behind the maple tree in the rose garden. Hostas are easy to grow and to move.

The far back yard, once covered with cardboard and wood mulch, is being planted with superfluous Hostas from Mrs. Gardener. She wanted more room for more plants, and I wanted more Hostas for that vast open space. They supplement the hummingbird plants with their lily like flowers on spikes. Other plants for hummingbirds are Bee Balm, Joe Pye Weed, Butterfly Weed, Milk Weed, and Hummingbird Feeders, which I planted in threes in the rose garden.

Complexity in the garden should alert everyone to the source - Creation by the Word of God. Plants have their preferences. Hostas tolerate sunshine, but they prosper when they have a lot more shade. 

The demands of plants, microbes, birds, and insects are part of the garden's life during the spring and summer. Everything is already arranged, according to rain, temperatures, sunshine, and engineering from Day One. 

Fun Creation Gardening Projects

 Butterfly weed blooms a long time and attracts butterflies.

Given the revelation that the Word created all things, it makes sense that there is an complex cooperation among all living sources and the rest of Creation - rain, snow, minerals. If the soil is poor, poverty grass will grow. If the ground is rich in microbes and soil creatures, sweet corn will flourish.

If pests invade the vegetation, beneficial insects and birds will reduce their population and build  restaurants to keep the destruction down and the babies fed. Beneficial creatures can detect the horror of pests destroying good vegetation. The beneficial population is dependent upon the pests, and they grow and recede in numbers to fit the occasion.

Your favorite sports team - like Notre Dame - has a second and third string? The beneficials have a second, third, and fourth string. A rose will have tiny flies waiting to plant their eggs in or near the pests. Various spiders hunt for food in the garden and build webs that block pests from the blooms, trapping them for food. Meanwhile the birds keep watch and nab fat, juicy pests for their children - pause to dab eyes - and themselves.

My first-aid kit is all natural, plagiarized from Creation. I capture rainwater in various barrels to build up and nourish new and favorite plants. I use wood mulch to keep moisture in the soil while encouraging soil creatures to frolic in the damp shade of the plants. I feed the birds, who love to spot the vegetation moving from the activity of pests. Starlings will march through the garden and suddenly flip mulch to find something to eat. They leave some fertilizer behind.

Wild strawberries look just like the plants we buy at the gardening center - only tinier. The strawberries spread on their own but also use FedEx Ground  and Air Freight (rabbits, squirrels, and birds) when the berry seeds have to be there immediately. Wild strawberries bloom early, even in deep shade, to begin staking out their property.

One of my major contributions to the rose garden was tree stumps, which encourage birds to rest on a watchtower, look for food, and pounce on insects. 

Wild strawberries are just a fraction of a sliver of God's Creation working in harmony.

The Creation Garden Is Coming Alive

Clethra, pictured here, is a late bloomer with Joe Pye. The scents and flowers attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. Clethra is especially slow in growing, so I mark it with bamboo and put collars around the new sprouts.

We are entering the next phase of the Creation Garden. The roses are budding. Joe Pye is rising from the dried out canes of last year's crop. I leave that alone because the hollow tubes are good for beneficial insects.

Bee Balm is expanding, and last year's newbie plants are coming up stronger - Calla Lilies - for instance. 

New Clethra, after building up strength all winter, is barely there but producing tiny buds. I have to mark it with tall bamboo sticks, to protect them from mowing, week whacking, and predators. I also use collars to keep bunnies and squirrels away.

Last year's mature Hostas moved to the backyard and burst into full size in weeks. Hostas make people happy, because they come in many colors and attract hummingbirds.

I bought a few blue Hostas, Halcyon and Blue Mouse Ears. Another is some kind of whale.

The lilies are from Lowe's, in full bloom. Previous lilies actually popped up this year. 

So far the cold days alternating with warm days have kept the bugs down. Sassy guards the yard while I pull weeds or plant some new items. One German Shepherd walked down the street and was shocked into a trot and glances back from Sassy's warning barks.

From a Reader - Tom Fisher - Posted with His Permission

 

 Download, save, and share the free PDF about the King James versus all other Bibles.

Dear Pastor Jackson,

Please publish this open letter to all Lutheran pastors and laymen:

1. What do you personally believe about the Bible?

a. Do you believe the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God?

b. Do you believe the Textus Receptus (Greek apostolic text) and the Masoretic text (Hebrew text) are the inspired, inerrant, and infallible word of God?

c. Do you believe the Nestle-Aland (Fraudulent Greek Text) fraudulently changes, deletes, and distorts the true inspired Word of God?

d. Do you believe the Nestle-Aland text fraudulently omits and brackets Mark 16:9-20 to deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead? (See page 204 of The King James Version: Apostolic Texts, Precise Translation versus Fraudulent Texts and Heretical Translations by Gregory Jackson PhD.

e. Do you believe the Nestle-Aland text fraudulently omits and brackets "the Son of God" in Mark 1:1 to deny Jesus is true God begotten of His Father from all eternity? (See pg. 24 of The King James Version by Gregory Jackson, PhD also see pg 58 of 8,000 Differences by Dr. J. A. Moorman)

F. Do you believe the 2011 New International Version fraudulently adds "all" to Romans 3:24 to teach justification without faith in Christ? 

2011 NIV "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified..." Romans 3:23,24 (See pg  169 of The King James Version by Gregory Jackson, PhD.)

G. Do you believe the Revised Standard Version fraudulently translated Isaiah 7:14 to say "young woman" to deny the virgin birth of Christ? (See pg. 6 of The King James Version by Gregory Jackson, PhD.)

2. How does God justify you?

a. Do you believe you are justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone? (See pg. 41 of The Path to Understanding Justification by Gregory Jackson).

b. Do you understand that Objective Justification teaches justification without faith in Christ alone? (See pg. 70 of The Path to Understanding Justification by Gregory Jackson, PhD.)

C. Do you understand that subjective justification adds man's decision or works to justification? (See pg. 70 of The Path to Understanding Justification by Gregory Jackson, PhD.)

D. Do you acknowledge that LCMS and WELS older KJV catechisms correctly taught justification by faith in Jesus Christ alone? (See pgs. 73, 74 of The Path to Understanding Justification by Gregory Jackson, PhD.)

3. In this age of apostasy, every confessional Lutheran pastor and laymen needs to arm himself with the following books:

a. King James Bible

b. Luther's Small Catechisms that use the King James Version. (See Lutheranlibrary.org for 1905 Schwan and Dietrich KJV catechisms.

C. The King James Version: Apostolic Texts, Precise Translation verses Fraudulent Texts and Heretical Translations by Gregory Jackson ISBN 9798429093451 (Free to save and share PDF)

D. The Path to Understanding Justification by Gregory Jackson, PhD ISBN 9781072530428

Please sign my name to this letter. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as is written, The just shall live by faith alone. (Luther's Bible)

Tom Fisher

tomfisher99@yahoo.com

 If you use a Wee Three - NIV, ESV, or RSV - Bible, you are giving money to the snip and clip publishers who remove the verses they do not like and mock the KJV for its apostolic authority and precise translation. The rest of the modern Bibles are junk, too, but the Wee Three translations lead the ones named above. The KJV beats the entire pack of ravening wolves together, from the Wee Three on down to Brug's Burp.

WELS/LCMS/ELCA Pastor Mark Jeske To Retire

Jeske makes more on the Thrivent board part-time than most pastors make full-time. Follow the Benjies.

 Will Pastor Mike be moved up to fill the Jeske shoes?

"WELS ran out of Germans. I ran out of gimmicks to use."

Cerberus Is the Three-Headed Dog - Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Guarding People So They Don't Leave This Hell of Political Language Corruption

The new president of Augustana College, Rock Island, belongs to the new politics of language.

Augustana's Cerberus Scholar, with a post-doc from Princeton.

“Dr. Talentino is a scholar, a teacher and mentor for students; an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion; and an innovator and engaged citizen. She is looking forward to connecting with the Augustana community, including alumni around the world.” 

“Augustana’s mission and vision reflect what I most care about,” Dr. Talentino said. “I’ve focused on creating an inclusive, holistic, challenging, integrated student experience that offers a real transformational opportunity. Any institution can have internships, study abroad, opportunities for research, but it’s how you put them together, how you create natural connections and meaning between all of them that makes the difference in what’s outstanding and what is ‘just fine,’ and Augustana is committed to being outstanding."

A few years ago, micro-aggressions were the big deal. The most innocuous gestures and words can be labeled micro-aggressions. Corporations required tests and lectures on the topic, as silly as it sounded. Now American higher education and many corporations are in the Cerberus stage. The offices have been set up, and are running at top speed. Like Church Growth, this is a top down invasion aimed at bullying people into submission. The guardians are thought-and-language police, ready to jump into action when they imagine some terrible injustice has been implied (not stated). 

The litmus test is promoting the use of self-selected pronouns. Check for Cerberus scats - he is at work. One minor rock singer refers to himself as "they," to eliminate gender. Once students begin to insist on their own pronouns, the instructor who balks will beaten like a rented mule.

This issue seems to be central at Concordia, Mequon, where the acting president Cario fired Schulz for publicly complaining. 

 Mom graduated from Augustana in 1943, taking 10 years to complete her degree. Christina and I and her sister graduated from this school named to honor the Augsburg Confession. I had my name removed from their mailing list about 30 years ago. I wrote then, "You no longer represent the name. Drop all mailings and alumni funds requests." They kept asking me later to send all the books I wrote, and they would pay for them, for the alumni library. I sent a few.

Military Gardening Group Meets Outside - In the Rain!

Last night we had a bit of rain, but far more was predicted for today. Even then, I was able to pick daffodils for the altar. Later the Military Gardening Group gathered for pour-over coffee, chicken, and biscuits. Sassy was so keyed up that when a church friend phoned, she went nuts. "No, we will meet later, Sassy." 

Phone calls from friends have become Sassy's favorite time to get attention. She does that with smiling and also with firm kneecap scrapes (plus an arrogant German Shepherd look - "Obey!") She likes to have me report her antics, and callers have a big laugh.

The next phone call led to more canine shouting. The message was brief, "Put the water on." Fold flip phone. Go to work. 

When we are done drinking coffee, the chicken and biscuits are ready. Sassy barks for chicken half-way through the cooking, of course. No assurance will keep her quiet. 

We talk about a lot of current matters and past memories. Ranger Bob did about 250 parachute drops so he gave a summary of the thrill and the one near-fatal accident.

After supper, we went outside, the weather warm and very little rain was falling. That is when we discuss what I should do for the garden. Ranger Bob reminded me to buy preying mantis egg cases, which I did immediately after, and to get a few earthworms, which I did with another order. His elaborate plans for me forced a cry, "Why don't you do all that to YOUR yard?"

Sassy walked around and then settled near the door when the rain really started. We had no wind to drive the rain into the porch area, so we continued to talk. Sassy usually sits in the garden, facing us, looking up and enjoying the conversation, which often turns to her good manners, smiles, and responses. 

Sitting on the slab we call the front porch, we are looking through the growing vegetation and downward  across the garden to the front sidewalk and street. We were talking roses, so I pointed out the new buds on Take It Easy rose, which has the meanest thorns of all. The regular rains have been great for the new and older roses. 

The sermon for today was John 15 - I AM the True Vine. I wonder what would happen if the synodical leaders, college and seminary professors followed the first 11 verses.

The only fruit comes from remaining on the True Vine. That means faith in Jesus Christ, another reason why the apostate clergy avoid the Fourth Gospel. 

Those who no longer believe are cut off from the Vine, while those who remain are cleansed through contrition and faith in Jesus Christ. The cleansing makes us even more faithful, just as pruning roses make them grow more roots, branches, leaves, and roses.

The First Sunday after Easter - Quasimodo Geniti, 2022.

                            

Vimeo Player Here - 

The First Sunday after Easter, 2021

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

Bethany Lutheran Church, 10AM 

Central Standard Time

Bethany Lutheran Hymnal

This is the Vimeo Link, after the service, for those with lower bandwidth.

The Hymn #206         Jesus Christ My Sure Defense

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

As newborn babes: desire the sincere milk of the Word.

Hear, O My people, and I will testify unto thee: 

O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto Me.

Psalm. Sing aloud unto God, our Strength: 

make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17

The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we who have celebrated the solemnities of the Lord’s resurrection may, by the help of Thy grace, bring forth the fruits thereof in our life and conversation; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual       

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Christ, our Passover, is sacrificed for us. Hallelujah!

V. The angel of the Lord descended from heaven: 

and came and rolled back the stone from the door 

and sat upon it. Hallelujah!

The Gospel               

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22     
The Sermon Hymn #188       Halleluia Jesus LIves         

       

I AM the True Vine

Communion Hymn #201      Jesus Lives!

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
Hymn # 400              Take My Life and Let It Be

Prayers and Announcements

• Medical care - Kermit Way, Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Callie and her mother Peggy, C.
• Pray for our country as the major trials continue. And help all those suffering from economic difficulties.
• The Bethany Lutheran Hymnal Blog was finishing up two years ago, with many enhancements and Norma Boeckler art since. 34,000+ views.
• In our memories - Walter Boeckler, Carl Roper, Gary Meyer, Christina Jackson, Gladys Meyer, Lorie Howell's mother, Bethany Joan Marie, Erin Joy, and many others.

KJV 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

KJV John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

First Sunday After Easter

Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank Thee, that of Thine ineffable grace, for the sake of Thy Son, Thou hast given us the holy gospel, and hast instituted the holy sacraments, that through the same we may have comfort and forgiveness of sin: We beseech Thee, grant us Thy Holy Spirit, that we may heartily believe Thy word; and through the holy sacraments day by day establish our faith, until we at last obtain salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

I AM the Vine

John 15:15 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 word 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 I 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. 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.

John 15:15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 

εγω ειμι η αμπελος η αληθινη και ο πατηρ μου ο γεωργος εστιν

This is another I AM sermon, and Jesus makes His relationship with the Father very clear. So many clever skeptics want to erase the divinity of Jesus so they make the Resurrection symbolic or - as one future Disciple of Christ put - "not very important."

Gardeners identify with this image. The previous centuries all understood the relationship between a farmer and his crops. They were life itself. Once upon a time, America was mostly rural, and people came here for vast acres of farming - and freedom. Those who garden today have a similar relationship. Sassy and I went out to the porch yesterday, as the sun was setting. I looked at each rose bush in the row next to the porch, watching how the buds were starting to form already. I woke up to thunderclaps, knowing they would be fed nitrogen from the rain, and cultivated by the vast system of soil creatures below.

The initial phrase is like the original Good Shepherd passage: I AM the Shepherd the Good = I AM the Vine the True. In Greek, this is saying "I  AM the one and only True Vine, not just a vine, not one of many.

Everything in our lives is connected to the Risen Christ, the one true Vine. TLH #400 is related to everything in this passage. Just as the Father/Son relationship is basic, so is our relationship with the Son basic. Everything is connected to Him, whether someone is a believer or not, a believer or an apostate. Nothing separates us from that reality, even though we are taught almost every day that we chart our own destiny, that we are free of any possible authority over us. That bizarre portrayal of freeing is designed to make us slaves of the Father Below so we can be fodder.

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.

2 παν κλημα εν εμοι μη φερον καρπον αιρει αυτο και παν το καρπον φερον καθαιρει αυτο ινα πλειονα καρπον φερη

I had trouble understanding this verse, because it was intended for believers only. It seems obscure and when considered over time - the verse could not be any clearer.

A rose is the same, so I will use that. Most people neglect their roses by not pruning them (taking them away). A brown stem is already dead, so it will not produce. Nota bene - a pruned rose is far more productive. It must be pruned to be healthy.

Someone who has a vague and partial relationship with Christ is not fruitful. In time, that person becomes a non-believer and no longer belongs in the Kingdom of God. The two verbs which seem alike are not, and rose growers know the difference.

A rose farmer like me will look for those brown stems, called dead wood, and cut them away with sharp shears. But when a bloom starts to fade to form a seed, the gardener also prunes with the same shears. The rose wants to produce a hip, a seed pod, and go to sleep for the season. The rose farmer wants to make it bloom more, branch out more, and deepen its roots.

(Rugosa - raggy - roses are grown for their hips, which the birds love.)

Cleansing refers to our confession of sin and declaration of forgiveness through faith. That is enhanced by the continuing power of Holy Baptism and the individual experience of the Last Supper, where forgiveness is so personal, as an action, that we cannot easily overlook it. That is in keeping with the Jewish tradition of re-enacting the Exodus and the miracle of bread from heaven (likewise John 6).

3 Now ye are clean through the word 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.

The first phrase annoys some people when the pastor leads the confession of sin and pronounces forgiveness in the Name of Christ. Jesus established the continuation of His role among the congregations formed after His resurrection. They are His words being repeated, even though we could just read them and just think about them. The spoken Word is more effective, and Jesus exemplified the practice of repeating the same basic truths.

According to Jesus, God's own Son, no one is fruitful apart from Him. The only way to be fruitful is to abide with Him, to remain with Him and not wander off into humanism, Buddhism, Taoism, and the occult. Many celebrities love to identify with two religions at once. They are no longer on the Vine, no longer fruitful.

The vast majority of ministers today think about the myths of Karl Barth and his aide Charlotte, or about the pantheism of Tillich, or about the marketing world of Fuller Calvinism. They are no longer on the Vine. They are not flourishing but being removed. 

The first four verses are repeated in a lightly different form here - 

5 I AM the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I 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. 

That is a good, clear summary of what Jesus taught in the verses above. It could easily be a catechism response to "What Did Jesus Say about the Vine and the Branches?"

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. 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.

Energy is a popular world today, and it is directly related to the New Testament concept (in Greek) - energy - works in, or active in. Jesus' teaching is powerful and effective in answering our prayers. This glorifies God = that Christians pray and become fruitful. What Jesus teaches is His love for us and our love for Him.

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.

This summarizes His sermon, in such a brief and concise way. Keeping is also used as guarding, so we should guard the treasure and not be lax and lazy.