Complete Explanation - I AM the True Vine - Parts One and Two

Part One - John 15 - I AM the True Vine

    We are definitely ("defiantly" - as most people spell the word today) in rose season. Roses follow the same pattern as grapes in Jesus' simple yet profound I AM lesson.

    The Gospel of John irritated the Tuebingen German scholars because Jesus proclaimed His divinity in that Gospel in such plain, simple words. The rationalists made an idol out of their attack on the Gospel of Mark, where they removed the divinity (Mark 1) and the resurrection of Christ (Mark 16:9-20; Voelz' stunningly bad CPH commentary). 

    The Fourth Gospel is the capstone, uniting, enriching, and explaining Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

 Double Delight 

    A rose gardener, at the earliest stages, takes away the dead and crossing branches, because they do not bear fruit or contribute to the rose bush. This cutting makes the plant grow even better, above and below the surface.

    When a rose branch buds and flowers, the gardener prunes the branch, because cleansing or purging is another boost for the rose, making it even more fruitful.

    Those who fear and neglect roses are too timid to do the pruning. The rose full of dead wood will become dormant and produce very little (like most District Presidents and self-styled bishops). When I spent a long time pruning all the dead wood from my sister-in-law's two plants, she burst into tears, with about 30% of each one in the garbage barrel. I said, "Roses do not grow on dead wood. Give it two weeks, and water it. Roses are not part of the cactus family." She phoned two weeks later, she was crying again, because both bushes were packed with beautiful flowers.

Crepe Myrtle loves being pruned, and the birds love the seeds, building a nest so dinner out is seconds away.

    The point of the John 15 passage is first of all to declare the Father-Son relationship. The Father works through the Son to take away those people aligned with Christ and yet content to be dead wood. They may be indifferent, but they are often leaders who glory in their false doctrine (like DPs and professors) and grow angry with any attempt to teach the Word as it is.

    Nobody is more alert than these people, only in the reverse. They know the meaning behind a challenge, and they instantly respond through proxies or through their deep and abiding love for Holy Mother Synod.

 Enchanted Peace

    Consider - the LCMS and WELS, with most of the parts of the future ELCA - previously taught Justification by Faith, the Chief Article of Christianity. But now, nobody important teaches the Chief Article. There has been a dedicated and ongoing effort to remove sound doctrine from all Lutheran synods and sects.

    Need I point out that the most divergent and perverted Lutheran sect, ELCA, is closing down seminary properties across the fruited plain? Like raisins left out in the sun to dry, these seminaries are selling off property:

1. Trinity in Columbus, the merger of Cap and Hamma, now is the cemetery for Loy, Leupold, and Lenski. They had a massive scandal after a known predator was ordained and offended again, costing them about $90 million.
2. Berkeley in California, selling out to the Muslims, once on the mountain top, now at the bottom, is now part of the mainline union of seminaries;
3. United Lutheran, once two influential seminaries - Gettysburg and Philadelphia, is now led by a fake pastor who became an instant bishop, making a mockery of marriage, the pastorate, and church leadership. Cemetery - Krauth, Schmauk, Jacobs.
4. Luther Seminary, which digested the more conservative Northwestern Seminary, is holding a fire sale, selling property to stay alive;
5. Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, the tragic result of roughly six seminaries merging, is now selling its property to the University of Chicago, temporarily leasing some room back.
6. Southern Seminary survived by aligning with a college. That seminary was another merger from another age.

 Veterans Honor

KJV John 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.

Stephanus (Traditional or Majority Text) John 

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

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

3 ηδη υμεις καθαροι εστε δια τον λογον ον λελαληκα υμιν

4 μεινατε εν εμοι καγω εν υμιν - καθως το κλημα ου δυναται καρπον φερειν αφ εαυτου εαν μη μεινη εν τη αμπελω, ουτως ουδε υμεις - εαν μη εν εμοι μεινητε

5 εγω ειμι η αμπελος υμεις τα κληματα ο μενων εν εμοι καγω εν αυτω ουτος φερει καρπον πολυν οτι χωρις εμου ου δυνασθε ποιειν ουδεν

6 εαν μη τις μεινη εν εμοι εβληθη εξω ως το κλημα και εξηρανθη και συναγουσιν αυτα και εις πυρ βαλλουσιν και καιεται

7 εαν μεινητε εν εμοι και τα ρηματα μου εν υμιν μεινη ο εαν θελητε αιτησεσθε και γενησεται υμιν

8 εν τουτω εδοξασθη ο πατηρ μου ινα καρπον πολυν φερητε και γενησεσθε εμοι μαθηται

Part Two - John 15 - I AM the True Vine

    Just as John 10:1 says literally - I AM the Shepherd the Good, so John 15:1 says - I AM the Vine the True. That means Jesus is the one and only vine, another way of expressing the Incarnate Word - Jesus is both man and divine. There is no other way of salvation.

    God the Father is the vine keeper, but that does not mean that all who believe in God in some fashion are one. Lacking fruitfulness, they are removed. Those who are united in Christ, believing in Him, are one. They are cleansed by the Word but the unfruitful are removed, withered, gathered up, cast into the fire, and burned. Those five actions are exactly what the farmer does with grapes or what the gardener does with roses. 

    There are only two actions. One is taking away, the other is pruning to increase fruitfulness. A living rose bush can be kept healthy by cutting off dying and diseased branches, but they are not left on the ground to foster more illness. Rosarian instructions are -

1. Cut the parts that will never grow again, because nothing grows on dead or dying branches. They actually prevent the rose from flowering.

2. Cuttins dry up completely.

3. Take the cuttings away so they do not harbor disease and pests. 

4. Set them on fire.

5. Burn them up.

    The five stages describe how complete this action is, like the WELS Church Growth pastor who began with denying Creation, then claimed the Law was obsolete, and when finished, was not just an atheist but a loud-mouthed atheist who taunted his wife and children about going to church. That all began with the "pious" teaching of Objective Justification in seminary - Mequon.

    The alternative is something all believers can count on. By remaining with Christ and Justified by Faith - the purging or cleansing of the individual - the person becomes even more fruitful.

    The entire Rose Garden - which was ordered by Christina because "grass is boring" - now has hundreds of buds. A few have bloomed and were purged for the altar and neighbors. If those flowers are left alone, they will turn into hips, seed pods, and stop flowering. If they are not cleansed, they will also welcome pests which thrive on weakened or sleepy roses. The roots will stop growing to feed the plant. 

    This Parable of Vine has several purposes at once. One is to make sure people are confessing the divinity of Jesus Christ, who is the source of all we do as Christians. Another is to warn listeners and readers about the inevitable outcome of falling away from the Faith (apostasy). But it also teaches how the believer is necessarily fruitful by forgiveness through faith in Him.

    Many times over, dabblers in gardening have winced about the impact of vigorous pruning of roses. I have to tell these beginners -

1. Roses need pruning.
2. Cutting off flowers leads to more roses.
3. Nothing grows on dead and dying branches.
4. Pruning also makes the roots grow deeper.
5. An unchallenged rose bush is on its way to being a thorn-bush alone.
6. Read John 15 and use the best fertilizer ever - the rain, which is always effective, like the Word of God, Isaiah 55:8-11.

 Rugosa Rose flowers are very colorful in growing hips for birds and rose hip tea. They are the fruit of every rose bush but especially large on Rugosa.

Mother's Day on Tuesday. Holy Communion. 7 PM Central Daylight Time.

Pink Peace

The is an easy video link 

to the service.

Jubilate, The Third Sunday after Easter, 2020

Note - The camera got worked into the set-up. There is a sound distortion in the music. Another challenge.

 

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

 

One year ago - Easter 3, 2021 - Direct link to that service.

 

Bethany Lutheran Church, 

7 PM Central

Note - the hymn lyrics are linked to the Bethany Lutheran Hymn Blog on the hymn number; the tune is linked on the hymn's name. 

 

The Hymn #586     A Pilgrim and a Stranger - Gerhardt

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

 

Make a joyful noise (Jubilate) unto God, all ye lands: sing forth the honor of His name; make His praise glorious.

Psalm. Say unto God, How terrible art Thou in Thy works: through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies submit themselves unto Thee.

 

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

 

Almighty God, who showest to them that be in error the light of Thy truth to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness, grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. The Lord hath sent redemption unto His people. Hallelujah!

V. It behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead: and thus to enter into His glory. Hallelujah!

     

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Sermon Hymn #288      Lord Help Us Ever To Retain - Loy Translation

 

Pilgrims and Strangers, For a Little While

 

Communion Hymn #651    Be Still My Soul

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
The Hymn #464        Blest Be the Tie That Binds   

 

  

 

Prayers and Announcements

• Medical Treatment - Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris Shrader, Kermit Way and Maria Way, Callie and her mother Peggy, C., 
• Lorie Howell lost her mother a few months ago.

                

Norma A. Boeckler Christian Art Books

 

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

Lord God, heavenly Father, who of Thy fatherly goodness dost suffer Thy children to come under Thy chastening rod here on earth, that we may be like unto Thine only-begotten Son in suffering and hereafter in glory: We beseech Thee, comfort us in temptations and afflictions by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not fall into despair, but that we may continually trust in Thy Son's promise, that our trials will endure but a little while, and will then be followed by eternal joy; that we thus, in patient hope, may overcome all evil, and at last obtain eternal salvation, through the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

 

KJV 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

 

KJV John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

 

Luther’s Sermon on the Gospel Lesson

 

Luther’s Second Sermon on the Gospel Lesson

 The Virtuous Woman

KJV Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. 11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. 12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. 13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

No matter how much society changes, this ending of Proverbs remains true. Those who claim to favor women never mention this passage, though it is the most elegant essay on the value of women. I recall the LCA bishop bragging about never mentioning Mother's Day - on Mother's Day - when leading worship. The same one began women's ordination in his region. 

We live in an era where everyone has practical books on every subject concerning family, but few turn to Proverbs. They support advice columnists and ignore God's version of Dear Abby, Proverbs, which comes from God and is God's will. The beauty of marriage and the family is that God bestows so many blessings on those who believe in Him, through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

The family is a universally accepted unit within society, all around the world. Male leadership is often lacking, but wives and mothers - with relatively few exceptions - carry the burden of the children and the extra work, serving the family and the community. My mother began teaching again when the youngest started kindergarten. The teachers at Garfield referred to their students as their children, and the teachers who were mothers watched over everything, working hard as teachers and serving their own families.

A couple of teachers whined to the Garfield principal that my mother had a cot in the nurse's office where she took a nap each day. The principal said, "If you would come to school as early as she does and stay as late as she does, grading papers, I would make sure each one of you would have a cot in the nurse's office." My mother loved to tell that story, and she worked as hard at home.

14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. 15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. 16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. 17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. 18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. 19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. 20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

Some think the liberated woman began in 1960 or so, led by a former Playboy bunny waitress, Gloria Steinem. However, the classic wife and mother exemplifies this Proverbs paragraph. Rural women worked all day for the farm and kids. Other women were the ideal part of their husband's businesses. I remember my Aunt Grace Noel, going from one task to another, always grinning. I hauled water with her, shucked peas, mowed the lawn, as my farm "vacation." There was no farm without her, since her husband was raising the animals, milking cows, and tending to the crops. When families owned little businesses, selling goods or services, the wife and mother often took over essential parts of it, to allow the business to thrive.

21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. 22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. 24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. 25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

Somehow we devolved into a country where leisure is more important and valued than labor. If labor is enjoyable, there is no dread of work, but rather a healthy energy in getting work done. Mothers know that raising children is a constant labor of love, because the children keep changing as they grow, and they are not the same (God's plan). 

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. 27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Wives and mothers are anchors who do not let themselves or their families drift along idily. They get the honor of being thanked and praised, though too often only later in life.

29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. 30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

The greatest rewards are intangible and overshadow everything else. After 20 years of teaching, one university gave me a tablet of paper worth $1, made in China. Earlier, it was a pair of socks small enough for a child. When we got cheap pens for attending a meeting, I asked, "Do we have to claim this on our income tax forms?" The room burst into laughter, and I was satisfied.

The men can increase their praise and thanks for their wives and mothers and grandmothers. I doubt whether we men can claim we overdo that. 

Rugosa roses are known for being tough rather than delicate, having great fragrance, and producing large hips (seedpods) for the birds - not to mention rose hip tea.

Morning Chapel at Luther Seminary, ELCA, Last Month

Yes, I could have pasted the code to let everyone watch and listen to a chapel talk at Luther Seminary, ELCA, last month.

Just like the installation of the new president of the seminary, the gathering on April 5 was appallingly small. Everyone must wonder, "If the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago is selling their property to Rockefeller's U. of Chicago, how much longer can Luther Seminary last?"

 "Make sure your diversity is selective."

They only have one message, so there is no need to broadcast it. The Walmart Public Education system in NW Arkansas was promoting "37 genders" to young children years ago.

Announcing your (thine) pronouns is the new mark of being cool for the ultra-Left. The vanguard is "equity, diversity, inclusion" but the opposite of what those terms mean. The rearguard is "You are insensitive, racist, and _____ phobic." Fill in the blank!

As Herman Melville wrote, 

What could be more full of meaning?- for the pulpit is ever this earth’s foremost part; all the rest comes in its rear; the pulpit leads the world. From thence it is the storm of God’s quick wrath is first descried, and the bow must bear the earliest brunt. From thence it is the God of breezes fair or foul is first invoked for favorable winds. Yes, the world’s a ship on its passage out, and not a voyage complete; and the pulpit is its prow.

Herman Melville, Moby Dick, Chapter 8

 ELCIC Bishop Johnson, Canadian, eh?

 Equity in ELCA means the top two positions are reserved for women.

 Nadia is no longer an ELCA pastor, but her parish is considered a model for the future.

 This happened, a surprise, at an ELCA regional meeting, doubtless a weak attempt to outdo the displays in WELS.

Why Did Walther Support Stephan's Objective Justification with His Calvinistic Double Predestination?

Why Did Walther Support Stephan's Objective Justification with His Calvinistic Double Predestination?

My theory is that Walther could not force the Stephan dogma on his German speaking colleagues. That may also be why LCMS and WELS took so long to translate German works (Pieper's Dogmatics, Hoenecke's) into English.

So Walther brought up a non-controversy and made that a love-it or leave-it challenge to the Synodical Conference.

Calvin's double-predestination defies all logic and is not Biblical.

Walther seized on the debater's trick of re-defining the language. What he forcibly argued was the faith is a work of man, so his spin on election was that there could be no grace where faith came through as a work of man. I have

heard that repeated in many different ways. John Brenner, SJ, conceded in the Marquette dissertation that the predestination controversy was Walther's way of backing up Objective Justification.

Now the old Synodical Conference partners assume that any questioning of Walther is treasonous and worthy of the Left Foot of Fellowship. CFW did not know the Biblical languages but he was good at Latin, a good cover for his opinions.

Feline OJ

 Like John Brenner, SJ, Jack Kilcrease was trained for a PhD at Marquette University, a Jesuit school and proud of it.

2,000 Mules Is Worthwhile and Factual

Many "mules" were paid to dump ballots into drop boxes, ginning up the totals for Biden in key states.

Here is the  NEW link for 2,000 Mules - about election fraud in 2020.

Release the Kraken! No, I mean - release the data.

This video starts slowly with talking heads, but it all makes sense when True the Vote shows how methodical the mules were, who broke election laws in key states. How they tracked their movements is fascinating.

The momentum is growing - against crooked voting, crooked politicians, child trafficking, abortion, and many other evils.

Computer Tech Arranged

 "We'll have this purring in no time!"

I have arranged for a computer tech to straighten out the Gordian Knot, but not like Alexander the Great. He is known for drawing his sword and cutting it up.