the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
The Poor Man's Morning and Evening Portions
September 20—Morning—Zechariah 6:12
"Behold the man whose name is the Branch."—Zechariah 6:12.
My soul, listen to the call, and behold this wonderful Man, whose name is the Branch. Mark the wonderful features of his person. This is one of the prophetical names of Him, in the faith of whom, as the Redeemer of Israel, all the old testament saints died. The branch of the Lord—the branch of righteousness; or, as he is elsewhere called, the Nazarene. But observe how very descriptive of his nature is this title. He grows up out of his place. And where is that? rain the eternal counsel of Jehovah. Who shall declare his generation? He is indeed a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots. But all this as the root himself of David; planted in the eternal purpose of God’s own sovereign decree, and budding forth as a branch in all the periods of his incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension, glory. And what a branch of never-failing loveliness, and everlasting verdure and fruitfulness, in all the proclamations of his gospel, converting sinners, and comforting saints. And what an eternal perennial branch to all his redeemed in grace and glory. Hail, thou glorious, wonderful Man, whose name is the Branch! Thou art indeed, as the prophet described thee, beautiful and glorious in the eyes of all thy redeemed. On thee, Lord, would I hang all the glory of thy Father’s house, and all the glory of my salvation. May it be my portion to sit under thy shadow with great delight here, until thou bring me home to sit under thee, the tree of life, in the Paradise of God, in the fulness of enjoyment of thee for ever.
September 20—Evening—John 15:1
The true vine."—John 15:1.
Dearest Jesus, how shall I ever be able sufficiently to admire, much less adore thee, for thy wonderful and unequalled condescension? What image, what similitude in nature, hast thou made use of here, in that of the vine, to mark the lowliness and meekness of thy person; and in the same moment, thy fruitfulness, and love, and usefulness to thy people! It was truly prophesied of thee, my Lord, that thou shouldest be "as a root out of a dry ground." And what so apparently dry and unpromising, before the budding season, as the vine? It was said that thou wouldest have "no form nor comeliness, nor any beauty, that we should desire thee." And here when thou callest thyself "the true vine," surely, Lord, thou couldest have chosen no image more unsightly. It was said, that thou shouldest be "lowly and meek, when coming with salvation." And what so low as the vine, that sends forth her branches upon the ground? What so weak and feeble as the vine, that needs always some prop or stay to cast her feeble arms upon? Thy extent, O Lord, in the spreading of thy gospel, was prophesied to be "from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth." And truly, Lord, in the wide-spreading branches of the vine, thou art the fruitful bough of Joseph, "even a fruitful bough by a well, whose branches run over the wall." And when we see the multitude of thy people all hanging on thee, all united to thee, and all drawing sap, and moisture, and life, and strength, and fruitfulness from thee; what can more beautifully represent Jesus and his people than the rich vine and her branches, on which grow the fullest clusters of the pure blood of the grape? Precious Lord Jesus, thou art indeed "the true vine," and "the plant of renown," which, for wholesomeness, verdure, nourishment, and delight, surpasseth the whole creation of God. Lord, let me sit under thy shadow, let me taste of thy fruit, "for they that dwell under thy shadow shall return, they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine, the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon!"
