THE disciples had been with Christ, and seen Him pray. They had learnt to understand something of the connection between His wondrous life in public, and His secret life of prayer.

As fruit is the great proof of the true relation to Christ, so prayer is of our relation to the Father.

There are some fruits that will not keep.

Christ reveals His twofold purpose in choosing us to be His Branches: that we may bear fruit on earth, and have power in prayer in heaven.