The Ottawa free trader., 1886-08-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
NTERNATiONAL LESSON FOR AUG
IS, 1ss6---LESSoN SEVENTH.

Explanatory Notes by Rev. John Hall.
u. D., LII. d., of New York-Frorn The
Sunday school World-Subject: Jesus
Teaching Humility" John Kill, LII.
We now pass out Of the history of strife
and into that of tenderest love and fore
thought. Our Lord often spoke parallels.
Here He acted one, and then, as His manner
was, explained it. He was bent on teaching
His disciples, and through them His people in
all time, how to care for one another.
First of all we may study the state OF mind
of our Lord Tvs. l-;8. Ii was before the
feast of the passover, when the crucitixion
was To come He was to depart out of the
world. to no no more visibly with the disci
pies. but with the Father Many in the pros.
pect Of elevation forget the companions OF
their lOWly estate Not 50 Jesus. He loved
10 the end OF to the full. He chose them
they followed Him. His love never failed.
His own immediate burden did not keep Him
from thinking of them. Our sorrows com
moply affect us only when they come He
saw all along the baptism OF grief and pain
that He must 90 through.
V. , l. "a parenthesis, or his knowledge of
toned IN recalling the nearnesS of the "bap-
tiSm,' la during supper the devil having
alropty put into, gtc SEQ revision. The
devil Not IA figure Of speech, but per
sonal tamptV Hc ,nn put things into our
hearts We can wfrepe them, keep them
and pat them ~ action, er we can close the
door against them or cast them out. He can
do this by instruments; how far he can act
directly we cannot tell. The chief priests
were by their known feelings, the tempters
of Judas, but he invited their action. He
yielded to temptation i'll over-love of money,
and he may have resented our Lords plain
words on that matter Matthew vi, 1924;
Luke xvi, II; Mark x, 25. The evil in his
heart thus led to ruin. Lust conceives, brings
forth sin, and sin finished brings forth death.
The history of Judas is well worth study,
81. .ct man examine himself" it is constantly
saving. Love of money has its darkest illus
trution in him Yet how many 60 back on
the Master whom once they profesSed to serve,
for money, or the worth of it! And how many
miss their mark and 80 to ruin!
Jesus had at this moment the full conscious
ness of what he really was. This is mentioned
to show the full extent of his condescension.
He was not kings son unknown to himself,
rs we may see in a romance lie knew whence
he came and whittier he was going, So his
people stoop down TO the lowest service the
most readily when they most realize their
dignity They have no mere form OF honor
to guard. They are SONS of God 10y grace.
They can in their places show kind OF grace.
He cleant to teach great lesson in mem.
orable way, first doing some hing unexpected
and then explaining it. Sc hs said to Peter,
OThou shalt know hereafter" He did not
mean in heaven, but before they left the room.
Now we look at the typical act. Washing
the hands and feet of others was the act Of q
servant So he leaves his reclining couch
our ehair-removes the loose over robe, like
oar coat, only wide and flowing, without
sleeves or buttons, took a towel and fastened
il to himself US servants did at such duties.
Then he put water in the basin and began to
wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with
the towel Then cometh he to Simon Peter"
The rest were probably amazed, but too
timid to question or protest Peter was
among the oldest and outspoken. He was
moreover impulsive, as we see here lie
strongly rcpels the idea of Jesus washing his
feet He would not let the master stoop so
low. He would not accept such an honor!
His question is one Of strong protest. Jesus
replies mildly, in words the secondary and
true application of which has cbeered mil
lions Ii is in effect, Il will explain why
afterwards 1t it is true that what God does
to us W. often cannot understand, but after
warlS--iu heavcn-we shall See it all clearly,
the why and the wherefore, the need and the
meaning See | Cor. Xiii, l2) But Peter
is rcsolute ". s., never" Now Jesus takes
different tone and puts the words in another
sense. why, if thou art not washed by ME,
thou hast no part with me'-not in me.
Thou art not working and toiling i'll the
same cause with me-" Peter sees the mean
ing. "Ahl Lord, if that is thy deep meaning
then wash not my feet only, etc. will suffer,
anything rather than not be with thee.
"No," says Jesus, Il am not now dealing with
tbs cleansing Of thy soul; that is entire apd