Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1886-08-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR AUG.
is, 18a6--LEsSoN SEVENTH.

Explanatory Notes by Rev. John Hall,
d. D., LII. D., of New York-From The
Sunday School World-Subject: "Jesus
Teaching Humility" John xiii, I-17.
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. 1-3). 1t was before the
feast of the passover, when the crucifxion
was to come. He was to depart out of the
world, to be 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 so Jesus. He loved
to the end or 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
monty affect us only when they come. He
saw all along the baptism of grief and pain
that He must go through.
V. 2 is a parenthesis, or his knowledge of
Satans work IN the heart of Judas is men
toned as recalling the nearness of the "bap
tism," fer during supper" the devil having
already put into, etc. see revisionl. The
"devil" is not a figure of speech, but per-
sonal tempter. He can put things into our
hearts. We can welcome them, keep them
and put them in action, or 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 achief priests
were, by their known feelings, the tempters
of Judas, but he invited their action He
yielded to temptation in over-love of money,
and he may have resented our Lords plain
words on that matter Matthew vi, 1924;
Luke xvi, IL; Mark K, 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.
GLet man examine himself" it is constantly
saying. Love of money has its darkest illus
tration in him. Yet how many go back on
the Master whom once they professed toserve,
for money, or the worth of itl And how many
miss their mark and go to ruinl
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,
as we may see in a romance. He 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 by grace.
They can in their places show kind of grace.
He meant to teach great lesson in a men,
orable way, first doing something unexpected
and then explaining it. So he said to Peter,
Thou 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
our coat, only wide and flowing, without
sleeves or buttons, took q towel and fastened
it to himself, as 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. He
strongly repels the idea of Jesus washing his
feet He would not let the master stoop so
low. He would not accept such an honorl
His question is one of strong protest. Jesus
replies mildly, in words the secondary and
true application of which has cheered mil
afterwards" 1t it is true that what God does
to us we often cannot understand, but after
wards-in heaven-we shall see it all clearly,
the why and the wherefore, the need and the
meaning. (See 1 Cor. xiii, 12) But Peter
is resolute ". 81, "never." Now Jesus takes a
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 in 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, II am not now dealing with
the cleansing of thy soul; that is entire and
complete. l am dealing with the daily walk.
l am not showing how soul is saved, but
what saved man should do. A man Just
oathed Revision) only needs to have his feet
washed 1t is something in the daily walk 1
am pointing out to thee You are saved, you
are disciples, but"-and then the fact of
Judas plot and treachery comes in mind
1but not ALL" for he thought of Judas ".
11.) So the evangelist explains it.
Now we come to the meaning Tvs 12-1T.
v II describes, as one who saw it all would
do the movements of Jesus. He is calm and
deliberate. All eyes are on him; all hearts
are filled with inquiry. Reclining again, he
puts the question which often fixes an idea in
the mind, "Know ye," etc. He recalls the
light in which they regarded him, master
and Lord" This was right. He was all the
words implied. 'If 1 then, the Lord and
the Master" Revision), "have done this to
you, ye ought to do the like to one another"
He explains why this act was done-an ex-
ample. They might forget word, but could
they forget this deedl
He recalls the general truth: a servant is
not greater than his lord, nor he that is sent
las they would be by him by and by than
the sender. This lesson he had illustrated to
them-a simple act, but involving many
truth-his dignity, their relation to him, their
obligation to him, their duty to initiate him,
and not only to love, bear with and help one
another, but, forgetful of selflove, pride and
vanity, to stoop, if need be, so low as to wash
one another's feet. If ye mow-take in, re-
member, "learn by heart'-these things and
do them, happy-blessed- We. How
blessedl With the presence of the Master;
with the love and gratitude of the brethren;
with the blessing of God; with the great re-
ward in heaven.
The very absurdities and abuses of the truth
here presented show how much impression the