The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-12
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Dates Taught By Study OF the Inter-
national Sunday School Lesson Appointed for
Aug. %. vt. John, I3:2I-JS.

national Sunday School Lesson Appointed for
Aug. -. NJ. John, 3:2I-3S.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scri 2tuEes as
indicated above.l
We still lhIger in the upper room on Nc.
Zion, Jerusalem, with Christ and the II Apes
ties. Our study carries Us thousands OF miles
away from our homes and takes us back more
than Is centuries. Jesus is having his fare
well interview with his Disciples on the even
ing before his crucifxion. The circumstances
are intensely impressive. The Passover sup
per is nearly ended. and Christ is about to in
stitute as its substitute the Holy Eucharist
Before the supper Judas bad had interview
with the Jewish authorities, and made arrange
ments for Christ's betrayal. Jesus knew this
fact. The very presence OF the traitor at the
table was a reminder. Christ became disturbed
in thought, not simply at the prospect OF death,
but largely in consideration OF the base con-
duct of one Of his own Disciples. He must
speak, as a vent to his rising feelings Then he
says, "OIe of you shall betr1y me-" (Y.2l)
He Omits TO name the wretch. This eanses
general alarm at the table. Who can it be
Which of the II can be so yile2 In the pause
which followed st. Peter mods to st. john aud
suggests he. being near Christ and dear 10
him, inquire. We remember the Jews had
adopted the style of reclining at table after the
manner of the Greeks, Romans and Persians.
st. John reclined next TO Christ, and so could
easily get his attention. Jesus informs ST. John
how to detect the guilty one. We may ssppose
this was done confidentiaily in low tone. On
the table were unIeavened bread and kind of
SOUP sauce or gravy, made by pouring water
on bitter herbs. (Ex., II: Isl ST. John was
given to understand that the Apostle to whom
Christ should pass bit of the bread, having
dipped it first IN the broth or soup, was the ex-
ecrable wretch. The host at an Oriental table,
as an act of hospitality, at times passed to his
guest piece of bread. in some cases even put
| ting il between the lips of the guest, showing
| the oneness or commences of their feelings,
I and symboliZing their mutual sympathies. We
4 may suppose Christ gave the bit of sopped
| bread 10 Judas rs Indicative of tenderness of
| heart for him, a beautiful act intended to work
4 on the pathies Of the falling Apostle, and if
1 possible to save him from the rash, cruel per-
! formance The deed was so infamous that only
/ the one guilty should ever be suspected, and
hence, in the account we have the full name of
/ the culprit-Judas Iseariot, the son of Simon.
l-(N. 26) We are not TO suppose that any fate or
/ force compelled the act of Judas (Y. 81 lie
4 yielded to the temptation of Satan. Money
| had been offered for the person of Christ, aud
| the coyetous, selfish man could not resist the
/ prize. Christ saw his last effort TO save Judas
was in vain. Who can describe the voice and
face Of Jesus as he said, THAT thou doest, do
quiekly"2 He meant 70 say This is place
for you. The quicker you leave the better.
| Do not play the hypocrite any longer Show
your colors." The company did not under
stand what Jesus meant when he told Judas to
act quickly. They imagined Christ wanted
Judas, as treasurer, to secure some additional
provisions for the feast, or else to go on some
act of charity. They supposed Christ and
Judas had some mutual understanding about
the matter. 1t seems Christ neither told aloud
or to any but St. John the name of the Apostle
who was to betray him, nor explained the mis-
i,:o Ill IL. IL. or
Judas left the company. 1t is believed that
just after his departure ~. 30) our Savior in
stituted the Lords Supper, and that therefore
Judas did not partake of the Holy Eucharist.
The great painting of Leonardo de Vinci is
inaccurate in including the traitor at the saera-
mental table of our Lord. And they who, to
apologize for the presence now at times when
the Holy Supper is celebrated, of unworthy
persons, declare that even when the Eucharist
was originated one traitor partook, should re-
wise their statements.
1t was shameful that one of the Apostles
should prove freacherous. Nevertheless, the
Son OF Man was TO be glorifed, and that in a
singular way. 1t was not by earthly grandeur
not by easy possession of royal power, but by
crueiixion. And the matter of human sal
walton was joint act of the Father and Christ
Hence our Savior's success in saving mankind
was a concern of mutual Qualification to God
and to Christ. The blood of the cross was rega
blood, in that it made the victim the grandesi
King of the Universe. Gods processes are
wonderful. BY his plan the path to glory i:
CORY. To the ambitious, Gods route to fame
often seems but highway to extinction and
disgrace. f. g., who could think of the cruel
fixion as a means of glOryf And yet, to-day
the cross is the symbol of love, the inspiration
to heroism, the reminder of salvation. the hops
of the world, the cheer of the dying, the solac,
| to the mourning.
4 OWL Ca-sss, adI Ne
ciples-" little children They were all mer
of about his own age, aud vet he speaks Il
them as a father. How much reverence they
must have had for him 20 warrant such words
lie was going TO die, his body to be put in sep
ulcher, and his soul to 90 10 Paradise. Thi:
was the ultimate fate OF all, but not then wa
: il TO take place. His departure was TO be on
the next day. They must wait, some for years
! and one for go to 40 years, before death came Il
them. They had come to go with him at once
to royalty, but they found he was on the way
to ignominy and suffering. and it was good 70
them they were not obliged to go his way a
once.
About to 90 away, Christ felt great interes
, in the future of his Apostles. He knew thei
happiness and strength and success depended
on unity, and that in turn must be based OF
love. Hence he enforces with all the signif
, canoe and emphasis of a command the duty o
, mutual forbearance, forgiveness, charity. Low
+ Love was lifted up from the grade it oeeuPie,
, in the law lev, 10: 1S) and made TO meal
cheerful self-denial in the interest of humanity
, In the case of Christ, it demanded even death
With love for each-loye in The deep signif
canoe of Christianity-love as illustrated il
the life and death of Jesus-loye which rem
ders service a luxury, forgiveness an ecstasy
: patience pleasure-with such love all mer
; commandments are supererogatory-love itsel
: becomes the one law. AS Christians, we ar
!, not to be recognized merely by profession b,
Church membership, by peculiar garb and dia
leet, but specially by love, lovely words an
deeds.
o In his impetuosity, st. Peter was determine
: 10 accompany Christ. He did not imagine wha
b route Jesus was to take Poor man Re di
4 not realize his weakness. The 18th chapter q
e St. John verifes Christ's prediction ia V. 3:
q giving account of the three denials.
AS comment on the whole lesson, and spe
3 cially to illustrate V. 81, we add the followin
5 beautiful lines:
The feast spread. the solemn words wer
spoken;
Humbly my soul drew near TO meet her Lord,
| To plead His sacrificial body broken,
, His blood for me ouipoured.
Coafessing all my manifold transgression,
- Weeping to cast myself before Ills throne,