The National tribune., 1886-08-05
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
Practical Dnties Taught BIZ a Study OF the Inter
national Sunday School Lesson Appointed 10
AuC TX 81 Hahn Ia.t-t-

We are now to study a very interesting Incl
dent in our Saviors life, to wit, the washing
of the Disciples feet. This took place on the
evening before Christ's death, in an
upper room of some building on Mt. Zion, in
where Jesus and the 10 Apostles had
met 10 celebrate the last Passover and to oFigi-
nate the Holy Communion. 1.-THE hour was
come that he should depart out of the world
He was passing the last night Of His life. He
came from the Father and was soon to return.
In verse many, including Afford, Meyer,
LANCE, render, instead Of "being ended, (" be-
ing served" or about to begin" The mean
ing is while the supper was in progress. The
revised edition has serving supper" Depart
out of this world Nv. ~ is euphemism for
death by erueifxion. Christ was only between
80 and 81 years old. This is the interval be-
tween "came from " and went to-" (Y. 81
Before" ". IL was the day prior, viz, our
Thursday, the Passover proper being on Fri
day. The Passover was instituted 1858 A. NJ.
in memory of the preservation Of the first born
of the children of Israel in Egypt. It's first OBJ
servanee was in Goshen-its first anniversary
at Mt. Sinai 1t had been celebrated over l 400
times. Properly, it should have wholly ceased
and been followed by the Lords supper, but it
is still maintained by the Jews save as to the
offering of sacrifices. The Jewish Friday be-
gan on our Thursday evening. Strictly speak
ing." before (Y II may refer to the feast Of the
Passover, OF which Christ and his Disciples
were about to partake that evening. So we
could read, just before the company reclined to
share in the feast.
Christ loved the human race and came TO
earth in the interest Of humanity. He never
wayered for moment in his love Of mankind.
The agony Of the next day, foreseen by him,
did not cause him TO regret his mission TO earth.
(V II Here we see love, but it is made the
more intense by the contrasted hatred Of Satan,
who. having tempted our Savior to desist effort
for our salvation, persists in a struggle to
thwart his saving mission. He followed up his
opposition. He will try to ruin Christ through
one of his own Apostles, viz, Judas. (V. ~
And this love of Christ is made still more con-
spieuous by the treachery of the Disciple. Per-
dition may be false, Satan may mislead, the
Apostle may betray, Christ's enemies may cru
city him, but Jesus remains true.
We must recall the manner of dining among
the Jews. The guests recine Oh eouches with
feet toward the walls of the room aud heads
toward the table. The touches are placed on
three sides of the table, leaving the fourth
side clear. The walters walk up and down be-
tween the table and the heads OF the touches.
With feet thus projecting away from the table,
and the bodies Of the guests quite prone, 10 is
easy to see how Christ could proceed convent
emily to wash the feet Of the Disciples. Wen
suppose st. John reclining next to Christ.
Q3:23) It seems st. Peter was at the
greatest distance, since we may infer his
feet were the last washed. One has chance for
thought here as to the pre-eminence Of that
Apostle. At this point we notice.. st. Peter
assumed to be critic Of Christ's conduct. (V.6.)
2. He was rebuked by his Master. 3. He de-
handed the place Of judge, and even dictated
to Christ. (V. 81 A. He was rebuked a sec
ond time by his Lord. (V. 81 5. In v. he
became critic, judge, dictator. 6. He was
selfish, demanding an excess of favor over others.
z. He was An misunderstanding or all was his
motto; either not any or too much was his de-
maDd.
The tendency of the Disciples was toward am
bition. They even quarreled among themselves
as TO prospective honors Jesus taught them
Just before his death, under most impressive
circumstances the beautiful and needed lesson
of humility. Before washing his Disciples
feet he assumes the outfit Of aseryant, it being
in Oriental countries the duty of menials to
wash the feet of guests. Wearing sandals
was the cleansing of his feet. Men then wore
mantles over their ordinary suits. Laid aside
garments VA means simply that he removed
his cloak, which was long and loose, and which
would hence be in the way when one acted as
a waiter. Then to tighten more closely about
his person his tunic or suit under the mantle,
he used for a kind of belt towel. Thus
u
and washed the feet of his Disciples. wiping
them with the end of the towel, which, being
long, not only served for belt but also for a
towel. IL seems the Disciples made no obiee-
ton until Christ reached st. Peter. That
Apostle saw unfitness i'm the Master serving his
menials. Either, in his ambition, his pride in
his Master was thus crushed, or else he realized
the incongruity of a Lord becoming slave.
1t is quite clear the Disciples had no mental
70 ok he
Passover with feet unwashed. No one Of the
number saw the improperly Of this with sufi-
cient Gliding OF conscience or sufficient degree
of humility to take the position of servant and
wash the feet Of the company. Seeing this Christ
determined to set an example. He had Interior
objects IN view, as Is clear from V. z. Here
after" may refer to the world after death, or
| possibly VS.. 1917 explain. Our SaVior's act
was q practical command. When he would
wash st. Peters feet, it will not do for that
Disciple to refuse permission. Such conduct
would be rebellion, disObedience, and we are
not Christ's Disciples unless we keep his CON-
mandments. ". 81 Seeing so much depend
ing on his assent, st. Peter, to make up for de-
clension, becomes too willing. One going into
the street sandaled would soil only his feet, and
would need TO have only his feet washed. (Vs.
10, H. Then, there is such thing as spiritual
cleaning. In this respect, one Disciple, viz,
Judas, was wanting. ". 10) Having washed
the feet Of all the r. our Savior put on again
his cloak and resumed his seat at the table.
| The act performed, Christ set all the II 10
| thinking as TO the significance of his strange
/ conduct. 1t would seem none could guess the
object of the act, and therefore Christ explained
| (Vs. 13-17.)
The Disciples needed this example not SIM
ply as evidenced by their strife as TO places
| luke, % PAL but as a general principle. They
must learn that glory comes from the cross. We
cannot suppose the washing of the feet would
not have occurred had il not been for the quar-
rel of the two Disciples with regard TO pre-
eminenee in Christ's Kingdom. There were
| enough other reasons to warrant our Savior in
his act. But we have the example. We are
told that Caligula forced number Of the no.
| blest Roman Senators to take position at his
| feet, towels in hand. We see in Christ's con-
duct a picture of his life mission. He left
| Heaven and condescended to come TO earth. He
was Lord of the universe, and yet is found
among men. who insult, prosecute and kill him
There is a use we can make of this incident
in Christs life. We are not, however, to uu-
derstand that the act Is to rank with the sacra-
ments, and thus become an ordinance Obliga-
tory on the Church. We do not find any other
| allusion to the matter as to precedent. Moth
| ing is said of it, as duty, in the Acts Of the
/ Apostles nor in the Epistles There is no com
mand dscoyerable as to such an ordinance. Nc
other case can be cited in the New Testament
| Church history does not show il was a practice
in the early days among Christians, save as an
act OF hospitality. 1t has no religious preee-
dent in the Old Testament.
Some bodies Of Christians hold the sacredness
of feet washing as a religious rite. The San
| demanians practice it, The Nennonites held