The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-05
The Sunday Sthoo.
Esssnn Series tnr 1858.
SECOND QUARTER.
STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT.
Mag IL, 1883.
Matthew XIV. 17-30.l
THE PASSOVER.

THE NATIONAL FESTIVAL jesus and
his disciples had come to Jerusalem to attend
the Passover, the popular annual festival of
their race and nation, similar to our Fourth
of July. 1t was observed as the anniversary
of the Hebrew nation, and commemorated
the deliverance of the children of Israel from
Egyptian bondage. The name of the festi-
val is derived from the recorded circum-
stance that the plague which destroyed the
first born of the Egyptians, and constrained
Pharaoh, the king, to permit Moses to lead
his people out of the land, spared, or passed
over, the homes of the Israelites (see Exodus
xii. 1-14). While it was national festival,
the Passover feast was observed by families,
or companies sufficiently large to entirely
consume the prescribed lamb. The inhab-
itants of Jerusalem, where the Passover was
annually observed, provided rooms in their
homes where the visiting friends and stran-
gers might prepare and eat the passover.
The skin of the lamb and the vessels from
which the supper was served, were deemed
sufficient compensation for the privilege.
The anniversary celebration continued about
a week, beginning with the Memorial Sup
per, which was eaten at full moon after the
yernal Equinox, corresponding very nearly
with the first of April. The Passover supper
described in our Lesson occurred on Thurs
day evening, but the day of the month, or
year, are not certainly known (see Study
March 1I.
THE PREPARATION.-When the dis
course on the Mount of Olives was spoken,
the close of which comprised our last Lesson,
JESUS and his disciples went probably to
Bethany, where they we're accustomed to
lodge when visiting Jerusalem. From Mat
thew and Mark it would appear that the sup
per in the house of Simon the leper, when
JESUS was anointed with costly ointment,
occurred at this time (6-13; Mark xiv. 3-9).
But John appears to place it earlier xii. 1-o).
Either John, or Matthew and Mark, have re-
corded that event out of its chronological
order. Scholars differ, and we do not VEN
ture an opinion here. JESUS and his disci-
Piles did not return to Jerusalem on the morn
ing of Thursday, which was the first day of
the Passover festival, called "the feast of
unleavened bread" that being the prescribed
bread for the occasion. 1t was a day of prep
aration for the memorial supper which would
be eaten on the next day,-the Jewish day
beginning at sunset. In the afternoon pre-
ceding the Passover all leaven was removed
from the houses of the Israelites, and unleav
ened loaves, or cakes, we're baked to be used
during the festival, and the paschal lamb
was approved by the priests and prepared for
the supper. On this day JESUS requested
Peter and John to make the necessary prep.
aration that he might eat the Passover with
his disciples, giving them directions to find,
and obtain permission to use, certain fur
nished chamber in the city, which they did
duke xxi. 8-13). This large chamber may
have been in the house of disciple and
friend of JESUS, with whom he had arranged
for its use. Afterward it may have been
used by the disciples as their abode and
place of assembly (see Luke xiv. 80; John
Xxx. 10, 26; Acts i. 13).