The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-05-05
THE SUPPER.

A S0RR0WFUL 0CCASI0N.-On Thurs
day evening after sunset,-the beginning of
Friday,-JEsUs and his twelve apostles re-
clined together and alone around the table to
partake of the Passover. Though his great
desire to partake of this, his last Passover,
with his chosen disciples luke xxi. 15) was
being realized, it was not an occasion of un-
alleged delight. The disciples manifested
their jealous ambition for place and position
by passionate controversy as to which of
them should be thought the greater (Luke
xii. 24) concerning, it may be, the relative
places they should occupy at the table, or
who should be the servant of the occasion.
JESUS rebuked their unworthy desire to out
rank one another by assuming himself the
form of a servant and washing their feet
(John xiii. 1-l6), teaching them the true eeti-
mate of the dignity of life luke xxi. 25-27).
They were distressed by his announcement
that one of their company should betray him
to be crucifed. He had already announced
that he would be delivered to be cruciied at
the Passover. He now declares that one of
his apostles is his betrayer. JESUS rebuke
of their selfish ambition appears to have
made some impression upon them. They do
not now appear to esteem each himself bet
ter than another. They seem, at least, to ask
their Masters declaration of their innocence:
"Lord, it is not L. is it?" was asked in turn
by all. JESUS appears to have made only the
indefinite reply that one who dipped his hand
with him in the dish was the betrayer. As
they were eating all had probably dipped
II 49, - lsnk
of bitter sauce with which the paschal lamb
was eaten, or had taken a portion of the
lamb from the dish upon which it was served.
JESUS continues to declare in substance that
his death if not his betrayal, would be in full
fillment of Scripture, (see Psalm xii. 8; Isa-
iah lii. 7-9), and expresses strong compass
sion for his betrayer: ALAS [woel for that
man through whom the Son of Man is be-
trayedl Good we're it for him if he had never
been born!" The evil deeds of evil men may
appear to have accomplished a divine pur-
pose, but evil doors will not thereby be &C
counted guiltless, or escape the consequences
of their outlines. The declaration of JESUS
determines nothing whatever concerning the
final fate of Judas who betrayed his Master,
nor against the saving merits of his appa-
rently genuine repentance (xxvii. 3-5). 1t
was proverbial expression which means, at
most, that it would have been better not to
have been born, and missed the advantages
of living in the world, than to have lived and
incurred the guilt and shame of such a deed.
There is 10 reference to consequences be-
yond this life. Whatever may be the expe-
rience of Judas in another world, it is certain
that his name in this world is forever infa-
nous, and for his earthly life and fame it
would have been good, if not better, had he
not been born.
Good not to hare been born.-As to the
particular expression in the next two things
may be said; first, il ia well known that the
jews were in the habit of saying, at had
been good for that man had he not been
born, "-it was a common expression of the
day, in speaking of transgressors. and did
not by any means imply belief in the final
destruction or damnation of the person spo-