Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-05-11
THE LORDS SUPPER.
LESSON VII, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATlONAL SERIES, MAY 10.


CONDENSED from Lesson Helper Quarterly. by
permission of H. s. Hoffman, Philadelphia pub
lisher.l
Notes.-V. II. First day, Passover feast
lasted seven days Unleavened bread, that
is, bread without yeast or rising V. Is.
Time at hand, time of his passion. " 20.
Even was come, about o'clock Sat down,
reclined on divans. V. 81. Betray, deliver
up. v %. Thou hast said, is equivalent to
saying, Eyes, you know what you say is
So" V. 2S. Testament, covenant V. 30.
Sung hymn, the Hallel Psalms cxv-cxviii
were sung at every Passover.
In this lesson we behold the Lord sitting
down with his disciples under the old dispen.
sation to celebrate its last Passover. and
arising from the table under the new dispen-
sation, with the Lords supper instituted.
There is point in this lesson which marks
the death of the old and the birth of the new
and better economy of things.
V. L. The Passover is called 'the feast of
unleavened bread" because leavened bread
was excluded during the whole seven DAYS
that it lasted. The entire passion and death
of Christ. and many precions truths con-
nected with his redemptive work. are sym.
bolzed by the Passover
The movement for the observance of the
Passover originated on this occasion with the
disciples. They came to Jesus asking him
where they should make preparations for its
observance 1t was Jesus custom to observe
the feast. The disciples were concerned
about making ready for it.. A chamber had
to be secured; tables with couches or divans
prepared; the paschal lamb had to be bought.
slain at the temple between and 5 o'clock
in the afternoon Of Thursday, then taken to
private dwelling and cooked; bread, bitter
herbs and wine were required The work of
preparation was given to Peter and John.
V. Is. They were directed to go to Jeru-
salem, where they would meet man bear
ing pitcher who would render them valu
able aid The direction and subsequent
events show that Jesus was omniscient. In
the great crowds of people that filed Jer,l-
salem, the right man would be distinguished
The man was to be told that Jesus time was
at hand" Neither the disciples nor this man
understood the deep significance of these
words for they referred to the time of
Christ's suffering and DEATH by which souls
were to be ransomed from sin and death.
" 49, 1t was blind sort of errand upon
which the disciples We're to go. They asked
no questions, but in full faith on Christ's
word they went We, like these disciples.
and like Abraham, are hidden of God to do
things which our reason cannot understand.
Faith, however, goes forward.
" 20, 81. The paschal lamb was killed
about 3 O'Clock in the afternoon, and was
eaten after the setting of the sun, and often
in the night. Originally the supper was
taken standing. In time the reclining post
ure, as at other meals, was adopted. John
occupied the place next to Jesus, and Judas
may have been on the other side of him
Our Lord and the twelve disciples were n
full paschal company, ten persons was the
minimum number. As they were taking
their places at the table strife arose among
them as to who should be greatest. In con
sequence of this, at the time for the washing
of hands, Jesus arose from the table and
washed his disciples feet, teaching them
lesson of humility.
V. % The effect of the announcement
upon the disciples is described in this verse
V. %. 1.-The Jews, at the Passover used
bitter sauce, made of lunches of raisins
mixed with vinegar and other seasoning
which they said represented the clay which
their fathers were compelled to use in Egypt
in making brick, thus reminding them of
their bitter bondage there. This was prob
made BARNES
V. "a. 1.-The Son of Man goeth." Among
the Hebrews the expression "man goeth"
meant death Hence Jesus states that he
will die in fulfillment of prophecy, and that
while his death was not the result of acct
dent, there was still a terrible punishment
to be meted out to his betrayer. If it be
asked how the crime of Judas is SO great
when it was determined beforehand that
Jesus should be betrayed, it may be an
swered; LIST. The previous purpose of God
did not force Judas. He acted freely He
did what his own wicked heart prompted
him. I'd. The crime was what it was in
itself apart from any determination of God.
ID. A previous knowledge of a thing does
not alter its nature. 4th. God, who is the
best judge of the nature of the crime holds
all that was done in crucifying the Saviour
to be by wicked hands, Acts ii, % Sinners
cannot take shelter for their sins in the de-
crees of God or plead them as excuses. God
will punish crimes for what they are in
themselves.
V. 25 To ward off suspicion, Judas nerved
himself to break his silence and asks this
shameful question The others had in low
ing reverence said, Lord, is it II Judas
uses the more formal title, master, is it III
The straw tells which way the wind blows.
V. 2G Sometime during the feast. Jesus
took the thin cake of unleavened bread. and
as was the wise and pious custom, blessed
it," or gave thanks. The breaking of the
bread was intended to represent how Christ's
body would be broken and bruised for our
sins. This is my body" The bread was to
remind them of him, and the sufferings and
death he should SO soon endure.
V. q After the regular Passover was con-
cluded the Lords Supper was instituted. The
first communicates were very imperfect men.
Poor unlearned, weak in faith, they still
loved Jesus They knew very little about the
frailty Of their own hearts. They thought
they were willing to die for Christ and yet
that very night they all forsook him and fled.
Peter, their spokesman, denied him with
oaths, that night. How merciful the Lord
was in giving the elements to suchl No
graceless person should come to the Lords
Supper. But we must 1T the same time not
reject whom Christ would receive Do we
love Jesusi That is the main question
V. 2s The ''cup" was the type or emblem
of his blood, his life which he laid down as
the atonement for sin.