The National tribune., 1895-04-18
III. CHRIsr's PREDICTION OF Hrs BETRAYAL,
l. When and Where

We pass on for but few hours. The prepa-
| rRtions for the Passover were made during the
| daytime Of Thursday. Meantime the Savior
| and his Disciples have left Bethany, two miles
| from jerusalem. and entered into the Capital.
Sts Peter and John probably returned to Beth
| any, informing Christ they had secured suit
| able place. Or, possibly, to save the two walk
of four miles. Christ with the 10 Disciples. had
| gone into Jerusalem and entered the house
where he was to celebrate the Passover. IL is
| plain he knew the particular place, aud could
| readily join SITS. Peter and John there.
| All things were ready. The ID were together.
| First of all, Christ told the ~ how anxious he
| had been thus to meet them at that feast.
| How weak were the Apostles Under such
| solemn circumstances they fell into strife ss
| to which would become greatest. To set mat
ters right Jesus proceeded to wash the feet OF
all the 10.
Christ, knowing all things, becomes pressed
down with the thought one of the II is to
betray him.
Read the four accounts-st. Matt, 26. 81 -25;
st. Mark, IA: 1921; st. Luke, %: 21-23; st.
John, ID: 21-28. They throw light on each
other. Road them for tho same reason that
God gave them.
8. The Betrayal
The ancients attached much Importance to
distinctions at table. We recall the parable OF
the Sitting (ordor Of arrangement) of Guests
in Dining-ball. st. Luke, 14:7-11. 1t Is
possible the IL got into a dispute as to tho
positions they should occupy at the Passover
feast suggesting to Christ the objeCt-teaching
lesson. to wit, the washing Of the Disciples
feet.
AS they sat-" St. Mark, II: Is. 1t was
an Oriental custom to reclne as couches
while partaking of meals. Romans and Greeks
alike and also Jews followed the same prac-
tice. We hence understand by "sat," reclined
The words of Christ" One of you shall be-
tray mo must have been surprise to the
eleven, while the guilty one must have WINGED
with such evident signs of his treaehery az
well nigh to betray him to the rest. But Judas
was wonderfully self-pOssessed. We admire
the question Of each of tho Disciples: Is 1t
~" It had better sound than would have been
the inquiry (which one of US is it?" Each
know whether he was was not the one.
Why did each ask We can hardly think they
distru5ted themselves. Probably each wanted
to clear himself of the least suspicion. They
could not rest content till the matter was set
tied. The question was pressed by st. Peter
and further urged by st. John. At length
Christ specifically indicated the guilty one. 1t
was Judas.
4. Suggestions
/. Never be treacherous. Never turn against
friend. Never betray confidence. Friend
snip Is TOO precious Ior SAFE In tne vulgar mAr'
ket.
2. Notice the principle of mediation. We get
many things through the special influence OF
persons nearest to those from whom we would
solicit favors. st. John, IL: % %.
~. THE LORDS SUPPER.
The Passover merged into the Holy En-.
charist Jesus ended the ono and original
cd the other. The first Holy Communion
was celebrated on the Thursday evening
first preceding the Day on which our
Savior was crucfed, now kept ia mind on
Good Friday. Itis the custom of some relig-
ious bodies to have each year anniversary
celebration on Thursday evening of Holy
Week, or the week just before Easter. re-
membranes of the SOLEMN circumstances of the
first Lords Supper would render each repeti-
ton of 1t the moro impressive Churches with
rituals ordinarily develop this history and add
to the interest Of the Holy Communion. And,
indeed, the history is ordinarily referred to in
extemporaneous euGharistio services.