The National tribune., 1895-04-18
3. The Passover.

All the provisions required for the Passover
| feast must be completely consumed. and great
| care was taken to secure enough attendants
| at each Passover feast to insure the eating Of
all food on the table. At times a number o
| adults, without reference to family relation
| constituted group for the observance to.
| gethsr of the Passover. SO, in the case of oul
| Savior, the domestic feature was dropped, and
he, with his IL Apostles. secured a room and ar.
| ranged to partake together of the pascal feast
It was necessary to secure place. Jesus
with the IL. was at Bethany. He purpossd
keeping the Passover in Jerusalem. The city
was crowded, and it was very difficult to secure
conveniences. Providence evidently had much
to do in planning for that particular celebra.
ton. No true jew would slight the feast.
The time was very near at hand. The Disoi-
pies were becoming concerned about what ar
rangements could he effected for their con-
venient celebration Of the grand National rite.
Christ had said nothing about it. The Disci-
pies think it time something be done, and
solcitousy approach Christ for instructions.
The Apostolic compsnyshad no home there
about. and must secure,n suitable place. AS
soon as the Disciples raise the question: Christ
is ready for plan. TherehYasnn upper room "
(St Mark. ID: Is. in certain house of the city
Of Jerusalem not yet engaged. 1t must be Sc
cured at once Two Apostles are chosen "a
committee to engage it--tSts., Peter and job n.
st. Luke, 22:8 But how shall they know the
house2 Jerusalem was q very largo city, and
during the Passover greatly overcrowded. A
sign was given to the two Disciples. Not q
long distance within from the gate of the city
water-carrier would chance to be going along
just as tho two Disciples passed into the me-
tropolis. Women usually carried the water for
domestic services, but for the crowds men
would be called into use. The Disciples were
instructed to follow the water carrier, and a.
sured that the desired room would be one of
those in the house of the water carriers mas.
ter. Not long after their entering the city
gate, on came the water carrier. Following
they soon reached tho designated house. The
proprietor responded at once to the solicitation
of the Disciples. Some think he was a secret
friend of Christ, as was Joseph Of Arimathea.
st. John, 49, 80.
We may suppose the Savior sent the two
Disciples from Bethany on the morning Of
Thursday. The pascal lamb was to be killed
at about o'clock Thursday evening an hour
which, according Jewish reckoning, closed
Thursday and began Friday, the Hebrews be-
ginning their days at shutdown. That was the
18th of the month Nissan (the Hebrew name
for said month";, or as we reckon, Thursday,
March IL, A. ID. 20, somewhere about p. m.
1t is said the room was furnished. 1t was
ready for use 80 far as concerned tables,
couches, dishes, cups, basin (St. John, ID: 81,
JUWclo, SlC 1uOuBH III Whb Uuub
and prepared +" (St. Mark, Il: 15). yet it was
necessary to make ready for the Passover. A
lamb must be bought, taken to the Temple,
killed, returned to the house ("upper room W,
roasted. Bread and wine were to be secured.
The table was to be arranged.
A. Suggestions.
1. Keep our Passover. Celebrate the Holy
Communion. Make ready for 1t by proper
meditation and determination.
2. Notice the value Of Christian company and
of associated labor. Two by two-Sts. Peter
and John together-is a helpful plan. (St.
Matt, 81: i; st. Mark, 6:7; Etc., 4: 9-12.)
3. Obey Christ. Go whittier he suggests.
Follow his directions. They may seem strange
and improbable, but they will be found all
right. He knows. foreknows, all things, and
issues commands intelligently
A. Be hospitable. In special be pleased to
furnish facilities for worship.
II. THE PASSOVER MEAL.
1. Data.
Read st. Matt. 1920; st. Mark, IL: II; 81.
Luke %: l4-I7; ST. John, 1871.
g Time and Place.
We may put the time the same as in the para
graph above, save that we move along about,
say, one hour, to o'clock. See "hour," st.
Luke, %: IA. Compare Deu.. 16: 6. st. Matt,
&c 30, shows that it was 1.-THE even" This
was the day Tor EVENING" before the Feast of
the Passover. st. John. IS: /. As Jews began
the day ii was Friday, for their days began at
o'clock p. m. Hence our lesson is put on the
evening before our Savior's crucifxion. THE
departing out OF the world st. John, 10: u
refers to his decease and not to his ascension.
Hence it was not Christ's final departure. For
ages before he had desired to bear the cross in
the interest Of humanity: yea, even before man
was created and fell from holiness Jesus desired
to effect salvation, and determined to do so
when the time should arrive. At times during
his life he gave intimation of this purpose
His incarnation of 333 years was his desire con-
GREETED. materaiZed. We see foregleaming of
Christ's approach TO the cross in his words to
Salome a week before our lesson. St. Mt.
20: 20. His exclamation about two hours after
our lesson. in Gethsemane pointed in the same
direction. He realized the terribleness Of his
and destiny, and. though shrink
ing from mere human apprehensions yet there
was no power could reprcss his all-absorbing
desire.
3. The Company.
The Passover group consisted Of Christ and
his IL Apostles. st. Lu., 20: IA.
A. Suggestions.
1. Christ knows all about us. st. John, 10: I.
No care nor sorrow nor pain OF ours can escape
his knowledge and sympathy.
2. Love permanently, or TO the end. st. John,
Il. Be not tickle in affection. 1t is we'll for
your associates if dependence can be placed on
your heart
3. Realize your mission. Find 1t out. Be
an xious to effect it. st. Lu., %: Is.
4. Render thanks at tho table for your food
and drink. st. Lu., 90: II
o. BE not blunt in talk. Cultivate the en-.
phemistic in all unpleasant revelations. Orna-
menting death even, is better than hideeus, |
offensive description. Tie morals of rhetoric
are worthy our study.