The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-24

WASIiING.-Lcsson 8. The most sur
prising. and in many ways the most in
structive, single event in the life of Jesus
was the feet Washing In the upper room
at Jerusalem. few well meaning but
mistaken persons have elevated it into
an ordinance which they endeavored to
perpetuate in the church, thereby miss
ing its great significance. The ambitious
disputings of the apostles, as they wero
about to be seated at the table, furnished
the occasion. our Lord, intending to
teach them humility, arose from the
feast and proceeded to perform an ablu-
tion for each of the company, the service
usually rendered by the lowest house SER
wants. In thus laying aside His dignity
for the time being He did not sustain any
loss of their respect, neither has poster
ity regarded Him with less favor. on
the contrary the act proves that the man
Is more than the station he fills, a truth
which needs to be repeated through all
the centuries, not less in the church than
elsewhere, but truth which most men
are slow to learn. Ever the struggle is
for place, forgetful that the highest honor
is to serve.
COMFORTING.-Lesso 4, 5, and 6
present the three methods by which Jesus
comforts His followers: first, by instruc-
tive words; second, by spiritual presence;
third, by vital union-the three modes
always needed because of mans constitu-
ton. He is an intellectual being and
needs truth; he is a social being and
needs companionship. Lesson invites
| faith as an antidote to every form of
| trouble, and promises a heavenly home
as the ground of hope. The questions Of
| Thomas and Philip showed that they
were hardly ready for such high themes,
and to meet their condition Jesus ex-
of no ri nj
added certain teaching on the subject of
| prayer. Lesson 8, while ii dealt with a
more abtruse matter might be more
easily received by disciples who had
| been Jews. They were informed that
after the departure of Jesus. the Com
! forter would come to them, invisible in
deed but none the less surely present
| That Comforter would be more to the
| disciplines than Jesus had been, nearer
| to them, abiding with them. explaining
| His words, leading them into all truth.
| Lesson brought out under the figure of
vine what is most of all sustaining to
the believer that he is Joined to the
| Lord.
| SUFFERING. Z, 8, 9, and 10
show the suffering of Christ. There was
| the treachery of q trusted friend, called
to be an apostle, and the obloquy of a
midnight arrest as q criminal, followed
| by the desertion of all those whom He
| had gathered about Him. whom He ex-
pected to perpetuate His cause. There
was not the appearance before the Of
| ficials of the Jewish church, the men
who supervised the religious interests OF
| the nation and His condemnation as a
| blasphemer. There was the arraign-
ment at the bar of Plate, the mock trial,
! the acquittal, the abuse, the clamor OF
the mob, the delivery to the soldiers to
be executed. There was finally the death
by crucifxion, the most painful and ig-
noble that could be inflicted. attended
by circumstances that were heart-rend-
ing and revolving. What a cup of suffer
ing was this! In it were mingled mental
physical, social, personal distresses be.
yond the power of the tongue to des-
cribe or the imagination to conceive