Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-06-02
FEAST AND A TRAITOR

A FEAST AND A TRAiTUk
To this day loyal Jews all over th'
world celebrate with the rites prescribed
in the book of Exodus the passing over
ly the angel OF The Lord of the Hebrew
homes. when he smoie the first born Of
Egypt. The occasion is the greatest one
y of the year 10 a jew. For thousands OF
years the custom has been kept sacred
even In exile and amid persecution. Jesus
as 1 Jew with his disciples planned 10 Gel.
ebraSe this feast. l. was a momentous
occasion for the young rabbi. because he
knew THAI It was his last passover: tina,
1t was indeed the last passover that need
ever be celebrated. For he. the Liant
slain before the foundation OF the world.
was TO be the new pascal offering.
PREPARING THE FEAST.
This greatest thoughts that burned IL
his brain - he journei from Bethany 10
Jerusalem 70. this last supper We're not
understood by his disciples. nor can they
be Imagined by those who would interpret
Them II the light OF subsequent events.
The shadow OF treason lurked over the
little company. ana that he might. for the
! last time, foil his enemies and keep in IN
interrupted sec.usion. this memorial,
which with desire he had desired to cat
wiki his friends. Jesus had arranged for
a room in the city. and he sent two of
his disciples ahead to make 1t ready.
There was q touch of mystery about the
manner Of finding the appointed room
the meeting with the man bearing the
pitcher. the indefinite message to him,
and his prompt understanding Of it
which should have helped the slow-witted
disciples TO understand that this was no
ordinary passover.
Tho eri,,la LODI tho .lic.intnc RI u larun
upper room. furnished. and here. all I'M
knowing the sacredncss that would at
tach to the scene. the disciples mad
ready the Jewish passover feast. That
upper room has become one of the sacred
spots OF earth. more dear to millions than
the ancient temple with its glories. 1t
shares with Calvary and Gethsemane the
sanci,y of the Masters passion. The
large upper room is where devout souls,
throughout the ages since, who would
with Jesus as he opened his
heart, have been wont to resort In spirit.
sQUABBLING SAINTS.
Imbued as the spot 10 with sancity to
later disciples, that first band of closet
friends of the Master were blind to its
peculiar solemnity. They We're of the
earth. earthly. Into that chamber, on
that occasion, they took all their small
and ignorant and sordid ambitions, and
| We tlloi IL SptCtdClt, lIiuS iIiCOIIiPit-
hensiblc. Jesus, with unwonted tender
ness. and. with a hunger for human SYM
patny which could not be silenced, was
| opening up to them his heart of hearts.
With yearning tenderness he told them
| how he had looked forward to this occa-
sion. the last time he should eat the pass
| over with them until 1t should be ful-
| filed in the Kingdom of God. Even while
I nc Spoke ms Srfi,iu tvnss .rscrfupt-
ed by harsh and angry mutterings, break
ing out into open strife. They were quar-
rcling as to which should be counted the
| greatest and contending for the seats of
honor. The persistence of selfish human
nature in spite of all the means of grace
and of Chr;st's presence Is one of the
marvels of religion, as well as one of the
| crosses Of the Christian. Patiently. as a
father with little children who will not
learn. Jesus again undertook the repeat
ed task of trying to show them that great
ness comes by worth and service and not
by mere place. II am in the midst of
you as he that serveth,' were his memoir
able words, and then with self a~bnegation
passing comprehension, he took u basin
and towel, and g.rding himself began to
wash the feet of these sQuabbling, self
esteeming disciples, and the words with
which he concluded this eloquent act
were: II have given you an example that
We also should do as 1 " done to you"
WITH n fOe.
This small-souled selfishness and petty
ambition of the men whom he was train
ing into his character to carry on his
work were not the only bitter experiences
of this last supper eaten beneath the
ado of the cross. After the feet
washing Jesus began to be troubled in
spirit because overwhelmed with the con-
sciousness that by his side sat a traitor.
Verify. I say unto you that one of you
shall betray me-" Surely these startling
words banished from the minds of the
disciples all thoughts of place. TIL re-
cent lesson in humility was apparently in
their thoughts as in questioning denial
they replied to him: lis 1t !. Lord? Is 1t
II" What a Upon their frailty.
that. even in the Masters presence they
were not sure of themselves!
To an. oriental-and 1t Is always to be
remembered that these scenes were enact
ed in the orient-the subsequent words OF
Jesus were still more accusative: HE
that dipped his hand with me In the dish.
the am shall betray me-" An oriental
Is bount by the law Of bread and salt. HI
will not hurt the man with whom he has
caster. But here was one Of the twelve.
closest comrades of this wonderful
Teacher who was proving recreant to all
the fundamental laws of hospitality and
loyalty. Small wonder that Jesus cried
and the words must have held the sound
Of doom to guilty ears-"woe unto that
man through whom the Son Of Man IL be-
trayed! Good were 1t for that man II he
had not been born" Yes. n woe unto
all Of US who lave enrolled among the
disciples Of this same Jesus. who have
worn the badge of his service. who have
shared in his Fellowship. who have par
taken Of his special mercy n yet who, In
craven fear or covetousness have denied
him, our Lord.
. JUDAS AND JESUS.
Among those who cried. "Is It /. Lord?'
the voice Of Judas was the loudest. bu
when Jesus secretly ~cOnveye to him hi
knowledge of tho .raitorous designs ant
had uttered the heartbroken challenge
THAT tho doest, do quickly" Juda,
skunk forth into the night, to traffic with
the priests. the enemies Of Jesus. for hi
betrayal to them.
This man Judas has been one OF the pug
.-N. 49, 49,