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

60 "a N#AA -7h''At s+'NOf 'Df
i puzzle, for even the best of us reads In
his features so much of our own likeness.
W. would know more about Judas. Doubt
less he was one of the contentious strivcrs
after the place of crninence. He had in
him q streak of sordidness. which even
association with Jesus and the disciples
did not obliterate-a startling example of
how one may still grow worse among Tie
best Influences. an ever recurring paradox
which is constantly perplexing good peo-
PIX. Judas loved money. With him money
was apparently the root of all his evil.
While John and James had planned to
hive the places OF highest honor in the
ttmpolal kingdom which they thought
Jesus had come to establish. the mind of
Judas was bent upon the treasury of the
uew kingdom. Many sins have wounded
J,sus in many WAYS. but 1t was covetous-
ness which betrayed him. The man or the
woman who is tempted TO love money I'M
duly may sec in Judas an example of
how this one passion may choke all the
higher and finer sentiments and make
possible conduct from which at first they
would have shrunk in horror.
A MEMORIAL SUPPER.
The departure of Judas seemed to lift a
load Of constraint from the Master 5 mind.
He spoke more freely to the remaining
eleven. and with none of the note of ques-
tioning and uncertainty and hesitancy
which seemed to have marked his earlier
discourses. Christ could not utter those
words which we find in the thirteenth,
fourteenth, fifteenth. sixteenth and sew
entcenth chapters of Johns gospel while
Judas was by his side. Nothing chills sem
sitive spirits like "A hostile presence. Seem
ing to gather closer in fellowship with his
friends. Jesus began to institute the new
| memorial supper. He broke the bread and
poured the wine, and offered it to them in
token of another and greater covenant
than that which his father had made
with Israel, down in Egypt. AS the pass
over had been In memory of a great sal
walton, so the Lords supper was insti-
tuted in memory of Il greater.
DIR. Alexander McLaren emphasizes this
memorial aspect of the ceremony then In
stituted by Christ.
Jesus laid his hand on that ancient
rite, and diverted 1t. with conscious, d.
| vine authority, from its original reference,
saying thereby. Forget Egypt and that
imperfect. shadowy deliverance. and re-
member my redeeming work: forget the
lamb sacrificed and remember me- What
must he lave thought of himself who
thus calmly brushed aside the venerable.
God appointed rite, or, rather. lifted 1t
up into 4 higher region. but at all events.
changed its message and presented HIM
self and his work as the object of men,
DRY and trust for all men? His act was
unparalleled audacity and insane overesti-
mht lie of himself unless he indeed was 1.-The
lamb of God that taketh away the sin of
the world
And amid how many varied. sacred
me- lord and his disciples at his OWL va,
HES. with the high elation of innocence
and dreams. young girls have p%artaken
of their first communion. 1t has been the
comfort of the dying. the strength of the
prosecuted and the tempted, the inspira-
ton OF the missionary, the symbol of
higher things to men whose lot is cast
amid earthly surroundings. Often 1t has
been observed with cathedral pomp, but
as truly kept when grimy soldiers knelt
upon the bare ground to receive from the
hands of their chaplain these tokens of
the Masters sacrifice. Every mmunion
should fill the participants heart with
thoughts OF the risen redeemer and the
first Lords supper. hat is its first pur-
pose, to make warm and vivid the
memory of Jesus, the tender. compassion-
ate Saviour, human, as we'll as divine,
yearning for the love of his friends. While
the sacrament looks backward thus. 1t
also points forward to the marriage sup
per Of the lamb, when Master and disci-
pies will drink anew the fruit Of the vine
In the fathers kingdom.
OUT INTO THE NIGHT.
The lesson gives us a glimpse Of the
lords passion, but shows us the broken
hearted of the man of sorrows. Yet the
record runs that when the supper ended
they sung a hymn. That's Christ's way,
and the way he teaches a disciple. There
is never any hour go bitter thai he cannot
sing a hymn. With shame and death be-
fore him. he can go bravely forth with a
song Of praise upon his lips. This is what
battles the world in Christianity. 1t was
the riddle which the Romans could not
solve-Christian martyrs awaiting the
death Of the arena with songs of peace
and rejoicing. He who would meet his
trials in Christlike fashion must meet
them, not railing at his fate or in blind
submission. but strongly and songfully.
There Is never an experience which can
not be faced. as Jesus faced Calvary and
Gethsemane. with a ong of praise to Je-
hoyah.