The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-06-23

greatness Il that of love, obedience,
humility. and service. And there
can be nothing capricious i'll this.
To the fit seat the fitted person only
can come, Those nearest the King
can reach their station only by the
path the King Himself has taken.
Lesson VIII.
Perhaps we emphasize dispropor-
tionately the sadness of the Last
Supper. Jesus, as host, would not
allow the occasion 70 wholly lose its
festive character. 1t was a goodly
scene that the well-trimmed lamps
shOne down upon. The fresh turbans
animated faces, the table covered
and well supplied, make a study to
delight painter. The feast extend
ed over several hours, and only the
somber incidents are recorded.
There must have been much Joyous
converse as well. All that remained
of the paschal ritual was the blessing
of praises with which it was always
closed. They were all expecting it,
The invocation could not but be no
ticed by those who had followed one
program annually from the time
when they We're ten years old. In
stead of lifting His hand in benedic-
tion, Jesus reached oyer to the dish
of unleaYened bread upon the table,
and taking up piece, He rose from
the mat, and blessed il, and, as He
passed from one to another, He broke
it, giving each morsel, saving.
Take eat; this is Ny body" Then
He filed cup, and, again giving
thanks, and | assing it from one to
another, He said, "Thss is NY blood
of the new covenant, which is shed
for many for the remission of sins"
Then followed His words of institu-
ton, This do in remembrance of
Me-"
Lesson TX.
Jesus before Plate is without ques-
ton the most remarkable scene ever
witnessed in any court of law. Pi-
late's chief business as Roman offici-
al was to keep peace during the great
cOnvOcatlon of the Passover week
Imagine then bis feelings when the
feast, being at its height and the city
crammed to its utmost capacity with
a Heterogeneous throng from every
quarter, there appeared at the portal
of his palace a mob headed by the
high priest and all worked to the
highest pitch of religious frenzy. The
cOlloquy between PLATE and Jesus
and between PLATE and the Jews is
an anatomy of the human heart
The vacious emotions of which it is
susceptible, good and evil, are all laid
bare as with scalpel. Pilates racial
prejudice, his sense of justice, his
timeserving spirit, his superstition,
are exposed. The malignant hatred,
fierce devotion to the existing ecclesi-
astical establishment, self-interested
antagonism to the innovator, willing
ness to eXpatriate themselves if they
can only compass the death of Jesus
all are portrayed true to life. The
absolute self-possession of Jesus, His
dignitied Indifference to the proceed
ings, the bearing of who had already
appealed His case to the courts of
heaven; His courtesy toward PLATE,
in which, however, there in an indie
pendence which PLATE himself does
not fail to see; physical endurance of
the scourge, moral fortitude in en-
during the scourge of the human
tongue-in it all, behold the Man
Lesson Y.
The narrative of the crucitixion is
surprisingly condensed. There is no
spinning out of details, no obtrusion
of personal opinion and sentiments of
the narrators. Here is an incidental
suggestion of how Calvary should be
approached. 1t is not a theme for
volubility. There should be no striv.
ing to magnify its painful horrors or
to compare the physical sufferings of
its victim With those of others. A
spiritual Interpretation is the thing
desirable. a personal appropriation
by faith is great riches.
Lesson XI.
Had the evangelists laid down their
pens before narrating the resurrec-
ton, it would not be a passing sensa-
ton regret which the universal HUI
man heart would feel. 1t would have
been torn asunder between faith and
doubt. There is so much upon the
sacred page to indicate Divinity, but
the glorious seal to it would be lack
ing. The unfinished mystery of
Jesus would have plunged each sue
ceeding generation of readers into
grief and despair. The lament of the
disciples on the wav tO Emmous