The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-05-26
The Passover


ece-note OF the last "song of de-
5" Our feet shall stand within
Nv gates, 0 Jerusalem" Green
booths and snowy tents dotted all
the valley and slopes around the city,
and three millions worshipers made
ready for the morrow. Over two
hundred thousand lambs had been
purchased and marked for sacrifice,
and all the details of the joyous festi-
val were being attended to.
Jesus tarried yet in the sweet and
restful seclusion of Bethany; but His
disciples knew very well that H who
had said, Thus it becometh Me to
fulfill all righteousness would not
ignore the great Paschal. The ques-
ton was not if He would eat it, but
where He would do so. Two of the
disciples are at once commissioned
to make the necessary preparations.
They are sent with sealed orders, no
doubt, to keep the traitor off their
track. Not one of the remaining ten
could possibly divine the place until
they arrived there in the evening
A man doing a woman's work Garry
ing water would be novelty enough
TO serve them as sign. Jesus babe
the messengers ask for lowly place,
some hallway. He will fain make the
circuit As He spent His first night
on earth in "a lodging so He would
fain to spend His last one He knows
beforehand, however, that His name
less but well TO do disciple, John
Marks father, perhaps, will give Him
the best his stately manor affords.
The disciples are off at once upon
their errand. They find it as Jesus
had said. The proprietor of the
house gladly places at their disposal
spacious room, capable of holding
hundred paschal parties They
shall haye it in completest privacy.
1t is in the second story which will
add to their seclusion. It's walls have
been freshly whitened, and tile. floor
L
low, gayly-painted table is already in
position, with the touches forming
three sides of hollow square about
it. The hanging lamps, dishes, basin
and water jars, all are in position.
The disciples view the place with
grateful satisfaction, and then hurry
70 make the necessary purchases
q wine, the cakes of unleavened
Dread; the vinegar, salt and bitter
herbs; the nuts, raisins apples, and
almons to make the compost of, re,
minder of the clay in the brickyards
Of Egypt; and most important of sll
the year-old lamb. One of them car
ried the lamb on his shoulders, the
sacrificial knife sticking in its fleece
or tied TO its horns. At two O'Clock
in the afternoon, at sound of trumpet
blast, with all others who had been
similarly commissioned, thew went
into the inner court of the temple
At three blasts, they, with thousands
of others, struck the death-blow to
their victims while the priest caught
the blood in a golden vessel, and
passed up to the high altar AS the
disciples held the lamb upon a stick
that rested upon their shoulders, it
was quickly flayed. The parts de-
voted to God were separated; then
wrapping the victim in its own skin,
they started for the house where they
were to celebrate the feast. The car
cass, trussed upon skewers of pome-
granate in shape of cross, was baked
in the household oven.
At shutdown, Jesus, with the Ten,
approached the city. knowing well
where He would find the waiting dis
cples and the supper room. They
enter, and the Master views the prep
= arations with evident satisfaction.
The three first stars are shining now,
and the silver trumpets signal the
feast to begin. Shame, shame! The
unseemly dispute as to precedence
breaks out once more as the disciples
scram Die for the most eligible places.
Jesus rebukes them in an acted par
able, performing for them the mental
task of a scullery drudge. Now the
paschal banquet begins. The ritual
is used, the rubrics observed. The
cup is passed with Thanksgiving.
Bitter herbs, dipped in vinegar, are
eaten in remembrance of Egypt.
The unleavened bread, with a bit of
the roasted lamb upon it is taken, by
each. Another cup is passed. There
is the customary hand washing.
Jesus, as the symposiarch, discourses
upon the significance of the feast.
They break out in the joyous singing
e first part of Halle. (Psa. cxiii-
~ The third and last cup goes
rom hand to hand, and then they
sing the second part of the Hallel.
(Psa. cXv- cxviii.)
At times through the feast, Jesus