The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-04-27
Jesus Washing the
Disciples Feet
Sunday School Lesson for Apr. 80. 1905
Specially Prepared for This Paper

GOLDEN TEXr.-'By love serve one an
pther"-Gal. 5:lS
TIME.-Thursday evening
PLACE.-An upper room In Jerusalem.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES. - The
Warnings Of Jesus against this Danger
Matt 20:25-S; 23I-i2; lSI-6; Mark s:Ss-SI,
lO;iS-l6 Luke s:46-4S; li:S,s; Matt. SIS.
What Warnings Given to the EARLY
Church.-Rom. li:20; 1886; 1 Cor f;6.7;
Phil. 2;3; Pet sos; Jas. 81; John 2:l6i
John 8, Rev. S:17.
The Example Of Christ.-Isa. 5S;1' Iech.
go; Matt. iii9; Luke 22:27; John $50; -:
5-14; PHI pa
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. /. Before the feast" AS the little
company was grouped around the table
to celebrate the Passover Feast. His
hour" The time for his final sufferings.
His own which were in the world"
Those loved and loving ones whom He
was so soon TO leave amid the trials and
temptations Of this world. Unto the
end" His love was not changed by their
faults, nor by the apparent separation
about to take place. He loved to the ut
termost with a wise and faithful love.
And It is so that He still loves. When
ever we call upon Him for assistance
it is given with the same love that was
shown unto His disciples at this part
ing feast of the passover when He
was about to drink Of the cup that
might not pass from Him.
V. 2. Being ended" While supper
was in progress. Devil In heart"
The devil originated the purpose, but
Judas need not have let the DEVILS sug-
gestion rest in his heart.
V. 8. "All things into His hands" Je-
sus had power to save himself from the
coming suffering. He was fully con-
scious OF His power. yet laid IL aside in
order to save us; fully conscious of His
dignity, yet performed the act belonging
to the lowest servant. To be humble is
not TO think meanly of ones self. II is
rather to have all thought of self cast out
by the loving purpose to render TO 9TH
ers every possible service. God prom
Uses us, il the Old Testament, that "he
that exalteth himself shall be abased,
and he that humbleth himself shall
be exalteth." Il is a promise that We
may see fulfilled every day II we but
watch, and il 10 q promise that ever
will be fulfilled.
V. 4. "Riseth, laid aside girded." He
arose from the table, laid aside His outer
robe, drew up the inner tunic and fast
ened It with a towel, used instead Of a
girdle.
Y. 5. "Pouretb water" etc Water was
poured from a ever (pitcher) upon the
feet, and caught in the basin. Began
10 wash" To cleanse and refresh His
disciples, TO relieve their WEAKNESS. Je-
sus seems to have washed the feet Of
one or more Of the disciples when he was
interrupted by the resistance OF Peter.
V. 6. "DOst thou wash my feetg' Peter
feels that it is not fitting that He whom
they call Master should perform a serv-
ants task.
V. Z. shalt know" Jesus would
shortly explain what lie meant TO teach
Tvs. l2-1O, and as, in future, they would
receive more and more Of Christ's Spirit
they would understand more fully.
V. 8. Thou shalt never wash my feet. 4"
Peter did not understand the spirit OF
Jesus TO be that Of loving service. NO
part with me-" II Peter will not accept
this. IL will show that Jesus spirit Of
humility and self. sacrificing love is
lacking in his heart. One must he hum
bic to accept from another that which he
recognizes is given at the others self
sacrifice.
V. .. Not my feet only" Peter now
understood that a spiritual significance
was intended, and felt that his whole
being needed 10 be cleansed.
! V. 10. Is washed wash his feet. ."
Two words in the original being here
translated by the one word wash. rem
ders this confused. The thought Is One
who has bathed needs, after a walk in
the dusty street. only to wash his feet
and his cleansing bis complete. SO when
Jesus has once cleansed our hearts from
sin, the stain is gone forever. but we
make daily mistakes. hence need every
day TO pray for His forgiving love TO
1 cleanse Us anew. "Ye are clean. but not
all" The apostles. all except Judas.
were saved men. Their hearts truly
/ loved Jesus
V. IL Not all clean" Judas had re-
sisted Jesus every effort to make him
good man.
V. u. know ye?" II you want TO IN
derstand what mean. listen and ! will
explain.
V. 10. "Ye call me Master" The apos-
ties recognized Jesus superiority TO
themselves. and his authority to teach
and direct them.
V. IA. "Ye . one another's feet" All
who follow me must show the same
humble. self-sacrifcing love toward one
another. As we truly love another. we
desire his highest good. and. in seeking
II. we lay aside all thought and care for
selfish interests. We will wash anoth-
er's feet by doing everything in our
power 10 better his condition OF body,
mind and spirit. He Is greatest who
serves most. Truly blessed are they who
learn from Jesus the secret of true liv-
ing. and realize the power Of an endless
life of loving and giving
Practical Points.
V. I. The knowledge that our oppor-
tunity is short should stimulate us 10 do
our utmost for others to-day.-Gal. Clio.
Y 3 We have strong enemy huf Ono