The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-04-27

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Jesus Washing The Disciples Feet.
The sadness of the Last Supper has
been emphasized out of proportions
Jesus as host would certainly not al
low the occasion to wholly lose its
festive character. The room was
spacious. The walls had been freshly
whitened and its tile floor secured
The low gaiiy painted table was in
position, with the touches forming
three sides of "a hollow square about
were all 10 position. 1t was goodly
scene the well-trimmed lamps shone
down upon. The fresh turbans of
<blue, crimson. and yellow: the ami
mated faces, the table covered with
damask and well supplied-all made
study for painter.
The presence of Judas was one ugly
spot on this feast of love. Jesus.
without explicitly designating the
traitor, announced that one OF the
twelve would betray Him He did
this for their -akes, that they might
know He was perfectly aware of His
impending fate. aud not taken by
surprise. He did it for Judas sake
also. It was the last appeal to the
traitor. He gave Judas a prominent
place at the table, and gave him his
portion lovingly with His own hand.
He let him know, however, that He
read his wicked heart, and only when
it was clearly Of no avail. He babe him
do quickly his wicked deed
The other blot upon the otherwise
fascinating picture was the unseemly
dispute as to precedence ut table. The
disciples scrambled for the most eligi.
bic places. 1t was in part to rebuke
this that Jesus acted a significant
parable before them, He performed
the most mental task of the srullery
drudge, one that with their Oriental
ideas they would hardly have per
formed for the Master Himself
Peters strong protest indicates the
depth OF the apparent degradation.
But Jesus, with full consciousness Of
His origin and destiny. could still do
this Iowly service Etiquette of court
could neither make nor unmake this
King of men who came from God and
Went to God. There must be an end
of caste, of place, and precedence.
when the Lord and Master washes
the disciples feet. Henceforth they
must cherish such a feeling toward
one another as would make them
willing to perform service as lowly
as that of washing the feet of an
other.
Jesus, by His own Interpretation of
His acted parable, leads to more
subtle and universal meaning than
that which appears uDon the surface.
He teaches humiity,and the spirit of
service, but He teaches more than
that To Peter, the protester, He af-
iirmed that there was washing the
OlOgically, the washing of regenera-
tion) without which man continued
an alien and stranger, having no part
nor lot in the kingdom. Petergrasps
the symbolical meaning at once, when
he cries, Not my feet only, but hands
and head" Peters extravaganza
gives Jesus another opportunity for
subtle, but practical, discrimination.
1t is as if Jesus had said, Zone who
has had "a bath does not need to battle
again to be rid of the dirt that ad-
heres to the feet on walking from the
bath to the table. Washing the feet
is sufficient. So.one who has had the
washing of regeneration does not need
to have it repeated in order TO be
cleaused from fresh guilt Daily for
giveness for daily trespasses is suf1ici-
emit"
The Teachers Lantern.