The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-04-22
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SurAoy-SclooI
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR APRIL &c.

JOnn l0.l-zO GOldeH leAt'
John 13:34-Commit Verses 8.
documentary on the Lesson.
TIME.-Tuesday night, April 4, A,
D. 80. PLACE.--Upper room, Jeru'
salem.
EXPOSITION.-I. The Humility
and Love of Jesus, Iii. Jesus was
about to depart to a world where He
would be appreciated, where all the
angels of God would worship Him.
Heb. 1:6. Very naturally He might
have had a feeling of relief at leav-
ing those dull, unbelieving disciples,
to go to realms of light and faith and
glory. He was occupied with thoughts
of His disciples and their need. His
was a constant, untiring, patient, in
destructible, se~lf-forgetting love,
unto the end" Two little words
marvelously describe our relation to
Him, His own" What a dignity 1t
sets upon us-we are His own"
How clear it makes our absolute Sc
curity comp. CHI. 17:12). How do
know I shall spend eternity with
Him? How do l know that the
mighty and subtle Satan will never
prevail to get me? Why do I rise
triumhant over the world and its am
billions and it's allurements and its
Establishments? How do I know He
will lavish upon me all the Infinite
wealth of His love? I am His own
1 am His by both gift and purchase.
Note that death is departing out Of
this world unto the Father" There Is
nothing then so dreadful for the be-
lever in what men call death (ch.
1928: Phil. 1921, 23; 2 Cor. $50.
We see the black background of the
Saviour's u%nceasing love-the unceas-
ing malignity of Satan, ~incarnating it.
self in a human heart ". 2, R. W.
Judas got his awful purpose direct
from the devil. If Judas had been
told at the beginning the depth OF in
fanny to which he would sink, he
would have been Mortified. The very
same devil, who was active in Judas
time, IS around to-day. We do we'll
to ponder and act upon Eph. 6:10-1S.
What a picture of how the Father
glorifed Jesus and how He humbled
Himself in verses 3-5. Onthe one hand
the Father had given all things into
His hands" comp. CHI. 3:35; Matt.
1927; John 5:22, 1872; Matt.
2S:1s; Eph. 1:21, %; Heb. IL; 2:8,
9; l Cor. 1920; HE came forth
from Cod and went to God" On
the other hand, "He riseth from the
supper" laid. aside His garments"
took a towel ETC., etc. He did these
seven things in full consciousness OF
His divine authority, divine origin
and divine destiny. When the con-
seriousness of superiority Of rank or
ability tempts us to shirk the lowliest
services for the humblest of Gods
children, we will do we'll to recall
this scene and remember that the
servant is not greater than his Lord"
". 16), and to let this mind be in us
which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil.
2:5; note context). This was a mira
Gle Of humility and grace. So we can
make the common acts of life amaz-
ingly glorious if we perform them IN
His spirit. Oh to think of the glorious
Christ taking our vile feet into those
hands that by their touch cleansed
the leper. opened blind eyes, healed
the sick and raised the dead, and
washing and wiping them! There is
a. filth infinitely more repulsive to
Him than the filth of the roads, d
filth of sin, and He is handling u
feet each day and washing it OF.
What a wonderful Saviour! Jesus
acts in this scene symbolic His whole
work. He "riseth from supper
rises from His rightful place in glory
and enjoyment. He laid aside His
garments"-so He laid aside the gar
ments of divine majesty (Phil. 20,
y. He took a towel and 'glrded
Himself"-took upon Him the form
of a servant (Phil. I'D. He pour
eth water into a basin''-provides the
cleansing word John 1879. Began
to wash the disciples feet'-applies
the cleansing water (Eph. 5:26). Took
His garments ". l2)-reassumed His
glory (Jno. 17:5). Sat down again
". 12)-reassume6 His place as
Lord (Heb. 10:12). AS to simon
peter, note: Cd His imagined hui
mility, but real pride Tvs. 6, 81; (2)
his failure to understand the meaning
of Jesus acts ". y; CD his failure
to ponder the meaning of Jesus
words ". 81; (4) his talking When
he ought to have been thinking Tvs.
7, s, 81; 80 his promise of future
understanding ". 7, he knows all
about it now; 60 his prompt ana
eager repentance ". 81.
ii. II have given you an example
1915. Know We what have done
to you?" They did not know.
was some time before they under
stood the full meaning Of His act, and
little do we understand ottent!mes
what it is that the Lord has Gone 10
us. What He had really done was
to set them an example whereby he
would remove the dirt CT pride M
self-seeking and s~elf-sparing from
their s%in-stained souls. They were
having a quarrel among themselves
as to who should be accounted great
est Luke 1920. Greatly cid they
need to be taught to take the loWly
place Of service rather tina 10 seen
the exalted place OF honor. we cal
Him Master" and Lord and we
DO we'll to call Him so; for Master
and Lord" He is. But If we call Him
so let us not play the hypocrlte, Dut
let us rather make Him in u llVes
what we call Him with u lips. II
He. Our Lord and Master, performed
The lowliest and most dlsagreeaDle
service for others, for those under
Him. we too must stand ready to
nerform the lowliest services for all
lthers. Are we ready to do 1t?
rnycunntiv,, Colony in TpEa9,