The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-11-02

Lesson TeXt-Matthew 26:1I-30. Memory
verses 26-2S.
Golden Text-"This is my BODY which
is given for you: this do in remembrance
Of me."-Luke 22:l9.
Time-Thursday evening, April 6, A. D.
30.
Place-An upper room in Jerusalem.
This lesson is full Of dramatic in
cidents. A harmony is necessary to
understand the scene in full.
The first great day of the Passover.
which lasted a week, began at sun
set on the evening after tn, 14th of
April, which by the Jewish reckoning
was the beginning of the 18th W IN the
regular Passover supper was eaten.
The disciples came to Jesus, some
time on Thursday, saying . Where
wilt thou that we prepare for thee
to eat the passover? "A oom was
needed, with tables surrounded by
touches, for the Passover must be
| eaten reclining, since it vas a canon
that even the poorest must partake
Of that supper in a reclining attitude,
to indicate rest, safety and liberty"
Then there must be obtained un-
leavened bread, bitter herbs, wine, and
a paschal lamb, which must be slain
in the temple between three and five
o'clock, and cooked in a private home.
Jesus and his disciples probably left
Bethany late Thursday afternoon,
walked two or three miles, and reach
ed the upper O. soon after sunset.
The strife probably began when the
disciples were assembling in the up
per room, and were about to take their
places at the table. Even in this
most solemn hour, more solemn than
they realized. there arose a conten-
ton among the disciples as to who
should be the greatest, probably with
reference to the places of honor and
nearness to Jesus, with en- outlook to-
ward the highest places in the new
kingdom which was soon to begin.
Also because no n was willing to
take upon himself the servile duty of
washing the travel-stained feet of the
company.
1lCIC WOO OOuDIlC'oo q illli6illlS "
good and evil motives in the disci-
pies.
sit lat length all were reclining at the
tables and the Passover supper was
begun. Jesus wisely waited till time
had been given for the excitement to
be quieted, and the disciples to come
TO a better frame Of mind. Then
by a symbolic action he taught them
a lesson which has been needed all
down the ages. He who had all eower,
who came forth from God, and was
going to God, arose from the supper,
poured water into a basin. and wash
ed his disciples feet, including the
feet of Judas, into whose heart the
devil had put the plan to betray him.
And as they were eating the Pass
over meal Jesus used the same bread
and wine that was upon the Passover
table and taught the Passover truths.
The rites Of the new kingdom of heav-
en- expressed for the spiritual life the
deliverance from the slavery Of sin,
the redemption through blood, the
promise Of allegiance to the Lord, the
hope of the promised land, which was
enacted in actual life By the saving
of the Israelites from the bondage of
Egypt. The Passover brought to-
gether the largest number Of individ-
uals to claim and consciously recog-
nize their part in Gods redeemlng
grace and power, and because Of its
sense of a~ll-embracing victory, millen-
NAL g~ladness, universal salvation,
was better fitted to become the dis
tnctive and enduring symbol of re-
demption, and express the mighty
hopes of Jesus as he stood on the
threshold of bis passion, than any of
the sacrifices of the altar"
Jesus took bread, the thin cake of
u%nleavened bread. and blessed it, TN
voked blessings" ~"consecrated with
solemn prayers" Take, eat, make It
a part of yourselves. This is my body,
symbolizes my body, does for your
bodies just what my spiritual life does
for your souls.
This is my blood. A type of en-
blem of his blood, his life, which he
laid down as the atonement for sin.
OF the new testament, which God was
now confirming to men. The new COW
enant was that God would renew and
save all who believed in Jesus. 1t Is
the new promise to men, the new Cos
pei dispensation, in which God has
used his perfect wisdom in seking to
save the world from sin. Which Is
shed for many. Multitudes, not mere
ly a few, are to be saved by Christ.
For the remission of sins, including
the forgiveness; of sin, and the de-
liverance from the power Of sin. Sin
is to be put away entirely, so that
the heart and life are clean and pure.
The Supper is a kind of All Saints
day. We become one, not only with
those around us, but with those who
have gone before, to join the heaven
ly host.
1t is a feast of victory. 1t was the
sun triumphing owe darkness. The
Lords Supper is a prophecy Of
Christ's second coming. of the perfect
triumph of his kingdom: for we are
RI celebrate it till he comes. It con-