The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1917-05-02


aA-Mk. 1914
This lesson is really continuation
of the latter part Of the lesson of last
week, for the glory of Jesus is his I'M
selfshness whereby he wrought out re-
demptien for mankind.
!. Selfishness Amid Holy Surround
'ngs ivy. LID. The world does not
appreciate Jesus. 1t never has. His
own" the Jews, did not appreciate
MIN. We are considering him today
as ne was about to depart from the
world that had despised and rejected
MIN to one that appreciated him (Heb.
l-6). The development. Verse 2
tells of the Satanic suggestion that
| came to the heart OF Judas. In it was
personal desire, and, connected with it,
human conspiracy. The coming to
this upper room has been pointed out
by a man. bearing a pitcher (NIk.
IA :12-16J, the pitcher being suggestive
| of the Holy Spirit which vas about to
come In the place of the visible Christ,
and 1t is in the midst of such sacred
surroundings as this that Satan enters
the hearts of Students This is a sug-
geStion as to the power of environment.
Environment is an aid, but it does not
produce effective safety. No moment
Is too holy for Satanic suggestion.
Jesus knew that the hour was come
when be was to depart out of the
world. Having loved his own, he
loved them TO the end" Even though
the Father had given all things into
his hands, still it was necessary for
him to teach the disciples once more,
and finally, the lesson of humility. He
knew and remembered the strife
| among the disciples duke % :24-2S).
Doctor BOnard's famous dream. anaIyz-
ing zeal as being made up of ambi-
ton, pride and elements other than
| the love of God is worthy of consid-
GRAFTON in this connection. We need
TO realize the danger of selfshness
even in our service for God. Have we
examined our motives? If the con-
sequences of our superiority, either of
rank or ability, tempts us to shirk the
| loWl1eSt Of services, it is time for
Gods children to recall this scene. and
| remember that "the servant is not
| greater than his Lord" Peters strong
| protest w. 81 brings out the fact that
the washing by Christ of the dis
ciples' feet was deeper than
merely the outward application
of water (See Rom. 500. 1t also
| brought out the fact ". 10) that Jesus
knew that all present were not clean
| inWardly though he may have made
| the application outwardly, for he knew
who should betray him ". ~. There
| fore, said he, ''Ye are not all clean"
| Christ himself, had confided the
knowledge TO John especially as to the
| one who was about to betray him (See
John 10 :22-3O).
II. Service, the Evidence of Divine
Humility wv. 12-15). Q) This service
was tender. Jesus had all things ".
81, yet he became the servant of all.
| (2) 1t was for all. All needed wash
| ing. All the disciples needed to learn,
and all servants must learn, to obey
| (3) It signified sanctification. We are
| saved once for all, but we are con-
| stantly being stained by our contact
with sin in the world; hence the need
| of renewed cleansing. New light re-
veals new need of cleansing. a. It
signifed deity. Jesus read the thoughts
| Of his disciples. h became their serv-
| ant that in years TO come they might
know the meaning o. service. He be-
came their example, and in years to
| come they remembered his knowledge
| and service. (6) It was for "his own"
The disciples did not know what it
was lie had done to them. Little do
we understand oftentimes what it is
| the Lord has done to us. Jesus set
| them an example whereby he would
remove the dirt of crime, self-seelIing
and every manifestation of selfishness
| from their sin-stained souls. We may
call Jesus Lord and Master, and it is
| well that we do SO, for Master and
| Lord he is indeed, but, If we call him
| so, let US not do aught than make him
| in our lives what we call him with Our
| lips. The idea here emphasized has
| given rise to much religious literature
''Th8 Imitation of Christ" by Thomas
a Attempts, is the most popular book in
the world next to the Bible. No mod
ern book has had the sale that has
Sheldon's '1n His Steps," William
| Stead wrote, eff Jesus Christ Came to
| Chicago" Still we ask not only what
did Jesus do nineteen hundred years
| ago. under circumstances widely diff
ferent from our own, but what would
| Jesus do if he were in my place to-
| day? 1t is the remembrance of what
| Jesus has once done, and the living
experience Of what he now is, can and
would do if formed within u.s." that
will give US power to live and act like
him.
verify, verify, l say unto you" ".
16). This introduction shows how i'm
portant Christ considered his teaching
at this point. ''The servant is not
greater than his Lord" (See Matt. 10:
"a; Luke GAO; 22-27). If the Lord
bent to this lowly service. certainly
they, the servants, should not think it
beneath them to 90 likewise nor
| should tho ono that Is sent fan onOS.