The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-05-05

This lesson is really continuation
| of the latter part of the lesson of last
week, for the glory of Jesus is his I'M
selfishness whereby he wrought out re-
| demption for mankind.
!. Selfishness Amid Holy Surround.
ings wv. lid. The world does not
appreciate Jesus. Ii never has. Ills
own" the Jews, did not appreciate
him. We are considering him today
as he was about To depart from the
world that had despiSed and rejected
MIN 10 one that appreciated him (Heb
1-6). The development Verse .
tells Of the Satanic suggestion that
came TO the heart of Judas. In IL was
personal desire, and, connected with IT,
human conspiracy. The coming to
this upper room has been pointed out
by man bearing pitcher CMk.
l4:l2-l6). the pitcher being suggestive
of the Holy Spirit which was about 10
come i'll the place of the visible Christ,
and Ii Is in the midst of such sacred
surroundings rs this that Satan enters
The hearts of students. This is sug.
gestion as TO the power of environment.
Environment is IN aid but il does not
| produce effective safety. No moment
Is too holy for Satanic suggestion.
Jesus knew that the hour was come
when he was 10 depart out of the
world. Having loved his own. he
loved them 10 the end" Even though
the Father had given all things into
MS hands, still IT was necessary for
MIN to teach the disciples once more,
ana hnally, the lesson of humility. He
knew and remembered the strife
among the disciples duke 30 :24-2S)
Doctor BOnard'S famous dream, analvz.
ing zeal as being made up of ambi-
uon, pride and elements other than
the love of God is worthy of cOnsid.
GRAFTON In this connection. We need
10 realize the danger of Selfishress
| 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
iowliest Of services. il is time for
Gods children to recall this scene, and
remember that "the servant is not
| greater than his Lord" Peters strong
| protest ". 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 ". 1O) that Jesus
knew that all present were not clean
inwarvily 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 10 John especially as to the
one who was about q betray him (See
John 13 :22-3O).
u. Service, the Evidence Of Divine
Humility wv. 12-15). G) 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.
| (3) 1t signified sanctification. We are
saved once for all. but we are CON
stantly being stained by our contacr
with sin In the world; hence the need
| OF renewed cleansing. New light re-
veals new need of cleansing. (4) II
signified deity. Jesus read the thoughts
| OF his disciples. He became their serv-
ant that in years to come they might
know the meaning of service. He be-
came their example, and In years To
come they remembered his knowledge
and service. (6) 1t was for his own"
The disciples did not know what II
was he had done to them. Little do
we understand Oftentimes what 1t is
the Lord has done to us. Jesus set
| them an example whereby he would
remove the dirt of crime, self-seeking
and every manifestation Of SelfiShnes>
| from their Sin-Stained souls. We may
call Jesus Lord and Master. and il is
well that we do so, for Master and
| Lord he is indeed. hut, If we call him
so, let us not do aught than make him
In our lives what we call him with orr
| lips. The idea here emphasized has
| given rise to much religious literature.
| 1.-THE Imitation Of Christ" by Thomas
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 in His Steps" William
| Stead wrote. IF 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 II he were i'm my place to-
day? II 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 us" that
will give US power to live and act like
him.
| Verify. verify. | say unto you" ".
| 1G). 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 $40; 22-27). If the Lord
bent To this lOwly service certainly
| they. the servants. should not think II
/ honaath