The citizen., 1919-11-20
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 30
JESUS TEACHES PETER TRUE
GREATNESS.

LESSON TEXT-John i3i-is
GOLDEN TENT-The SON OF Man came
not TO be mnistered unto. but to minis
ter. and 10 give his life q ransom Tor
many. Mat OX
ADDITIONAL MATERIAI>-Mark 10
ssh.
PRIMARY roPIc-Jesus washing the
Disciples Feet
JUNIOR TOPIC - Jesus Taking the
Place Of Servant
INTERMEDIATES ToPIC-Ths Dignity
sf Common Tasks
Own tvv. i-3D.
Jesus was fully conscious ~ what
was upon him. He knew that the cross
with all its anguish was just before
him. He knew that his disciples would
shamefully forsake him In few hours.
He knew that one OF that number
would he the instrument In the hands
Of the devil In his betrayal. lie knew
that all things were In his hands; was
fully conscious Of his deity. Notwith.
standing all this. he displayed patient
and untirlng love. lie did not with.
draw his love from them because NJ
their weakness and the shameful fail.
ure which he knew would soon he
made manifest.
~. Christ Washing His Disciples
Feet tvv. AID.
This act II symbolic OF his amazing
love for his disciples Jesus did not
regard his hands ~ too holy to do this
menlal service The true Christian
does not allow his rank In society to
keep him from acts Of lowly service.
I. Steps In this service; ~ lie
rose from supper. t2) laid aside his
garments. t3l took towel and grid
ed himself. tD poured water into =
basin. t5i washed his disciples feet.
COZ wiped them with towel where
with he was girded. These steps sym
boiize Chrlst's entire work Of redemp-
tion. His rising from supper repre-
seuts his rising from his place of en-
joyment In the heavenly glory; his lay
ing aside his garments. his putting
aside his veSiure ~ majesty phil. 2:T
81; his giriing himself. his taking the
form Of n servant (Phii. 2:7) the wa.
ter In the basin. his cleansing blood :
his washing of their feet. his actual
cleansing ~ men through his Word
tJohn Is q; Eph. 3 :20) his taking his
garments again. his return TO his place
and position of glory.
2 Peters impetuous ignorance. lie
goes from one extreme 10 another. II
In his failure TO understand the sig
uihcance ~ this service that caused
him 10 behave 40 strangely.
3. The significance Of this service
% those who participate In II. u) II
is a spiritual cleansing ". ~. Fellow
ship with Jesus Is only possible as we
are continually cleansed from our sins
-He that is washed needeth not save
70 wash his feet. but II clean every
whit" ". iO). The cleansing here is
not the washing of regeneration, hut
that Of sanctlfcation. Even regenerate
folks need the continual cleansing OF
Christ's blood In order 10 have fellow
ship with him. lie that Is regenerat
ed-wnshed In the blood OF Christ
symbolized by haptism-does not need
q repetition of the act: he only needs
the cleansing of sanctification. symbol
tied by the washing OF the feet. A.
we 20 thrcrgh this world after regen
erntion we are contaminated by lts
sins. lie is willing always TO cleanse
us of our sins II we allow him. q,
A badge of brotherly affection. This
act showed his abandonment TO IN,
service Of his own. This In a lesson
that Is much needed today. We need
more and more the fulness Of broth
sriy love. This love needs to be man
ifested SO that II may be seen and re
allied. True love can only he proved
by the service n renders. t3) A proof
Of humility. This Is a lesson much
needed by us all. The disciples had
Just been disputing as 10 who should
be the greatest In the kingdom; theiI
selfish ambition was expressing itself
Today. on every hand. we see express
sions Of pride. vanity, and even AFRO
gnnce on the part Of those who are
professed followers OF the lowly Jesus
II the Son Of God was not ashamed q
stoop TO iowiy service his disciples
should not regard Il beneath their dig
nifty 10 follow in his steps az Equal
igation. As they would thus stoop to
serve each other In the name Of Christ
there would be sure destruction OF
caste among them. The Spirit OF
Christ IN this service Is the great lev
eier OF humanity.
~. An Example for We tvv. l2-i6)
The disciples Of the Lord are under
obligation 10 do unto each other as
ne did unto them. This obligation rests
upon his Lordship ". 10. All who
call him Lord In sine ity will obey
him. To refuse TO obey him 10 TO put
ana's s.elf ahove his Lord