Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-19
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
THE LORDS SUPPER.-Matt.
26,26-30; l Cor. 1l,23-29.
Golden Text-For as often as
We eat this bread and drink the
cup, we proclaim the Lords death
till He GOMEZ Cor. 1925.
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

In celebrating the Fourth of July this
year Americans throughout the world
realized that it had taken on itself an
international meaning. The bell that
proclaimed liberty for the colonies sent
a message to the nations Of the earth
that has resulted in their freedom.
What the Fourth Of July has been to
us the Passover has been to the Jewish
people. 1t recalled their freedom from
bondage and the beginning of their ca
reer as nation. When Jesus, assembled
in the great chamber which His I'M
known friend had provided for the Mas
ter to eat the Passover with the
apostles, instituted the Lords supper He
added to the nationalistic and religious
feast of the Jews memorial service
that would proclaim liberty to every
creature and nation.
Jesus symbolized all the vital ele-
ments of Christianity in baptism and
the Lords supper. In the ordinances OF
baptism, which was the theme Of last
weeks study, the accent was placed
upon the individualistic aspect of the
Christian religion. In the Lords sup
per, which is the subject Of this week.
lesson, the social character of the Cos
pei is emphasized. The life and creed
of the church are reflected in these two
institutions The breaking of bread
was peculiar and distinctive to Christi
anity. 1t was not an ordinary meal.
nor the eucharistic commemoration
merely, but it included both. Every
evening after shutdown, which was the
customary hour for the principal meal
of the Jewish household, these brethren
appear to have come together to fam
lily table, as Christ and His apostles did
on the memorable night in which He
was betrayed. 1t was the chief token
and bond Of their unity in their departed
but still spiritually present head. To
strengthen their ties Of fellowship they
closed the meal by the breaking of
bread" as He had done and commanded
them to do in remembrance of Him.
Christ Jesus had expressly consecrated
the table intercourse into badge OF
unity, a memorial Of His death and a
tragedies of history that the rite which
should have united the followers of
Jesus Christ has become associated with
some of the most bitter dissensions that
have divided the followers of Christ and
kept the members of His church apart
from one another. Jesus instituted the
Lords supper at an hour when His dis
ciples were quarreling over their per-
sonal desires for position, place and
power. He had taken the towel and
washed their feet that they might learn
that the truly great is the one who
that Paul sent the epistle to the
Corinthians, from which this week s
lesson has been taken, to overcome the
differences in that church, which they
had carried to the Lords table. forget
ting the bond that ought to have united
demned those who had failed ito discern
the Lords body" Every Christian
ought to examine himself when he
draws near the table of the Lord so
that he may eat of the bread and drink
of the cup with heart free from hatred,
malice and envy.
Christ established the memorial rite
because He knew the weakness of hui
manity. He knew that man needed
something that would recall to him the
reality of the presence of the unseen
God. The one who examines his own
in the hustle of daily cares to read the
Bible daily, to pray every morning be-
fore starting on the tasks Of the day, to
neglect the midweek service of his
church and the regular attendance at
all her Sunday services. Paul found
the cause of the spiritual weakness of
many was due to their neglect of the
Lords supper.
The modern pharisee. who is satisfied
with his own progress and religious
character. is apt to be one who neglects
the communion service of his church.
II is possible that he has failed to ex-
anime himself as he approaches the
table of the Lord, by asking himself
some heart-searching questions. He
probably has not asked, Do l repent of
my sins? What are my sins? Are they
found in word. deed or look? Have
sinned against Gods. word, will or
work" What have l neglected to do
that nught to have done for the Lord
.Ir,,. TO improve my own Christian
life, 800! | loyal to the Master? Have
| hatred or forgiveness in my heart to-
a\rrd m! enemies?
Psychologists teach that memory is
aided by symbolism and repetition.
Jesus established this symbolical re-
hinder of His death so that humanity
should not forget the meaning of mans
redemption. The repetition of this rite
would keep the finest social hope of the
race. the Inauguration of the kingdom
of God through the return of Christ,
from being lost 1t is the living Lord
with whom His followers commune, and
not a dead benefactor. One of the laws
of memory is that it's helps should be
common and familiar. This Jesus found
in the hard, fiat, round and thin sheet
of unleavened bread that was always
broken. never cut. and in the wine of
the Passover feast and daily meal.
An oriental would have no difficulty
in understanding the meaning of the
Lords supper. The giving and the
breaking Of the bread would proclaim
the Lords death. 1t would speak to
them of His saving power through the
gift of Himself. as the redeemer of men.
~ mot l4I tn III