Middletown transcript., 1921-03-12
LESSON FOR MARCH 13
THE LAST PASSOVER.

LESSON TEXT-Matt 2:14-3o.
GOLDEN TEXT-As often as ye eat TINS
bread, and drink this cup. ye do show the
Lords death till he come.-1 Cor. u:26.
REFERENCE MATERIAL - Mark u:
17-2s: Luke 2:7-23; John 13l-ao; Cor. 10:
16. II; u:23-A.
PRIMARY TOPIC - Jesus at Supper
With His Friends.
JUNIOR TOPIC Remembering Our
Lord Jesus.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
The Lords Supper and Its Meaning.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Communion With Christ.
!. The Bargain Of Betrayal wv. n
18).
This is a dark picture. Satan had
so completely gained the mastery over
Judas that he sold his Lord for the
price of a slave (Ex. 21 1927. Judas
sin was not of a sort that one would
suddenly be overtaken with, but one
Of deliberate purpose. Avarlce was
the besetting sin Of Judas.
II. The Passover Prepared (vv. IT,
19).
l. The disciples inquiry ". I'D.
They inquired of Jesus as to where
they should prepare for the Passover.
They were no doubt anxious to be
of service to Him. We should be not
only ready to do our Lords bidding,
but should inquire Of Him as to what
He would have US do.
2. The Masters strange directions
". 1S). They were to go into the
city where they would meet a man
bearing a pitcher of water. 1t was
usual for the women to carry the
water. This unusual occurrence
would make it easier for them to
find the man. To him they were to
say, "Where is the guest-chamber
where 1 shall eat the Passover with
my disciples?' "And he will show
you large upper room furnished and
prepared, there make ready for u.s.
MARK 14:14, 15).
3. The obedience Of the disciples.
They did as Jesus had appointed them.
They did not stop to question the
sanity Of the command, but like true
disciples obeyed. Christ is omniscient.
He knew just how the matter would
turn out.
III. The Betrayal Announced wv.
20-25).
1. The time Of wv. 20, 21). It was
while they were eating the last pass
over that Jesus made this announce
ment. Perhaps the reason why this
feast should be disturbed by such a
sad announcement was that Judas
might be given an opportunity at this
last moment to repent. God does rot
will that any should perish, but holds
out to the most wicked man to the
last moment an opportunity to repent.
2. The sorrowful question ". ~.
They did not seem to suspect one an
other, but directed personal attention
to themselves. We should always ex-
anime ourselves rather than others.
8. The darkness of the crime ".
23). HE that dippeth his hand with
me in the dish, the same shall betray
me-" does not point out the traitor,
but indicates the greatness of the
crime. That one who enjoyed such
close fellowship as one who had eaten
at His table was now to betray Him.
shows the blackness and the darkness
Of the crime.
4. The betrayal of Jesus was by the
determinate counsel and foreknowl-
edge of God ". "a; Acts 2:23).
Nothing takes place by chance. "Woe
unto the man by whom the Son Of
Man is betrayed; 1t had been good
for that man if he had not been born"
To have been born in the world and
lived for q while, leaving an impress
sion upon it for good is great priv
ilege, but to be face to face with such
a great privilege as Judas Iscariot,
and to make such miserable fall
ure of it is worse than nonexistence.
s. Judas evil determination un-
shaken ". 25). In the face Of all
that Christ had said, he went forward
and tried to cover up his purpose by
saying, Master, is it II"
~. The Feast Of the New Covenant
Instituted wv. 25-3O).
This took place at the close Of the
passover supper.
l. The bread symbol Of Christ's
body ". 26). This is fitting emblem
Of Christ's body. AS bread nourishes
and strengthens our bodies, so Christ
is food to our spiritual lives. Unless
we feed upon Him, We shall perish.
2. The cup symbol Of Christs
blood wv. q, 28). This was SYM
bolic Of the atonement which was
made by the shedding Of His blood on
the cross. He said, "Drink ye all Of
it." so that each one must personally
accept the blessings Of the atonement.
This was also the seal Of the new
covenant.
8. Drinking anew in the kingdom
". 29). This does not mean that in
heaven this service will be renewed,
but that this was symbolic Of the
heavenly reality.
4. Going to the cross with song
". 3O). With all the sorrows and
the burdens of the world upon Him.
He pressed forward with cheerfulness.
Those who have come under the shad-
ow of His blood can go forward bear
ing their cross with song Of Joy.