The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-03-04
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON

III LEO Il Ell.
John 13:1-17.
The Son of man came not to be minis
tered unto, but to minister, and to
give his life a ransom for many
Matthew oops.
THE SCENE.
Tuesday passed with its conflict in
the temple that left the leaders
breathless and set the crowd wild
with delight in listening to the I'M
merciful scoring given those who used
their place for self-interest. 1t sent
the Sanhedrin into session with Bit
ter wrangling that came to no conclu-
sion other than strengthened determ-
ination to put this disturber of their
affairs out of the way. In the mean
while, Jesus had plucked the exquisite
flower of a woman's devotion from the
crowds in the treasury where she
kept nothing back in the giving. After
the coming of the Greeks, in the
gathering dusk He went out to Oil
ven where He could see the city fade
into the darkness except where the
temple glowed with it's constantly
burning light, star of hope in the
nations heart. Presently He told of its
sure dimming under the rejection of
Gods love plan, for gathering her
children as hen gathers her chick
ems under her wings. Across the hills
to Bethany and friends where We'd
nesday was spent with such steady
nerve that the disciples found moth
ing out of the ordinary to record in
the whole day. Notice the news ac-
count of a convict on the day before
his execution to see how very wonder
full was the quiet repose of Jesus on
this day before the storm burst Then
on Thursday there was the sending of
Peter and John into town ia arrange
for a meal together before the end.
Judas may have used it to make his
arrangements with the leaders while
paying for the lamb. He had to meet
some of them and the arrangement
could easily have been accomplished
without any disciples suspecting it.
1t may have been in the house of
Mary, mother of John Mark, for it be-
came one of the meeting places of the
early church. 1t may have been in
the home of the beloved disciple who
has given US Johns Gospel. At any
rate it was not known to Judas and he
trailed in in the fading light with the
rest, dusty of foot from the tramp
The room was ready, table prepared
and water brought for the necessary
washing before the meal. AS all SER
wants were busy, they were obliged to
attend to their own wants, among
which was the cleansing of the feet
from the singing dust that would
mar both comfort and touches.
THE SCRAMBLERS.
Have you ever heard the expression,
"end-seat hog? Have you ever no.
ticed the difference among a crowd at
a ticket window or a train gate? At
torward one may appreciate the first
item upon the official report Of a Wis
iting commission from abroad that
Americans lacked courtesy. We seem
bound to follow the example of the
upper room but not its finest. For
there was a scramble for place there
and warm Wrangle over who was
the greatest. 1t was precipitated by
the water for the feet and began in
laughter as they badgered each. other
to do the task as witness that he was
servant of the rest. John, the young
est, would be likely to become the
center of attack and there is little
doubt that he who had wanted fire for
the Samaritans and refused permits
sion to another to do helpful work
because he was not among the twelve
would explode wrathfully in biting
refusal that helped the situation not
at all. If in consequence he grabbed
the place next to Jesus there would
have been no getting him out Of it.
Judas was at our Lords left, a con-
cession that indicated his ability as
pusher, for he was close enough to be
handed a bit of bread dipped in the
soup. Try this while leaning on the
left elbow and the location becomes
clear. The atmosphere was full of
of wrathful murmurings,
of sharp rejoinders and cutting innu-
endoes as they added the discomfort
of their hot feet to their hot speech
and their hot heads that had drawn
all the warmth from their hearts. So
they Went to the table. Fine setting
it was for communion! If it was
the Passover meal they were in Egypt
all right.
THE SERVANT.
Read through those exquisite chap
ters beginning with the 18th that tell
something of the converse of this
hour and appreciate what Jsus did for
that group under stress of such feel
ing as they were manifesting. He
found a way thru their flood of lack
of concord. Never in all His min
istry does ability to sway hearts and
heads shine clearer than here. How
swiftly HE mind Y,,I1c+ hava y,ovod -,