Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-23
Sunday School Lesson
Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

privacy, was the unknown friend at the
door. Jesus had looked forward with
great JOY to that hour, when for the
FIRST time and the last He was privileged
to observe the feast that recalled their
national deliverance from the bondage
of Egypt and prophesied the salvation
OF all men through the death Of our
Lord upon the cross.
The Prophetic Supper.
It was a family feas.. Usually the
father presided, but at the observance
Of this Passover supper the Master pre-
sided. He probably opened its observ-
ance by saying, Blessed be Thou, 0
Lord, our God, King Of the world, who
hast created the fruit Of the vine" The
dish Of bitter herbs, which were dipped
into sauce that had been made out of
almonds, nuts. figs and other fruits
mixed with reddish and sweet
liquid" was intended to set forth the
which their bondage had been SO Bit
ter, and yet by Its taste suggesting some
alterations which God always sends
with His bitterest dispensationS. Then
second cup was passed around in con-
nection with which the meaning Of the
feast was explained. Then the I'M
leavened bread dipped In the sauce"
was passed to each person at the table
with piece Of lamb which was roast
ed with fire; this was done with the
giving of thanks" The lamb was the
principal dish, but bread and bitter
herbs, dipped in the sauce, were eaten
with 1t. Then followed the third cup
that was called the cup OF blessing. "
The feast was ended with the fourth
cup. when the cxi-cxviii Psalms were
sung
We do not know whether Jesus OBJ
served all the r1tualistic formality of the
Passover or not. In each of the first
three gospels and In Paul's epistle we
have accounts Of the way the Master
observed this Passover, and John gives
a record Of some Of the things the Lord
spoke on that night when He tried to
prepare His disciples for His approach
ing death. They were all filled with
horror when he predicted His end and
announced that one Of their number
had betrayed Him. He took advantage
of that solemn hour and symbofical
feast to institute q simple ordinance
that would serve to commemorate His
death throughout the ages until He re-
turns.
Lords Supper Instituted.
Probably they had about reached the
moment when they would sing the Hal
lei. the psalms Just mentioned, when
He took from the table the bread and
wine, pointed out their significant mes
sage to the spiritual organization that
He had established to carry on His
work after He by His death had full
filled the prophecies Of the Passover. It
was to take the place in the church
that the Passover had occupied IN the
life of the Jewish people.
He breathed into the simplest things
of their daily meal vital meaning that
would serve to recall to His disciples
the place that His death should hold in
their thought and life. He wanted the
bread of which He said, This is My
body" should recall the sacrifice Of His
life that was foretold in the Passover,
and should always be remembered by
them as a memorial Of the gift of SAL
walton, that Gods grace has provided
for a sinful world The cup Of wine, He
told them, meant This is the new
testament in My blood which Is shed for
you" and which was essential to our
redemption. Through the centuries that
have passed, the followers of the Lord
Jesus have in their communion recalled
His sacrifice that provided for them a
saIvatton. We recall this UNIQUE memo
rial Of our Master when we observe the
institution that He established so that
men would have their faith, hope and
love developed in observing the diyfnely
instituted supper that He commanded
His church TO observe IN remembrance
of Him. SO