Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1935-01-18

place on Thursday evening OF
passion Week., the evening before
the qualification of our Saviour. On
that same evening there was strife
among the disciples as to the great
est among them, announcement OF
our Lords betrayal, departure oi
Judas, the Institution of the Lords
Supper, f~oretelling Peters denial
the farewell discourse, and the de.
parture late Fat night for Gethse-
meme.
Into the sacred precincts of that
upper room there was brought that
memorable night a spirit that had
caused discussion as they journeyed
about the country. Jesus had en-
deavored to put it down. He had
even given the object lesson by
placing a child in their midst. He
had given the solemn instruction
when the sons of Zebedee had asked
for the child places. They brought
the idea of a temporal kingdom in
to that room and they brought the
desire for the places of distinction,
and it may have been in their minds
as they took their places at the
table. The same question may have
been in their minds that all so pro-
minent when secretaries and diplom-
ats are being seated at state din
ners.
A custom of that country gave
our Lord an opportunity of impress
sing again upon them the much
needed lesson If humility. In fact,
this custom may have caused re-
newal of the old debate. In that and
other eastern countries they wore
sandals on stockingless feet and
when they entered a home servants,
or the host in place of a servant, re-
moved the sandals, bathed the feet
and wiped them with a towel. The
master of a certain house in Jeru-
salem had set apart a certain room
that evening for Jesus and His dis
ciples where two Of the latter had
prepared the supper of which all
partook. This master and his own
family had their own paschal sup
per and while he had prepared the
basin and towel he left this COM
pany t. their own arrangements.
None of the disciples had volunteer
ed to perform this duty which &C
cording to custom belonged to a
servant. Thus may have sprung
again the question of precedence.
The Object Lesson
How prevalent a thing it is for
selfishness to intrude upon souls
that are weighted with kingdom
work! Jesus in His infinite wisdom
knew that His hour was at hand
and every thought of it increased
the sufferings of His soul. What j
blessing it is that God graciously
wells our future and what a sin it
is for us to seek this knowledge
through emissaries of satan!
Knowledge Of the treachery of
Judas was an additional burden, but
with it all the lesson must be given,
so he rises to perform the duty
proudly refused by others. What
He did was done with full con-
sciousness of His dignity. Know
ing hal ''He was come from God,
and went to God," He performed
the menial task and thus is reveal
ed to us the very heart of the les
son. One inherently a master: took
the place of a servant. As is general
ly known in hat country the peo-
pie reclined at their tables and Jesus
walked from one to the other as
their feet lay away from the table.
Evidence seems to point to the fact
that John and Judas were next to
Jesus but on the way around there
seems to have been no interruption
until He came to the man about
whom we rae studying these days,
this man Simon Peter.
An Objection Raised and Removed
A writer informs us that among
certain Eastern peoples it is consi-
dered an honor for a disciple to wash
the feet of a religious guide, but
such a thing as a teachers washing a
disciples feet is SO opposed to their
idea of reverence hat it would not
be tolerated. And this seems to be
just the way hat Peter felt about
it. He would have been willing to
have one of the other disciples do
the thing that he had not volunteer
ed to do, but for His Lord to do
this was foreign to his purpose.
eff I wash thee not, thou hast no
part with me-" was the Saviour's
reply, and with that a slender beam
of light shone into his soul so that
he understand that some spiritual