The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1946-06-20

lil-i4lNlt4+S-4t XIV ttlu GU. We love one
another; as I have loved YOU. that We also
love one anothcr.-John 1854.
Fellowship is word which
comes TO its full meaning only in
the relationship between the Lord
and believers, which also brings
them into just such a relationship
with one another.
The Lord seeks his people and
gives himself in friendship to them,
even 10 the full devotion of death.
Shall We do less for one another?
Our lesson presents four ways in
which Christ fellowshiped with his
disciples.
!. The Fellowship Of the Passover
duke 22:l4-18).
Ii was late on Thursday, of what
we call Holy Week, that Jesus and
his disciples came to the upper room
where Peter and John had already
made preparation for the observ-
ance Of the Passover (Luke 22:8).
This feast had (since that great
and awful night of IsraeTs redemp-
ton out of Egypts bondage) pointed
forward to the Christ and to his
cross as the fulfllmcnt of the type
of redemption by the shedding of
blood.
Our Lord looked forward with in
tense desire to the Passover which
ne now observed with his disciples,
for 1t was the last celebration Of
that feast recognized by God. All
that 1t had toreshadoWed Of deliver
ance ana nope Was fulfilled IN HIM
VINO now sat at the table. He had
moved forward with resolute pur-
pose TO TINS day when his mission
on earth was to be accomplished,
ard ne was to become the Chris
tlan Passover lamb Il Cor. 5:D.
The Passover was a solemn feast
OF remembranco OF God s deliver
ance from the bondage OF Egypt,
but It was now to be replaced by
4 new least OF remembrance OF eter-
nal significance. Ihey went on INTO
ii. The Fellowship Of the Lords
Table duke 22:19, 20).
Taking the unleaVcncd bread and
the untermcnted wine Of the Pass
over which had Just been observed,
Jesus established the Christian feast
OF remembrance, which we call
communion, or the LORD table
HIS words are significant, For
as often as ye eat tins bread, and
drink TINS CUP, ye do show the
Lore death III ne come u Cor.
II:Z0). At the LORD table ms FOL
lowers hnd spiritual strength IN re
caHlhg ms death 1or them, put lIlcy
also mo Joy as they remember that
ne IS to come again They thus test
~ to the world that they believe
and cherish these truths.
Our Lord also spoke Of the cup as
my blood OF the new testament"
Inc Word testament means Gov
enant. The Lord table, therefore,
speaks OF our allegiance TO him,
OF our loyalty to our Lord, and Of
our devotion to has service, mat IS
why the Christian church speaks OF
communion as sacrament, a word
from the Latin sacTameHtuln,
meaning oath, ana essentially an
oath OF allegiance.
III. The Fellowship Of Gods
Word (John 1863.
John gives us blessed account
of the fellowship of Jesus and his
disciples in the upper room, and
then takes us into what is indeed
"the Holy of Holes" Of Scripture,
our Lords microscopy prayer.
Here "the High Priest Of our pro-
fession" (Heb. BID brings us into
the very presence of God.
At the very beginning Of his petit
tons for them and for us (see V.
20) he speaks Of the word which
the Father had given him and which
he had given to them.
This little company Of men had
been given to Christ, drawn out of
the evil world and set apart for
Gods work. But note that the thing
which distinguished them in the
eyes of the Lord was that they had
''kept" the word of God, even as
they had received the living word,
Christ, as the one whom the Father
had sent.
That kind of fellowship with the
Lord makes a man strong and use