The Sabbath-School by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Oct 5, 1882

The Sabbath-School.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Sabbath-School Review.

Now that we have a review lesson for October 14, it may not be uninteresting to call to mind the results of the passover week, up to the point to which we have come. Six days before the passover we find that Jesus came to Bethany, where a feast was made for him. It was at this time that Mary anointed Jesus. It has been supposed by some, from Matt. 2:2-13, and Mark 14:1-9, that this feast was only two days before the passover; but if we carefully follow the narrative, we shall see that several days intervened before the passover. Thus, on the next day after the feast, Jesus rode into Jerusalem. John 12:12. After entering the temple and looking around, he returned to Bethany. Mark 11:11. On the next day he again entered Jerusalem, and cleansed the temple, having cursed the barren fig-tree on the way. Mark 11:12-17. Following this he taught till evening, when he again left the city. Mark 11:19. The next morning he returned once more, and the disciples called his attention to the fig-tree, which had withered. Here we have the record of three full days after the feast, and we know what events occupied Thursday, the day of the feast, leaving us only one day unaccounted for, which Jesus probably spent in retirement. It is probable that Matthew and Mark give the account of the feast in the place that they do, after speaking of Christ's betrayal, in order to show under what circumstances Satan took possession of Judas.

The last week was filled full of instruction for the disciples. But it is of the passover night especially, that our review has to do. Peter and John had made all the necessary preparations during the day, and at the proper hour Jesus came with the twelve. As they were sitting down, a strife arose among the disciples. They still had in mind a temporal kingdom, and were each anxious to have the highest rank. According to the ordinary standard, their rank in the kingdom would depend on the position they occupied in the preparation for that kingdom; hence each wished the highest seat at the table. Jesus then arose from the table and gently rebuked this unseemly strife, by telling them that in his kingdom he who would be greatest must be willing to occupy the lowest place, appealing to his own life as an example. Although he was their Lord, he had been among them as a servant. At the same time he proceeded to wash their feet, giving them a most impressive lesson of humility. Having finished this solemn ordinance, Christ resumed his place at the table; the disciples were seated with him, and the meal was eaten.

A few brief thoughts in regard to the feet-washing. It is very evident that this was something extraordinary, something out of the usual order of events. Feet-washing as an act of hospitality was always performed when the guest first entered, and was not done by the host, he simply furnishing the water and utensils. See Luke 7:44. But in this case they were sitting down to supper, and besides, they had already bathed. See John 13:10. Verse 7 also shows conclusively that they did not understand Christ's motive in washing their feet at that time; but they were perfectly acquainted with feet-washing as an act of ordinary hospitality. It was not till Jesus had taken his garments again, and resumed his place at the table, that he explained the full meaning of his act.

It is very evident, also, that although the strife among the disciples furnished the immediate occasion for washing their feet, it was not solely on that account that Christ performed that ceremony. It was designed as an example for them to follow says, "If I, then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." John 13:14, 15. He did not mean that they should do it as often as they got into strife, for if they followed him they would never give place to strife; but he gave them the ordinance to prevent strife, to help them to keep in mind their Lord, and to be humble as he was.

We can rest assured that there was no more strife after this lesson; but there was still among them a source of disunion, and this was the presence of Judas. Christ could not have full and free communion with his loyal disciples while this traitor was present. So, as they were eating, he told his disciples that one present should betray him, and by giving Judas the sop showed him that his treachery was known. Having received the sop, Judas went immediately out. John 13:18-30.

As the meal was drawing to a close, Jesus took of the unleavened bread on the table, and after giving thanks, broke it and gave it to his disciples as an emblem of his broken body. Then he took the cup, pure, unfermented grape juice, "the fruit of the vine," and gave it to them, telling them all to drink of it, for it was an emblem of his blood. Thus the Lord's Supper was instituted.

While they were still at the table, Christ foretold his crucifixion, and their desertion of him, and Peter boasted of his firmness. The conversation and instruction recorded in the fourteenth chapter of John also took place before they left the room. After this talk, "when they had sung an hymn, they went out." Matt. 26:30; John 14:31.

It is not definitely known where the discourse and prayer recorded in John 15, 16, 17, were delivered, whether in the city or outside; nor is it material. In these chapters we have lessons that might be profitably studied for weeks and months. Some of the principal points have been touched upon in previous articles, and we will not consider them further. The aim has not been to be exhaustive, but simply indicate points for study. If any person has gained a new idea or has received a new impetus in Bible study, the object of the lesson notes has been gained. E. J. W.