Was Judas Present at the Institution of the Lord's Supper.
By Bro. Butler
IN a recent REVIEW, in remarks upon the subject of the communion, I expressed the opinion that Judas was not present when Christ instituted the supper, and gave some reasons for thinking so. Several have expressed themselves dissatisfied with my view of the matter, thinking the Scriptures teach differently. In that article, I brought in this point concerning Judas, incidentally, as an objection which is sometimes urged against close communion, and noticed it as such, and, of course, did not say all I might have said concerning the question of Judas' presence at the institution of the supper. The point we are examining is one of some little interest, and, possibly, the readers of the REVIEW may not be disposed to complain if it is further noticed. I will introduce, then, the following candidly written objections from Bro. Orcutt, because they set the opposite view, and the reasons for it, before our minds as well as anything, perhaps, which I could introduce: “I have read with interest Bro. Butler's remarks upon this question in REVIEW of May 27, 1873, and, being unable to accept his conclusions, would respectfully ask a little space in our paper to state my difficulties with the result of his reasoning. I do this in order that if I am wrong, Bro. Butler, or some one else, may give the light that shall dispel those difficulties and enable me to see the right. In so doing, I claim ‘only to speak my own individual sentiments.’” “Bro. B. states that the institution of the memorial of the Lord's death ‘occurred some time after he [Judas] received the portion from the hand of Christ,’ after receiving which he went out immediately, ‘so Judas had no part in the divine memorial.’ Were this statement substantiated by testimony from the word, it would forever settle the question. But no proof is adduced. This is to be regretted, because upon this point—the relative time when the memorial was instituted and the passover partaken of—the whole matter turns.” “Our testimony upon this question must all be drawn from the four evangelists. Bro. B. says, ‘We know that a casual reading of the evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, would seem to show that he was present and partook.’ We ask of the reader a careful examination of their united testimony, before giving a final decision upon the question.”},{