Notes on the International Lesson.
By J. W. Scoles
For centuries the Jewish people had with scrupulous exactness observed all the details of the Passover. It was, perhaps, to the minds of all, a memorial of that eventful night which marked their deliverance from Egyptian bondage, while to some, doubtless, it was also a type of the more perfect deliverance from the oppressive thralldom of sin which should be wrought through the coming Messiah. But the time was now at hand when the type would meet the Antitype. Christ's work of love and mercy on the earth was nearly finished. The last Passover was about to be celebrated, and from that Paschal feast, the Lamb of God was to go forth to die for the sins of the world. Knowing how little realization his disciples had of the true nature of his work, Christ desired to prepare them so far as possible for the events so soon to come upon them. In order to do this, and to more fully impress upon their minds the real significance of the Passover, he here for the first time fully opens out his heart to them in regard to his approaching death, and initiates them into the mysteries of that blessed memorial which is to show forth his death until he comes again to the world. WHILE some of the acts of Jesus have found their way into only one or two of the Gospels, references to this event, so solemn in its significance, so touching in its tenderness, have been recorded in them all; and three of the Gospels in particular, it would seem, have vied with each other in describing the particulars connected with the institution of this ordinance. And well may it be so; for who is there that claims discipleship with Christ, that does not love to go over again in mind the incidents connected with his passion, while with fearful eyes and thankful heart he partakes of the emblems of the broken body and shed blood of his Lord. ONE point in John's narration is especially interesting from the fact that it is not mentioned by any of the other evangelists. We refer to the ordinance of humility spoken of in John 13:4-17. To think that the Prince of Heaven, he who was associated with the Father and partook of his glory, would not only take upon himself the fashion of sinful flesh, but that he would bow in meek humility and wash his disciples' feet, is enough to forever banish vainglory and self-exaltation from the heart of every true child of God. It was not an act of common hospitality which he was performing; notice his reply to Peter, "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." There was a deep significance connected with this voluntary abnegation of Christ's. This is plainly discernible when, after having washed their feet, he 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." Shall we be any less humble than our Lord? "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." JESUS took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them. We have not the power to bless the bread as did Christ, but we can ask for his blessing upon it. And not only can we do this, but we can ask his blessing upon ourselves, that we may be consecrated to his service, and upon everything that we do, that it may be for his honor and glory. And we have the blessed assurance that the Lord hears and answers just such prayers as this. JESUS said, "Take, eat; this is my body." And again, "Drink ye all of it, for this is my blood." While we partake of the emblems which symbolize the body and blood of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, may we literally feed on him in our hearts by faith. In no other way can we realize the fullness of his promise, "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." John 6:56. Paul says, "For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread." 1 Cor. 10:17. When we take Christ into our souls and let him become a very part of us, so much so that all our acts and words shall show that he is in us, the hope of glory, then it is that we can truly "have fellowship one with another," and know that the blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin. IN 1 Cor. 5:7, 8, we read: "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." Christ declared the wine to be an emblem of his blood of the new testament, or new covenant. That new covenant specified, among other things, that the law of God should be written in our hearts. See Jer. 31:33. All known transgression, every violation of his will, should be repented of, our sins should be put away by confession and prayer, and with humble faith and trust we should become new creatures in Christ Jesus. And whenever the Lord's Supper is intelligently partaken of, it is a virtual acceptance of these conditions, and the blessings of the new covenant are ours to claim and enjoy thereby. NOT only was the Passover a memorial, but it was also a type, a memorial of past events, a promise of coming blessings. So of the Lord's Supper. In 1 Cor. 11:26 we read: "For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come." The death of Christ would be without any value to us were it not for the fact that he has promised to come again to receive us to himself. So it is singularly appropriate that in commemorating his death we should also look forward to his coming. "Till he come!" what a glorious consummation of our hopes that will be! The filling up of all our desires, the realization of all the Christian's expectations, the bringing in of the everlasting kingdom of glory, the cessation of the struggle against sin, and the consciousness of eternal victory gained! all these privileges and blessings cluster283around this glad event for which we wait with joyous hearts. And undoubtedly it was in view of the glorious fulfillment of these things that Christ himself looked forward to the time when he should drink of the fruit of the vine new in the kingdom of God. Blessed marriage supper of the Lamb! We are among the invited guests. May each of us have on the wedding garment when the Bridegroom comes.