the desire of ages-第139节

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t　in　the　fullness　of　His　grace　is　there　to　change　the　current　of　the　thoughts　that　have　been　running　in　selfish　channels。　The　Holy　Spirit　quickens　the　sensibilities　of　those　who　follow　the　example　of　their　Lord。　As　the　Saviour's　humiliation　for　us　is　remembered；　thought

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links　with　thought；　a　chain　of　memories　is　called　up；　memories　of　God's　great　goodness　and　of　the　favor　and　tenderness　of　earthly　friends。　Blessings　forgotten；　mercies　abused；　kindnesses　slighted；　are　called　to　mind。　Roots　of　bitterness　that　have　crowded　out　the　precious　plant　of　love　are　made　manifest。　Defects　of　character；　neglect　of　duties；　ingratitude　to　God；　coldness　toward　our　brethren；　are　called　to　remembrance。　Sin　is　seen　in　the　light　in　which　God　views　it。　Our　thoughts　are　not　thoughts　of　self…complacency；　but　of　severe　self…censure　and　humiliation。　The　mind　is　energized　to　break　down　every　barrier　that　has　caused　alienation。　Evil　thinking　and　evilspeaking　are　put　away。　Sins　are　confessed；　they　are　forgiven。　The　subduing　grace　of　Christ　comes　into　the　soul；　and　the　love　of　Christ　draws　hearts　together　in　a　blessed　unity。

As　the　lesson　of　the　preparatory　service　is　thus　learned；　the　desire　is　kindled　for　a　higher　spiritual　life。　To　this　desire　the　divine　Witness　will　respond。　The　soul　will　be　uplifted。　We　can　partake　of　the　Communion　with　a　consciousness　of　sins　forgiven。　The　sunshine　of　Christ's　righteousness　will　fill　the　chambers　of　the　mind　and　the　soul　temple。　We　〃behold　the　Lamb　of　God；　which　taketh　away　the　sin　of　the　world。〃　John　1：29。

To　those　who　receive　the　spirit　of　this　service；　it　can　never　become　a　mere　ceremonial。　Its　constant　lesson　will　be；　〃By　love　serve　one　another。〃　Gal。　5：13。　In　washing　the　feet　of　His　disciples；　Christ　gave　evidence　that　He　would　do　any　service；　however　humble；　that　would　make　them　heirs　with　Him　of　the　eternal　wealth　of　heaven's　treasure。　His　disciples；　in　performing　the　same　rite；　pledge　themselves　in　like　manner　to　serve　their　brethren。　Whenever　this　ordinance　is　rightly　celebrated；　the　children　of　God　are　brought　into　a　holy　relationship；　to　help　and　bless　each　other。　They　covenant　that　the　life　shall　be　given　to　unselfish　ministry。　And　this；　not　only　for　one　another。　Their　field　of　labor　is　as　wide　as　their　Master's　was。　The　world　is　full　of　those　who　need　our　ministry。　The　poor；　the　helpless；　the　ignorant；　are　on　every　hand。　Those　who　have　communed　with　Christ　in　the　upper　chamber　will　go　forth　to　minister　as　He　did。

Jesus；　the　served　of　all；　came　to　be　the　servant　of　all。　And　because　He　ministered　to　all；　He　will　again　be　served　and　honored　by　all。　And　those　who　would　partake　of　His　divine　attributes；　and　share　with　Him　the　joy　of　seeing　souls　redeemed；　must　follow　His　example　of　unselfish　ministry。

All　this　was　comprehended　in　the　words　of　Jesus；　〃I　have　given　you　an　example；　that　ye　should　do　as　I　have　done　to　you。〃　This　was　the　intent　of　the　service　He　established。　And　He　says；　〃If　ye　know　these　things；〃　if　you　know　the　purpose　of　His　lessons；　〃happy　are　ye　if　ye　do　them。〃




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　72

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃In　Remembrance　of　Me〃


〃The　Lord　Jesus　the　same　night　in　which　He　was　betrayed　took　bread：　and　when　He　had　given　thanks；　He　brake　it；　and　said；　Take；　eat：　this　is　My　body；　which　is　broken　for　you：　this　do　in　remembrance　of　Me。　After　the　same　manner　also　He　took　the　cup；　when　He　had　supped；　saying；　This　cup　is　the　new　testament　in　My　blood：　this　do　ye；　as　oft　as　ye　drink　it；　in　remembrance　of　Me。　For　as　often　as　ye　eat　this　bread；　and　drink　this　cup；　ye　do　show　the　Lord's　death　till　He　come。〃　1　Cor。　11：23…26。

Christ　was　standing　at　the　point　of　transition　between　two　economies　and　their　two　great　festivals。　He；　the　spotless　Lamb　of　God；　was　about　to　present　Himself　as　a　sin　offering；　that　He　would　thus　bring　to　an　end　the　system　of　types　and　ceremonies　that　for　four　thousand　years　had　pointed　to　His　death。　As　He　ate　the　Passover　with　His　disciples；　He　instituted　in　its　place　the　service　that　was　to　be　the　memorial　of　His　great　sacrifice。　The　national　festival　of　the　Jews　was　to　pass　away　forever。　The　service　which　Christ　established　was　to　be　observed　by　His　followers　in　all　lands　and　through　all　ages。

The　Passover　was　ordained　as　a　commemoration　of　the　deliverance　of　Israel　from　Egyptian　bondage。　God　had　directed　that；　year　by　year；　as　the　children　should　ask　the　meaning　of　this　ordinance；　the　history　should　be　repeated。　Thus　the　wonderful　deliverance　was　to　be　kept　fresh　in　the　minds　of　all。　The　ordinance　of　the　Lord's　Supper　was　given

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to　commemorate　the　great　deliverance　wrought　out　as　the　result　of　the　death　of　Christ。　Till　He　shall　come　the　second　time　in　power　and　glory；　this　ordinance　is　to　be　celebrated。　It　is　the　means　by　which　His　great　work　for　us　is　to　be　kept　fresh　in　our　minds。

At　the　time　of　their　deliverance　from　Egypt；　the　children　of　Israel　ate　the　Passover　supper　standing；　with　their　loins　girded；　and　with　their　staves　in　their　hands；　ready　for　their　journey。　The　manner　in　which　they　celebrated　this　ordinance　harmonized　with　their　condition；　for　they　were　about　to　be　thrust　out　of　the　land　of　Egypt；　and　were　to　begin　a　painful　and　difficult　journey　through　the　wilderness。　But　in　Christ's　time　the　condition　of　things　had　changed。　They　were　not　now　about　to　be　thrust　out　of　a　strange　country；　but　were　dwellers　in　their　own　land。　In　harmony　with　the　rest　that　had　been　given　them；　the　people　then　partook　of　the　Passover　supper　in　a　reclining　position。　Couches　were　placed　about　the　table；　and　the　guests　lay　upon　them；　resting　upon　the　left　arm；　and　having　the　right　hand　free　for　use　in　eating。　In　this　position　a　guest　could　lay　his　head　upon　the　breast　of　the　one　who　sat　next　above　him。　And　the　feet；　being　at　the　outer　edge　of　the　couch；　could　be　washed　by　one　passing　around　the　outside　of　the　circle。

Christ　is　still　at　the　table　on　which　the　paschal　supper　has　been　spread。　The　unleavened　cakes　used　at　the　Passover　season　are　before　Him。　The　Passover　wine；　untouched　by　fermentation；　is　on　the　table。　These　emblems　Christ　employs　to　represent　His　own　unblemished　sacrifice。　Nothing　corrupted　by　fermentation；　the　symbol　of　sin　and　death；　could　represent　the　〃Lamb　without　blemish　and　without　spot。〃　1　Peter　1：19。

〃And　as　they　were　eating；　Jesus　took　bread；　and　blessed　it；　and　brake　it；　and　gave　it　to　the　disciples；　and　said；　Take；　eat；　this　is　My　body。　And　He　took　the　cup；　and　gave　thanks；　and　gave　it　to　them；　saying；　Drink　ye　all　of　it；　for　this　is　My　blood　of　the　new　testament；　which　is　shed　for　many　for　the　remission　of　sins。　But　I　say　unto　you；　I　will　not　drink　henceforth　of　this　fruit　of　the　vine；　until　that　day　when　I　drink　it　new　with　you　in　My　Father's　kingdom。〃

Judas　the　betrayer　was　present　at　the　sacramental　service。　He　received　from　Jesus　the　emblems　of　His　broken　body　and　His　spilled　blood。　He　heard　the　words；　〃This　do　in　remembrance　of　Me。〃　And　sitting　there　in　the　very　presence　of　the　Lamb　of　God；　the　betrayer　brooded　upon　his　own　dark　purposes；　and　cherished　his　sullen；　revengeful　thoughts。

At　the　feet　washing；　Christ　had　given　convincing　proof　that　He　understood　the　character　of　Judas。　〃Ye　are　not　all　clean〃　（John　13：11）；

654

He　said。　These　words　convinced　the　false　disciple　that　Christ　read　his　secret　purpose。　Now　Christ　spoke　out　more　plainly。　As　they　were　seated　at　the　table　He　said；　looking　upon　His　disciples；　〃I　speak　not　of　you　all：　I　know　whom　I　have　chosen：　but　that　the　scripture　may　be　fulfilled；　He　that　eateth　bread　with　Me　hath　lifted　up　his　heel　against　Me。〃

Even　now　the　disciples　did　not　suspect　Judas。　But　they　saw　that　Christ　appeared　greatly　troubled。　A　cloud　settled　over　them　all；　a　premonition　of　some　dreadful　calamity；　the　nature　of　which　they　did　not　understand。　As　they　ate　in　silence；　Jesus　said；　〃Verily　I　say　unto　you；　that　one　of　you　shall　betray　Me。〃　At　these　words　amazement　and　consternation　seized　them。　They　could　not　comprehend　how　any　one　of　them　could　deal　treacherously　with　their　divine　Teacher。　For　what　cause　could　they　betray　Him？　and　to　whom？　Whose　heart　could　give　birth　to　such　a　design？　Surely　not　one　of　the　favored　twelve；　who　had　been　privileged　above　all　others　to　hear　His　teachings；　who　had　shared　His　wonderful　love；　and　for　whom　He　had　shown　such　great　regard　by　bringing　them　into　close　communion　with　Himself！

As　they　realized　the　import　of　His　words；　and　remembered　how　true　His　sayings　were；　fear　and　self…distrust　seized　them。　They　began　to　search　their　own　hearts　to　see　if　one　thought　against　their　Master　were　harbored　there。　With　the　most　painful　emotion；　one　after　another　inquired；　〃Lord；　is　it　I？〃　But　Judas　sat　silent。　John　in　deep　distress　at　last　inquired；　〃Lord；　who　is　it？〃　And　Jesus　answered；　〃He　that　dippeth　his　hand　with　Me　in　the　dish；　the　same　shall　betray　Me。　The　Son　of　man　goeth　as　it　is　written　of　Him：　but　woe　unto　that　man　by　whom　the　Son　of　man　is　betrayed！　it　had　been　good　for　that　man　if　he　had　not　been　born。〃　The　disciples　had　searched　one　another's　faces　closely　as　t