the desire of ages-第140节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　for　that　man　if　he　had　not　been　born。〃　The　disciples　had　searched　one　another's　faces　closely　as　they　asked；　〃Lord；　is　it　I？〃　And　now　the　silence　of　Judas　drew　all　eyes　to　him。　Amid　the　confusion　of　questions　and　expressions　of　astonishment；　Judas　had　not　heard　the　words　of　Jesus　in　answer　to　John's　question。　But　now；　to　escape　the　scrutiny　of　the　disciples；　he　asked　as　they　had　done；　〃Master；　is　it　I？〃　Jesus　solemnly　replied；　〃Thou　hast　said。〃

In　surprise　and　confusion　at　the　exposure　of　his　purpose；　Judas　rose　hastily　to　leave　the　room。　〃Then　said　Jesus　unto　him；　That　thou　doest；　do　quickly。　。　。　。　He　then　having　received　the　sop　went　immediately　out：　and　it　was　night。〃　Night　it　was　to　the　traitor　as　he　turned　away　from　Christ　into　the　outer　darkness。

Until　this　step　was　taken；　Judas　had　not　passed　beyond　the　possibility　of　repentance。　But　when　he　left　the　presence　of　his　Lord　and　his

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　655

fellow　disciples；　the　final　decision　had　been　made。　He　had　passed　the　boundary　line。

Wonderful　had　been　the　long…suffering　of　Jesus　in　His　dealing　with　this　tempted　soul。　Nothing　that　could　be　done　to　save　Judas　had　been　left　undone。　After　he　had　twice　covenanted　to　betray　his　Lord；　Jesus　still　gave　him　opportunity　for　repentance。　By　reading　the　secret　purpose　of　the　traitor's　heart；　Christ　gave　to　Judas　the　final；　convincing　evidence　of　His　divinity。　This　was　to　the　false　disciple　the　last　call　to　repentance。　No　appeal　that　the　divine…human　heart　of　Christ　could　make　had　been　spared。　The　waves　of　mercy；　beaten　back　by　stubborn　pride；　returned　in　a　stronger　tide　of　subduing　love。　But　although　surprised　and　alarmed　at　the　discovery　of　his　guilt；　Judas　became　only　the　more　determined。　From　the　sacramental　supper　he　went　out　to　complete　the　work　of　betrayal。

In　pronouncing　the　woe　upon　Judas；　Christ　also　had　a　purpose　of　mercy　toward　His　disciples。　He　thus　gave　them　the　crowning　evidence　of　His　Messiahship。　〃I　tell　you　before　it　come；〃　He　said；　〃that；　when　it　is　come　to　pass；　ye　may　believe　that　I　AM。〃　Had　Jesus　remained　silent；　in　apparent　ignorance　of　what　was　to　come　upon　Him；　the　disciples　might　have　thought　that　their　Master　had　not　divine　foresight；　and　had　been　surprised　and　betrayed　into　the　hands　of　the　murderous　mob。　A　year　before；　Jesus　had　told　the　disciples　that　He　had　chosen　twelve；　and　that　one　was　a　devil。　Now　His　words　to　Judas；　showing　that　his　treachery　was　fully　known　to　his　Master；　would　strengthen　the　faith　of　Christ's　true　followers　during　His　humiliation。　And　when　Judas　should　have　come　to　his　dreadful　end；　they　would　remember　the　woe　that　Jesus　had　pronounced　upon　the　betrayer。

And　the　Saviour　had　still　another　purpose。　He　had　not　withheld　His　ministry　from　him　whom　He　knew　to　be　a　traitor。　The　disciples　did　not　understand　His　words　when　He　said　at　the　feet　washing；　〃Ye　are　not　all　clean；〃　nor　yet　when　at　the　table　He　declared；　〃He　that　eateth　bread　with　Me　hath　lifted　up　his　heel　against　Me。〃　John　13：11；　18。　But　afterward；　when　His　meaning　was　made　plain；　they　had　something　to　consider　as　to　the　patience　and　mercy　of　God　toward　the　most　grievously　erring。

Though　Jesus　knew　Judas　from　the　beginning；　He　washed　his　feet。　And　the　betrayer　was　privileged　to　unite　with　Christ　in　partaking　of　the　sacrament。　A　long…suffering　Saviour　held　out　every　inducement　for　the　sinner　to　receive　Him；　to　repent；　and　to　be　cleansed　from　the　defilement　of　sin。　This　example　is　for　us。　When　we　suppose　one　to　be　in　error　and　sin；　we　are　not　to　divorce　ourselves　from　him。　By　no　careless

656

separation　are　we　to　leave　him　a　prey　to　temptation；　or　drive　him　upon　Satan's　battleground。　This　is　not　Christ's　method。　It　was　because　the　disciples　were　erring　and　faulty　that　He　washed　their　feet；　and　all　but　one　of　the　twelve　were　thus　brought　to　repentance。

Christ's　example　forbids　exclusiveness　at　the　Lord's　Supper。　It　is　true　that　open　sin　excludes　the　guilty。　This　the　Holy　Spirit　plainly　teaches。　1　Cor。　5：11。　But　beyond　this　none　are　to　pass　judgment。　God　has　not　left　it　with　men　to　say　who　shall　present　themselves　on　these　occasions。　For　who　can　read　the　heart？　Who　can　distinguish　the　tares　from　the　wheat？　〃Let　a　man　examine　himself；　and　so　let　him　eat　of　that　bread；　and　drink　of　that　cup。〃　For　〃whosoever　shall　eat　this　bread；　and　drink　this　cup　of　the　Lord；　unworthily；　shall　be　guilty　of　the　body　and　blood　of　the　Lord。〃　〃He　that　eateth　and　drinketh　unworthily；　eateth　and　drinketh　damnation　to　himself；　not　discerning　the　Lord's　body。〃　1　Cor。　11：28；　27；　29。

When　believers　assemble　to　celebrate　the　ordinances；　there　are　present　messengers　unseen　by　human　eyes。　There　may　be　a　Judas　in　the　company；　and　if　so；　messengers　from　the　prince　of　darkness　are　there；　for　they　attend　all　who　refuse　to　be　controlled　by　the　Holy　Spirit。　Heavenly　angels　also　are　present。　These　unseen　visitants　are　present　on　every　such　occasion。　There　may　come　into　the　company　persons　who　are　not　in　heart　servants　of　truth　and　holiness；　but　who　may　wish　to　take　part　in　the　service。　They　should　not　be　forbidden。　There　are　witnesses　present　who　were　present　when　Jesus　washed　the　feet　of　the　disciples　and　of　Judas。　More　than　human　eyes　beheld　the　scene。

Christ　by　the　Holy　Spirit　is　there　to　set　the　seal　to　His　own　ordinance。　He　is　there　to　convict　and　soften　the　heart。　Not　a　look；　not　a　thought　of　contrition；　escapes　His　notice。　For　the　repentant；　brokenhearted　one　He　is　waiting。　All　things　are　ready　for　that　soul's　reception。　He　who　washed　the　feet　of　Judas　longs　to　wash　every　heart　from　the　stain　of　sin。

None　should　exclude　themselves　from　the　Communion　because　some　who　are　unworthy　may　be　present。　Every　disciple　is　called　upon　to　participate　publicly；　and　thus　bear　witness　that　he　accepts　Christ　as　a　personal　Saviour。　It　is　at　these；　His　own　appointments；　that　Christ　meets　His　people；　and　energizes　them　by　His　presence。　Hearts　and　hands　that　are　unworthy　may　even　administer　the　ordinance；　yet　Christ　is　there　to　minister　to　His　children。　All　who　come　with　their　faith　fixed　upon　Him　will　be　greatly　blessed。　All　who　neglect　these　seasons　of　divine　privilege　will　suffer　loss。　Of　them　it　may　appropriately　be　said；　〃Ye　are　not　all　clean。〃

In　partaking　with　His　disciples　of　the　bread　and　wine；　Christ　pledged

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　659

Himself　to　them　as　their　Redeemer。　He　committed　to　them　the　new　covenant；　by　which　all　who　receive　Him　become　children　of　God；　and　joint　heirs　with　Christ。　By　this　covenant　every　blessing　that　heaven　could　bestow　for　this　life　and　the　life　to　come　was　theirs。　This　covenant　deed　was　to　be　ratified　with　the　blood　of　Christ。　And　the　administration　of　the　Sacrament　was　to　keep　before　the　disciples　the　infinite　sacrifice　made　for　each　of　them　individually　as　a　part　of　the　great　whole　of　fallen　humanity。

But　the　Communion　service　was　not　to　be　a　season　of　sorrowing。　This　was　not　its　purpose。　As　the　Lord's　disciples　gather　about　His　table；　they　are　not　to　remember　and　lament　their　shortcomings。　They　are　not　to　dwell　upon　their　past　religious　experience；　whether　that　experience　has　been　elevating　or　depressing。　They　are　not　to　recall　the　differences　between　them　and　their　brethren。　The　preparatory　service　has　embraced　all　this。　The　self…examination；　the　confession　of　sin；　the　reconciling　of　differences；　has　all　been　done。　Now　they　come　to　meet　with　Christ。　They　are　not　to　stand　in　the　shadow　of　the　cross；　but　in　its　saving　light。　They　are　to　open　the　soul　to　the　bright　beams　of　the　Sun　of　Righteousness。　With　hearts　cleansed　by　Christ's　most　precious　blood；　in　full　consciousness　of　His　presence；　although　unseen；　they　are　to　hear　His　words；　〃Peace　I　leave　with　you；　My　peace　I　give　unto　you：　not　as　the　world　giveth；　give　I　unto　you。〃　John　14：27。

Our　Lord　says；　Under　conviction　of　sin；　remember　that　I　died　for　you。　When　oppressed　and　persecuted　and　afflicted　for　My　sake　and　the　gospel's；　remember　My　love；　so　great　that　for　you　I　gave　My　life。　When　your　duties　appear　stern　and　severe；　and　your　burdens　too　heavy　to　bear；　remember　that　for　your　sake　I　endured　the　cross；　despising　the　shame。　When　your　heart　shrinks　from　the　trying　ordeal；　remember　that　your　Redeemer　liveth　to　make　intercession　for　you。

The　Communion　service　points　to　Christ's　second　coming。　It　was　designed　to　keep　this　hope　vivid　in　the　minds　of　the　disciples。　Whenever　they　met　together　to　commemorate　His　death；　they　recounted　how　〃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。〃　In　their　tribulation　they　found　comfort　in　the　hope　of　their　Lord's　return。　Unspeakably　precious　to　them　was　the　thought；　〃As　often　as　ye　eat　this　bread；　and　drink　this　cup；　ye　do　show　the　Lord's　death　till　He　come。〃　1　Cor。　11：26。

660


These　are　the　things　we　are　never　to　forget。　The　love　of　Jesus；　with　its　constraining　power；　is　to　be　kept　fresh　in　our　memory。　Christ　has　instituted　this　service