the desire of ages-第157章

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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）；

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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　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

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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

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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　wit