And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon"s son, to betray him, {250} Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came forth from G.o.d, and goeth unto G.o.d, riseth from supper, and layeth aside his garments; and he took a towel, and girded himself. Then he poureth water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples" feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. So he cometh to Simon Peter. He saith unto him, "Lord, dost thou wash my feet?"
Jesus answered and said unto him, "What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt understand hereafter."
Peter saith unto him, "Thou shalt never wash my feet."
Jesus answered him, "If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."
Simon Peter saith unto him, "Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head."
Jesus saith to him, "He that is bathed needeth only to wash his feet, and is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all."
For he knew him that should betray him; therefore said he, "Ye are not all clean."
So when he had washed their feet, and taken his garments, and sat down again, he said unto them, "Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me "Master," and, "Lord": and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another"s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye also should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, A servant is not greater than his lord; neither one that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, blessed are ye if ye do them."
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
THE LAST SUPPER.
By Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
This was painted on the wall of a monastery in Milan. It has been damaged and mutilated, and now is almost faded out.
This is one of the greatest pictures ever painted. The following is an explanation of the picture: "Judas half turns to discover of whom St. Peter is speaking so pa.s.sionately, and is preparing himself to deny everything. But he is already discovered. St. James the Less, pa.s.sing his arm over the shoulder of St. Andrew, touches St. Peter to tell him that the traitor is at his side. St. Andrew looks at Judas with horror, and St. Bartholomew, at the end of the table, has started up from his seat to regard him more intently. At the left of Christ, St. James protests his innocence by a natural gesture. St.
Thomas, pressing near to Christ, seems to ask "One of us?" St.
Philip, the youngest of the apostles, places his hand over his heart and rises to protest his fidelity. St. Matthew repeats the terrible words to the indignant St. Simon, who refuses to believe them. St.
Thaddeus, who has first told them to him, points to Matthew to confirm them. The dying rays of evening light add deeper somberness to the sad face of the Christ."
--_Stendhal, "History of Italian Painters"_ [End ill.u.s.tration]
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When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and said, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, one of you shall betray me."
The disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spoke. There was at the table reclining in Jesus" bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoneth to him, and saith unto him, "Tell us who it is of whom he speaketh."
He leaning back, as he was, on Jesus" breast, said unto him, "Lord, who is it?"
Jesus therefore answereth, "He it is, for whom I shall dip the sop, and give it him."
So when he had dipped the sop, he took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. And after the sop, then entered Satan into him.
Jesus therefore saith unto him, "What thou doest, do quickly."
Now no man at the table knew why he spoke this to him. For some thought, because Judas had the bag, Jesus said unto him, "Buy what things we have need of for the feast"; or, that he should give something to the poor. He then having received the sop went out straightway: and it was night.
When therefore he was gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and G.o.d is glorified in him. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, "Whither I go, ye cannot come"; so now I say unto you. A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all {254} men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another."
Simon Peter saith unto him, "Lord, whither goest thou?"
Jesus answered, "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow afterwards."
Peter saith unto him, "Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thee."
Jesus answereth, "Wilt thou lay down thy life for me? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The c.o.c.k shall not crow, before thou hast denied me thrice."
"_Let Not Your Heart be Troubled_."
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in G.o.d, believe also in me. In my father"s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I come again, and will receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go, ye know the way."
Thomas saith unto him, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; how know we the way?"
Jesus saith unto him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye would have known my Father also: from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."
Philip saith unto him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us."
Jesus saith unto him, "Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, "Show us the Father?"
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
HEAD OF CHRIST.
By Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519)
This was a study made by the great master for his picture, "The Last Supper."
[End ill.u.s.tration]
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Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I say unto you I speak not from myself: but the Father abiding in me doeth his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works" sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto the Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask me anything in my name, that will I do. If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive; for it beholdeth him not, neither knoweth him: ye know him; for he abideth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless. I come unto you. Yet a little while, and the world beholdeth me no more; but ye behold me: because I live, ye shall live also. In that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself unto him."
Judas (not Iscariot) said unto him, "Lord, why is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?"
Jesus answered and said unto him, "If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and {258} we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my words: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father"s who sent me.
"These things have I spoken unto you, while yet abiding with you. But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye heard how I said to you, "I go away, and I come unto you." If ye loved me, ye would have rejoiced, because I go unto the Father: for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it come to pa.s.s, that, when it is come to pa.s.s, ye may believe. I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me; but that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do."
_Jesus is the True Vine_.
"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he cleanseth, that it may bear more fruit. Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches:
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[Ill.u.s.tration]
MOUNT OF OLIVES--GETHSEMANE.