7
and fortunately not a doctrinal issue, and we
shall all have to draw our own conclusion for
we are not told what happened!
Returning to Christ’s desire
to meet with his disciples in
this way, He wanted so far
as it was possible to
strengthen them for what
lay ahead. He had been
their guide for three years,
and shortly they would be
on their own. In John chap-
ter 13 and verses 14-15 we
have the record of Jesus
washing his disciples’ feet.
A protest was made by
Peter but on an occasion
like this it was necessary for
Jesus to do it. The situation
is explained in verse 14:
“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”. Jesus was demonstrating humil-
ity through which he showed his love for them,
thus fulfilling the words of scripture, “What
doth the Lord require of thee but to love
mercy and to walk humbly with thy God.”
In John chapter 13 and verses 34-35, he
records the words of Jesus showing the impor-
tance of Love: “A new commandment I give
unto you, that ye love one another; as I have
loved you, that ye also love one another. By
this shall all men know that ye are my disci-
ples if ye have love one to another”.
During his ministry Jesus had demonstrated on
many occasions the need for forgiveness. An
instance is recorded in Luke chapter 6 verse
37: “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged:
condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned:
forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:”, so at this
feast Jesus stressed the importance of Serv-
ing, Humility, Love and Forgiveness, but of
great importance was the partaking of the
Bread and the Wine when our Lord asked them
and us to “do this in remembrance of me”.
Not just once, but a continual and regular
partaking of these emblems in memory of our
Lord.
Jesus was to demonstrate love in the great
sacrifice that he made and we read of this
in John chapter 15 verse 13: “Greater love
hath no man than this, that a man lay down
his life for his friends”.
We see at this first feast
of remembrance our Lord
demonstrating the attrib-
utes that we should have as
his disciples.
Brother John Roberts in his
thoughts on the Breaking of
Bread says this: “When on
Sundays we see the table
spread, it signifies the altar
and reminds us that our
Lord Jesus offered himself
without spot, but it signi-
fies also the power and true
wealth of our Great Host.
We are reminded that we of
all people, have been graciously invited to His
house and offered peace and fellowship with
Him. What an honour and privilege is the
table of the Lord”.
“Comfort ye my people”
T
here is a comfort now in prospect of
the substantial comfort that God will
bestow in the blessing and exaltation of His
chosen in the day of Christ. All the groan-
ings of the saints that the spirit has
preserved in the Word are mingled with this
comfort; and by the same comfort may we
comfort our hearts in the present time of
waiting and patience.
God is observant of all our ways; and God
never forgets. Christ’s eye is over all the
ecclesias, searching the hearts, trying the
reins, that every man may receive accord-
ing to his ways.
Therefore our tears and our sighs at our
present desolation are not lost, though
unseen of men. Our troubles, in this re-
spect, are pleasing to him. In due time he
will wipe away the tears and fill our mouth
with laughter. In this respect we learn to
rejoice even in tribulation.
| Bro Robert Roberts