time he knew that death was waiting for him. Pin up cross or draw shadowy outline of one. The disciples could not see it, but Jesus could, because he can see all things.

Incidents of the Lesson. Jesus went into the temple to teach. Many heard him, but there were others who had heard about him but who never saw him. Some of these came to Philip and said, "We would see Jesus." These men were Greeks. They had been taught to worship idols, but they had heard of Jesus and wanted to see him. Philip told Andrew, and the two disciples went together to tell Jesus. Jesus spoke some wonderful words then, and while he was talking there was a strange noise. Some said it was thunder, and others said it was an angel's voice. Jesus called it a voice from heaven, which came for their sakes, so that they might know he was the Son of God. Teachings of the Lesson. Jesus was ready now to give up his life on the cross, to save us from death. He gave all for us, to teach us to give all to him. Show a grain of wheat. What will happen if I plant this in the ground? More wheat will grow. Suppose I put it carefully away in a box? Then no more wheat will grow from it. So, if we save our lives by doing the things that please

by taking care of self, we shall lose God's life in our souls. We must do what God tells us to, not what we choose, if we want life in heaven. A voice from heaven speaks to us to-day. God speaks now through his Book, and by his Spirit. Call for Golden Text. Have you heard his voice?

Lesson Word-Pictures.

O the great throng at the passover feast, flocking through the gates, hurrying along the streets, crowding the temple-courts! And those Greeks-can you not see them? They are looking about curiously, eagerly, as if on the hunt for some one. They meet Philip. They are anxious to say something. Their eyes flash out their excitement. They would see-they tell Philipthey would see Jesus. And Philip, he hurries away. He finds Andrew, and now both hasten off and stand at last before the waiting Saviour to say that men seek for him. O that waiting Saviour, still tarrying that a world might come to him, but how reluctantly it comes! He will not tarry here long. But hark! He is speak ing. He is telling about the corn of wheat that finds its little grave in the earth. He is thinking of his own death, and he shrinks from it. Will not God save him from it? See! he is looking up to heaven. He is praying. Hark! O that impressive voice answering from heaven! The people look up in astonishment. Was it thunder? He is speaking again. He is thinking of Calvary. In thought he is hanging, suffering, dying for the world, that lifted, loving Saviour.

HUMILITY

[Aug. 15. 8 Pe'ter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Je'sus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

LESSON VII. JESUS TEACHING HUMILITY.
[Commit to memory verses 13-16.]
1 Now before the feast of the
passover, when Je'sus knew that
his hour was come that he should
depart out of this world unto the
Father, having loved his own which
were in the world, he loved them
unto the end.

2 And supper being ended, the
devil having now put into the heart
of Ju'das Is-car'i-ot, Si'mon's son,
to betray him;
3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things
into his hands, and that he was come from God, and
went to God;

4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.

5 After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

6 Then cometh he to Si'mon Pe'ter: and Pe'ter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?

7 Je'sus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.

General

The events of the week of the Saviour's passion are recorded with greater minuteness than those of any other portion of his life. Nearly one third of the gospels (and of John one half) is occupied with the account of this one week. But there is one day of which no mention is made. We know nothing of what took place on Wednesday, the day after the last teachings in the temple. Probably it was passed in retirement and meditation at Bethany, since not even John records any conversation as taking place on that day. On the afternoon of the following day, Thursday, Jesus went with the twelve once more to Jerusalem. About sunset they sat down together to the passover feast, celebrated, however, a day in advance of the usual time: for on the next day at sunset the Saviour would be dead upon the cross or lying in his sepulcher. They met in an upper room, furnished for the simple supper of the passover, with three tables arranged in an open square, and couches around them. There was a little strife for precedence in assigning the places among the disciples,

9 Si'mon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.

10 Je'sus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.

12 So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet.

15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Statement.
and perhaps they were unwilling to pay each other the
service of pouring water upon the feet, as was cus-
tomary when men came in from the street with their
sandaled feet soiled by the dust. Their Master, fully
conscious of his rank as the Son of God and Saviour
of men, fully aware, too, of the scenes that were await-
ing him on the morrow, would teach them a lesson,
both concerning his own mission and their duty. He
arose from his couch, laid aside his flowing outer robe.
wrapped around his waist a towel, took a basin and
pitcher, and one by one washed the feet of the twelve.
What deep thought must have arisen in the mind of
John; what guilty consciousness in the heart of Judas,
already pledged to betray his Lord! There was a little
hesitancy in Peter, when his turn came, and only a re-
buke of the Master made him submit to the lowly
service. In this act Christ showed at once his own
errand to the earth, and the spirit which should actuate
his disciples.

Explanatory and Practical Notes.

Verse 1. Before the feast of the passover. The words indicate that it was immediately before, just as Jesus was about to recline with his disciples around the tables. He partook of the feast a day earlier than the prevalent custom, knowing that on the morrow, the day of the feast, he was to die. Knew that his hour was come. He was within eighteen hours of his cross, and in the state of one that knows that he is dying; yet his thoughts were not of himself, but of his friends. That he should depart. Death, to him, was a departure from a place of journeying to a home in the Father's house. (1) And so it may be to every one who follows Jesus. Having loved his own. His own were those who had given him their faith and their love. Such he loved then, and such he loves now. He loved them unto the end. Not only to the end of his life, but "to the uttermost," carrying his love to the highest point. (2) There is no limit to the love of Christ for his own.

experiences can be understood while we are passing
through them! The disciples could comprehend the
acts and words of Jesus only when they viewed them
as a whole after his ascension and the enlightenment
of the Spirit. (6) Many mysteries of our present life
shall be solved when we look back on earth from the walls
of heaven.

tatious humility rapidly grows up into pride and arro-
8. Thou shalt never wash my feet. Peter's osten-
gance.
Saviour's conduct. (So there are some wise people
He must needs pass judgment upon his
tion beneath the dignity of God. If I wash thee not,
now who seem to consider the Gospel plan of salva-
thou hast no part. Because Christ required submis-
sion, and Peter was insubordinate; because Christ re-
quired cleansing, and Peter's spirit was still unholy.
(8) The true Church of Christ is the fellowship of the
purified ones.

2. Supper being ended. Rather, as in the Rev. Ver., "during supper;" for it was not yet ended. Literally, the opposite extreme, and offers his whole body to a 9, 10. Lord, not my feet only. He runs at once to it reads, supper being," that is, in progress. The is bathed." The word in the original is not the same devil. The personal spirit of evil who tempts men to cleansing so precious. He that is washed. Rev. Ver., all wickedness. Having now put into the heart. Rev. Ver., having already put." The purpose had not save to wash. The man who has bathed his whole with that in these verses translated" wash." been formed several hours, if not several days, before, body needs afterward to wash the dust from his feet; Needeth and Judas was now watching for an opportunity to ful just as in every bath-house at the sea-shore stands a fill his contract of betrayal. This is mentioned to show pail of water for washing the feet. So in the spiritual the love of Jesus all the more strongly, since he knew world. He who has bathed in the washing of regenerahow corrupt was one heart at the table with him. tion still needs a daily washing from the stains of Judas Iscariot. See note, Lesson V, verse 4. To be- earthly contact, but does not need a repeated regeneratray him. The betrayal was necessary, for the rulers tion. The disciples had been cleansed by the power of could not seize Jesus while surrounded by his disciples Christ, but they needed to be washed from the dust of and the friendly common people; unless some one re- self-seeking. Ye are clean, but not all. A rebuke vealed his place of retirement, he could not be taken which Judas alone, of all the twelve, could understand. by surprise. (3) How high a man may be lifted by priv-(9) No washing can cleanse him whose will remains unilege, only to fall by sin! touched.

3. Jesus knowing. This verse is inserted to add emphasis to the Saviour's act of humility in washing the disciples' feet. He knew that the Father had given all things into his hands, and therefore that he was King of kings, and Lord of lords. He knew that he was divine in his origin, and divine in his destiny. Yet he humbled himself to perform for his disciples an act of menial service, for his thoughts were not of himself, but of them and their needs. (4) True kingliness consists in the nature, and not in the outward appear

ance.

4. He riseth from supper. From the couch on which he was reclining. For the custom of reclining at meals, see Lesson V, note on verse 2. Laid aside his garments. He took off the long, flowing outer garment, which would impede his work, but probably left on the close-fitting undergarment. Towel, and girded. He tied a long towel around his waist, leaving its ends hanging loose, that he might use them. Such was the garb of servants. (5) One who knows that he is a prince can afford to appear as a servant.

5. Into a basin. In Oriental feet-washing, the feet are held over the basin, not placed in it, and the water is poured upon them from a pitcher. Began to wash the disciples' feet. We learn from Luke 22. 24, that there was a contest among the twelve for the leading place, probably each demanding the best couch at the table. Christ rebukes the spirit of selfishness by performing a servant's duty toward all. In his act were several symbols: 1. It was a symbol of his mission, representing himself, the Son of God, not seizing the honor which was his right, but emptying himself to become a servant. 2. It showed the need of their purification from sin, and the manner of it, by the cleansing of Christ. 3. It was a rebuke to their ambitious spirit, and a lesson in humility. 4. It showed them that the greatest among them was the one who excelled in acts of service toward others.

6. Then cometh he to Simon Peter. In the order of their sitting at the table, but it is impossible to tell what that order was. Lord, dost thou wash my feet? "Thou" is the emphatic word; "thou, the Christ, the Son of the living God." "Peter means to exhibit humility, but it is a noisy, self-sufficient humility.. Peter must display his humility and so deteriorates it." -Whedon.

7. What I do. Not only is this true of the washing, but of all Christ's plans, and of all God's dealings with us. Thou knowest not now. How fow

in progress. Therefore said he. How earnestly did
11. He knew who should betray him. Literally,
the good Shepherd seek to save the one sheep that was
"who was betraying him," for the treason was already
breaking away from the fold!

again," referring to his position on the couch. Know
12, 13. Was set down. Literally, "was reclining
ye what I have done? They saw the act, but saw not
its hidden purposes, and therefore he reveals to them
as much as they were in condition to receive, and leaves
the deeper truths to come to them gradually. Ye call
me Master and Lord. These were the titles by which
the shadows of approaching death and apparent failure,
he was addressed by his disciples; and they expressed
he does not lower his claim to the highest honor.
a fuller meaning than they knew. Ye say well. In

king; I who have authority to command. Ye ought
14. If I then. I, who am by right above the highest
also to wash. One may perform the precise act here
commanded and yet in the act disobey the Lord, as
gars in St. Peter's. And one may never perform the
when the pope ostentatiously washes the feet of beg-
toward the needy, by a gentle and humble spirit, and
by a life of self-denying love. (10) Let us seek the
act, yet many fulfill the command, by services of love
obedience of the spirit rather than that of the letter.

whole life of Christ, a pattern in self-sacrifice for the 15. I have given you an example. Such was the sake of others. (11) Let us keep the matchless copy ever before our eyes. Do as I have done. Not "do what I have done," the same in act; but "do as I have done," the same in spirit. Our study of Christ's example is of little value unless we follow it.

This was a favorite expression of Christ. We find it 16. The servant is not greater than his lord. spoken under four different circumstances. Here it means that the followers of Christ must not consider willing to do. He that is sent. In the original "an themselves above any work which their Master was apostle," the term applied to each of the twelve. "If you are apostles, you must not seek to be above your Sender. He could afford to be lowly, and so can you."

to perceive their duty, and sometimes harder still to do 17. If ye know these things. It is hard for men it. Happy are ye if ye do. This is a lesson which but in giving; not in receiving homage, but in doing few learn, that true happiness consists not in getting, good. (12) The most iouque enimite