1 Now before the feast of the passover, -when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should de- part out of this world unto the Fa- ther, 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 Judas Iscariot, Simon'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 bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
The passage we have now read begins one of the most interesting portions of St. John's Gospel. For five consecutive chapters we find the Evangelist record- ing matters which are not mentioned by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. We can never be thankful enough that the Holy Ghost has caused them to be written for our learning ! In every age the contents of these chap- ters have been justly regarded as one of the most pre- cious parts of the Bible. They have been the meat and drink, the strength and comfort of all true-hearted Christians. Let us ever approach them with peculiar reverence. The place whereon we stand is holy ground.
We learn, for one thing, from these verses, what patie7tt and continuing love there is in Chrlst'^s heart to-